Mayor Proclaims LGBTQ Pride Month

He was joined by the Frederick Center.


It’s something that’s probably never been done in Frederick until now. During Thursday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Randy McClement read a proclamation declaring the month of June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month. “The LGBTQ community has historically faced prejudice and discrimination because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,” McClement said, reading the proclamation. “Many LGBTQ have had to hide their sexual orientation and their gender identity in order to keep their jobs or to live safely in their communities.”

He said he and theĀ  Aldermen “are dedicated to the upholding of the basic civil rights of all constituents.”

The Mayor was joined by a large crowd, some from the Frederick Center, which serves the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. Reverend Barbara Kershner Daniel with the Evangelical Reform United Church of Christ is on the organization’s board of directors. “We all want to live in a community where all are welcome, and where everyone can live lives as their true selves. And it takes leadership in order to make that kind of community,” she said. “And I want to thank you Mayor and I want to thank you Aldermen for continuing to create a community where all lives are valued.”

“We all know that there’s many places in the world where this is not true. And there’s many places in our community who are not safe to be what they’re created to be,” Reverend Daniel continued.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month was created to remember the Stonewall riots of 1969. The violence occurred after police in New York City raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, which was a popular place for the gay community at the time. The events led to the fight for gay and lesbian rights across the US.