A Proclamation In Celebration of LGBTQ + Pride Month

June 1, 2020

WHEREAS, the City of North Adams, Massachusetts, strives to be a safe and inclusive community; and

WHEREAS, North Adams is home to, and a destination for, residents and visitors of all gender identities, expressions, and sexualities; and

WHEREAS, we honor the courage, compassion, and creativity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people, and celebrate the social, economic, and cultural contributions that LGBTQ+ people make to our community; and

WHEREAS, we also recognize that members of the LGBTQ+ in North Adams and everywhere face discrimination and intolerance, fear and violence, and economic hardship, and understand that transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals are among the least understood, most marginalized, and most underserved populations; and

WHEREAS, the Human Rights Campaign has stated that due to the COVID-19 pandemic “the LGBTQ community in the U.S. — along with many communities around the globe — will face unique challenges due to its economic and health care situations,” and that LGBTQ+ children are especially vulnerable because of the physical, social, and emotional isolation created by this public health emergency; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is observed annually in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and “to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally;” and

WHEREAS, June, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of annual LGBTQ Pride observances;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Thomas W. Bernard, Mayor of the City of North Adams, do hereby Proclaim June, 2020 as

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

in North Adams and encourage all residents to honor and affirm the rights and the gender identities, expressions, and sexualities of all people in our community, to commit to the elimination of prejudice wherever it exists, and to celebrate the diversity of our great city. -TWB