A Proclamation on
Columbus Georgia Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2022
June 01, 2022
During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month, we reflect on the progress we have made as a Nation in the fight for justice, inclusion, and equality while reaffirming our commitment to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad. America is often said to be the land of possibilities, A place where anything can happen.. This month, we celebrate generations of LGBTQI+ people who have fought to make the possibilities of our Nation real for every American.
Today, the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans are under relentless attack. Members of the LGBTQI+ community — especially people of color and trans people — continue to face discrimination and cruel, persistent efforts to undermine their human rights. An onslaught of dangerous anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has been introduced and passed in States across the country, targeting transgender children and their parents and interfering with their access to health care. These unconscionable attacks have left countless LGBTQI+ families in fear and pain. All of this compounded has been especially difficult on LGBTQI+ youth, 45 percent of whom seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year — a devastating reality that our Nation must work urgently to address.
This month, we remind the LGBTQI+ community that they are loved and cherished. My Administration sees you for who you are — deserving of dignity, respect, and support. Every person, Every Citizen— especially our younger transgender Americans — deserve the right free from harassment, discrimination and/or violence, to seek out their truth, live their truth, and truly be themselves where they each can reach their God-given potential. Colgay Pride of Columbus Georgia Today and every day, stands with every LGBTQI+ American in the ongoing struggle against intolerance, discrimination, and injustice. They condemn the dangerous State laws and bills that target LGBTQI+ youth and remain steadfast in their commitment to helping LGBTQI+ people here in Columbus and all around America live free from violence.
Every American, Gay or Straight should always stand up, speak out and take action to ensure that everyone — no matter who they are or whom they love — is treated equally with dignity and respect. Today, many LGBTQI+ Americans face a possible future where Marriage Equality is overturned due to the echoes of a resentful dying generation filled with hate and bigotry. In the State of Georgia, 13 cities adopted and implemented a City Wide Non Discrimination Ordinance that protects every citizen from discrimination including sexual orientation and gender identity which includes non discrimination protections for all citizens in housing, health care, education, employment, credit and lending services, and the criminal justice system; Due to two years of political and religious roadblocks, Columbus still continues to table and dismiss the need for a law that protects every one of its citizens and as a result continues to fail the HRC’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) rating year after year which continues to inhibit our cities growth and scare away potential new companies and job opportunities. Colgay Pride calls upon the leadership of Columbus Georgia to work together and pass the Non-Discrimination ordinance of Columbus and call upon our citizens to hold them accountable. Colgay Pride calls upon our U.S. Congress to pass the Equality Act, which will enshrine long overdue civil rights protections and build a better, safer future for all LGBTQI+ Americans.
This month, we honor the resilience of LGBTQI+ people, who are fighting to live authentically and freely. We reaffirm our belief that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. And we recommit to delivering protections, safety, and equality to LGBTQI+ families so that everyone can realize the full promise of America. We honor those outstanding individuals who have went above and beyond the call of duty like Christina Heck Williams for Leadership; Cheryl Ann Neal for her beautiful and courageous transformative journey, for Tim and Garrett Vance’s powerful 27 year partnership held together by strength, endurance and love, for an outstanding CSU educator Sundi Rose, For the unsurpassed humanitarianism of Can Community Health and the lifelong service, advocacy and spiritual leadership of Rev Emily Bel and honor the hard work, dedication and love Colgay Pride has shown for the past 9 years here in Columbus Georgia who is responsible for the 2022 June 4th Columbus Georgia 9th Annual LGBTQI+ Uptown Pride Festival;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, B. Skip Henderson., Mayor of the Great Diverse City of Columbus Georgia, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2022 as Columbus Georgia Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month. I call upon the citizens of Columbus Georgia to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to stand tall, united and without fear or shame wave their flags of pride high.