Johnson County Board of Supervisors Proclaim June 2020 as Pride Month

PROCLAMATION

PRIDE MONTH JUNE 2020

Whereas, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (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 annual celebration of Pride began as a collective freedom in expressing gender identity; and,

Whereas, the national tradition of celebrating Pride in June is a tribute to the Stonewell Riots of June 1969, 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 often gave their work and lives to the cause; and

Whereas, Johnson County 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, Johnson County welcomes and accepts people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and is proud to celebrate the contributions and culture of these citizens; 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, this year would have marked Iowa City Pride's 50th Annual Pride Festival, and the 51st anniversary of Stonewall.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2020 to be PRIDE MONTH and encourage Johnson County residents to recognize the many contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and communities have made to our County.