Gov. Tina Kotek proclaims LGBTQ+ Pride Month

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Governor Tina Kotek issued a proclamation Tuesday declaring the month of June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Oregon.

“Pride is about love, acceptance, and community,” Governor Kotek said. “Great joy and great struggle have always existed side by side in the LGBTQ+ movement. Pride will always shine brighter than fear ever can.

“While we celebrate LGBTQ+ communities every month, June is dedicated to lifting up the invaluable contributions the LGBTQ+ community has made to our state and our world. I am committed to ensuring that all Oregonians across the state, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feel welcomed and celebrated.”

“This month, we celebrate the generations of LGBTQ2SIA+ leaders whose stunning bravery and hard work shaped Oregon into one of the most affirming and welcoming states in the nation,” said Kyndall Mason (she/her), executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. “At the same time, we’re mindful of all the room we still have to grow in terms of full legal and lived equality. Pride Month is a welcome reminder that being part of Oregon’s LGBTQ2SIA+ community is a great joy, and that we can achieve great things when we all come together.”

A copy of the proclamation is linked here, and the full text can be found below:

WHEREAS:          Pride Month is a time to honor the resilience, diversity, and history of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, celebrating the contributions of individuals who have fought bravely to live openly and authentically, and recognizing the ongoing struggle for equity, dignity, and justice for all; and 

WHEREAS:          This month we celebrate the fifty fifth anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA2S+ rights, sparking a civil rights movement that continues to inspire generations; and

WHEREAS:          The State of Oregon acknowledges the significant challenges still faced by the LGBTQIA2S+ community, including discriminatory legislation, violence, and systemic barriers that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and transgender individuals, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and protection of human rights; and

WHEREAS:          The State of Oregon is committed to supporting and celebrating culturally and community specific Pride events which honor the unique experiences and contributions of diverse LGBTQIA2S+ communities; and

WHEREAS:          The State of Oregon recommits itself to creating a safe and inclusive  environment for all LGBTQIA2S+ individuals by addressing economic, health, and social disparities and by fostering spaces of belonging for LGBTQIA2S+ community members.

NOW,
THEREFORE:    I, Tina Kotek, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim June 2024 to be

Pride Month

in Oregon and encourage all Oregonians to join in this observance.