Proclamation
_______________________
Greer Stone
Mayor
LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH
WHEREAS, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated nationwide each year in the month of June; and WHEREAS, this month commemorate s the riots that took place 50 years ago at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York, on the morning of June 28, 1969, often viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ IA+ Rights Movement; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that several major Unite d States Supreme Court decisions impacting LGBTQ IA+ rights in a positive way have been announced in June, including Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003), which struck down sodomy laws; U.S. v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013), which struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act; Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015), which affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry; and Pavan v. Smith, 137 S. Ct. 2075 (2017), which held that both mothers of a child had the legal right to be listed on their child’s birth certificate; and
WHEREAS, despite this extraordinary progress, the LGBTQ IA+ community continues to face systematic discrimination through anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation targeting LGBTQIA+ families, children, athletes, and students; and
WHEREAS, Palo Alto has a diverse LGBTQ IA+ community and many allies, and the City of Palo Alto is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, and equity for all people in the LBGTQIA+ community; and WHEREAS, we will continue to push back against the forces of hate and intolerance to ensure all feel safe and welcomed. We continuously create spaces to assess the needs and explore ways to provide more services and resources to our LGBTQIA+ community. Acknowledging how the need for education and awareness remains vital to end discrimination and prejudice , the City is offering training opportunities to City Staff to enhance their knowledge about gender, gender identity, and gender expression, expanding the tools available to sustain an environment of inclusion, connection, and belonging.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greer Stone, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, on behalf of the entire City Council do hereby proclaim the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month and encourage all citizens to join in ce lebrating our diversity, promoting inclusion and equal protection under the law, and eliminating discriminatory policies toward any culture, race , or other identity, expression, or group.
Presented: June 17th, 2024