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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2021 <br /> AS PRIDE MONTH <br /> WHEREAS , LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual , Transgender, and Queer) Pride Month is <br /> celebrated nationally each year in the month of June , this month being chosen to commemorate <br /> the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan on the morning of June 28 , 1969 , often <br /> viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement ; and <br /> WHEREAS , several major United States Supreme Court decisions impacting LGBTQ rights in a <br /> positive way have been announced in June , including Lawrence v Texas, U. S. v Windsor , <br /> Obergefell v Hodges , Pavan v. Smith , and Bostock v. Clayton County, and another decision is <br /> forthcoming this month that will impact LGBT rights in Fulton v . City of Philadelphia; and <br /> WHEREAS , Orange County has a history of advancing the rights of its LGBTQ residents , <br /> including Carrboro becoming the first town in the state to enact a domestic registry for same sex <br /> partners , extending eligibility for employment benefits to same - sex partners of County employees <br /> in September 2004 , and the election a gay and lesbian elected officials within the County; and <br /> WHEREAS , additionally, in January of this year, Orange County was among the first local <br /> governments in the state (along with Hillsborough, Carrboro , and Chapel Hill) to pass a local <br /> nondiscrimination law extending protections in public accommodation and employment for <br /> persons based on their sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression, and <br /> WHEREAS , much physical and psychological violence is still inflicted on LGBTQ people both <br /> at home and abroad, violence toward transgender people of color is increasing, bullying and <br /> harassment of LGBTQ youth who make up a disproportionate number of homeless youth in the <br /> United States continues , and the North Carolina General Assembly continues to entertain bills <br /> targeting the transgender community; and <br /> WHEREAS , Orange County is committed to standing with and supporting the LGBTQ <br /> community, and to working to ensure that all of people , regardless of their sexual orientation or <br /> gender identity or expression, are treated with respect and dignity; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE , we the Orange County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim the <br /> month of June 2021 as PRIDE MONTH in Orange County and urge the North Carolina General <br /> Assembly to pass the following bills into law : <br /> 1 . The "Equality For All Act, " which would establish comprehensive statewide <br /> nondiscrimination protections for all LGBTQ people in NC / r 3 ) ! <br /> 2 . HB 451 /SB 438 , which would fully and cleanly repeal HB 142 and get the <br /> discriminatory law off of the books . ( sponsored by Senator Valerie Foushee) <br /> 3 . "Mental Health Protection Act, " which would prohibit the practice of ` conversion <br /> therapy . ' / 392 <br /> 4 . HB 449/SBwhich would ban the so - called " gay/trans panic " defense , a defense <br /> that historically has been used to dismiss anti- LGBTQ violence and justify "heat of <br /> passion" assaults . <br /> This the 15 "' day of June 2021 . <br /> MNNL= <br /> z +p <br /> ..9 P I <br /> � . <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> 17 ''�' F Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />