Earlier this week, The
Iowa City City Council voted on a proclamation declaring June to be Pride Month:
PROCLAMATION
LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH JUNE 2020
Whereas, LGBTQ+ communities across the nation annually celebrate pride in their culture and community in the month of June; and
Whereas, the annual celebration of Pride began as a collective protest for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities; and
Whereas, the national tradition of celebrating Pride in June is a tribute to the Stonewell Riots of June 1969 in New York City, which are remembered as the launch of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement; and
Whereas, transgender people of color, including Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera, and Storme DeLarverie, were primary leaders in the Stonewall expression of just treatment for LGBTQ+ people, and gave their work and lives to the cause; and
Whereas, the City of Iowa City recognizes the many LGBTQ+ lives that continue to be lost each year in pursuit of living out their authentic identities, in particular transgender people of color; and
Whereas, the City of Iowa City welcomes and accepts persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and is proud to celebrate the contributions and culture of all residents; and
Whereas, each year, Iowa City Pride brings together thousands of LGBTQ+ people from across Iowa and beyond to celebrate their shared identities and experiences; and
Whereas, Iowa City Pride is celebrating its 50th Annual Pride Anniversary, and the 51st anniversary of Stonewall, this June; and
Whereas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic this years's in-person events are canceled but virtual events and celebrations are planned to commemorate this historic achievement.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby recognize the month of June to be LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH in Iowa City and encourage all to reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality members of the LGBTQ+ community face and celebrate the contributions that enhance our city.
The Pride proclamation was received remotely on June 2, 2020, by the president of Iowa City Pride president, Tony Sivanthap.
