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The Amherst Town Council proclaims June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The community is invited to the reading of the proclamation and the raising of the Pride Flag on Friday, June 3rd at 5:30 PM outside of Amherst Town Hall.

Council Sponsors: Councilors De Angelis and Devlin Gauthier & Community Sponsor: Evan Ross 

WHEREAS, on June 28th, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village and sparked a riot, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement known as the Stonewall Riots, which later served as the catalyst for the LGBT+ rights movement; and 

WHEREAS, in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and the subsequent first Pride march in New York City in June 1970, each June, Americans come together to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community; and 

WHEREAS, since the Stonewall Uprising, the LGBTQ+ community has achieved significant progress including the right to marriage equality across the country, state and federal workplace protections, and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and 

WHEREAS, we celebrate and reflect upon the courage and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community who continue to fight for progress towards securing important rights and freedoms to live freely and authentically, often through struggle and adversity; and 

WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ community has and continues to face systemic discrimination across the United States including social stigma, challenges accessing healthcare and other basic social services, and increased rates of violence; and 

WHEREAS, we remain vigilant and active against continued oppression and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans community, and stand against any political efforts to overturn these hard-fought rights; and 

WHEREAS, we recognize that queer and trans people of color have been and remain at the forefront of that struggle for those rights; and WHEREAS, the Town of Amherst values diversity and inclusion and is committed to equal rights, justice, and opportunity; and 

WHEREAS, Amherst recognizes the important contributions of its LGBTQ+ residents to the Town’s history, culture, economy, and civic life; and WHEREAS, we affirm our support for our LGBTQ+ residents and stand with them to protect their civil rights and ability to live openly without fear. 

NOW, THEREFORE, we the Amherst Town Council do hereby proclaim June 2022 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

BE IF FURTHER PROCLAIMED, we, the Amherst Town Council encourage all residents to celebrate and affirm our proud and diverse LGBTQ+ community year-round.

BE IF FURTHER PROCLAIMED, this proclamation will be recognized by raising the Pride flag on the UN flagpole from June 2 to June 30, 2022.

Please join us for a reading of the 2022 LGBTQ+ Pride Month Proclamation by Amherst Town Councilors and the raising of the Pride Flag on Friday, June 3rd at 5:30 PM on the front steps of Amherst Town Hall.