Title
Resolve: That the Malden City Council celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month
WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/nonbinary, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Malden make vital contributions to all areas of business, public service, culture and community life, and
WHEREAS, the celebration of Pride Month each June is rooted in the protests of June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in New York City, as a pioneering moment in the LGBTQ movement for equality; and
WHEREAS, throughout much of the history of the United States, non-heteronormative relationships and gender identities were criminalized; LGBTQ people continue to face disparities in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many other areas; and many states have enacted new anti-LGBTQ legislation in the past few months, and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ people, particularly those who are transgender/nonbinary and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), face a disproportionately high risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of bullying, mental health concerns, homelessness, and suicide; and
WHEREAS, Pride is a celebration of the full spectrum of humanity, creative expression, and visibility in spite of marginalization, which is hosted by thousands of communities each year across the globe;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Malden City Council supports the rights, freedoms and equal treatment of LGBTQ people, affirms the importance of creating a welcoming community for all, and encourages the celebration of June as “LGBTQ Pride Month” to honor the contributions, struggles and dignity of LGBTQ members of our community.