Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Vice-Chair Hamilton, to <br /> approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Chair Bedford said many proclamations are on the consent agenda, but there are some <br /> that the Board feels are critically important to read aloud. <br /> Paul Slack shared information on some of the events taking place on June 13'" <br /> b. Proclamation Recognizing June 2025 as Pride Month in Orange County <br /> The Board approved a proclamation designating June 2025 as Pride Month in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: Each June, communities across the nation celebrate the courage and <br /> contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals while honoring the movement's roots in resistance and <br /> resilience. Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City — a <br /> spontaneous response to police harassment that sparked a nationwide push for LGBTQ+ <br /> liberation and visibility. The first Pride marches, held one year later, transformed that momentum <br /> into public demonstrations for equality, dignity, and freedom. <br /> Since Stonewall, LGBTQ+ advocacy has driven significant progress, including landmark Supreme <br /> Court decisions affirming marriage equality and workplace protections, as well as expanded <br /> federal hate crime legislation. Today, LGBTQ+ individuals serve in leadership roles across every <br /> level of government, and Pride events around the world continue to amplify voices of joy, identity, <br /> and justice. <br /> Despite this progress, challenges persist. Discrimination, targeted legislation, and violence — <br /> especially against transgender women of color— remain pressing concerns. LGBTQ+ youth still <br /> face disproportionate levels of bullying and mental health risks. In Orange County, local data <br /> echoes national trends, underscoring the need for affirming spaces in schools and communities. <br /> Pride Month calls us not only to celebrate how far we've come, but to reaffirm the commitment to <br /> a more inclusive and equitable future where all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender <br /> identity, are treated with dignity and respect. <br /> There are several Pride Month events happening around Orange County in June, including: <br /> • Chapel Hill Pride Promenade — June 7, 2025 at 12:00 pm <br /> • Carrboro's Pride Piper Walk—June 14, 2025 at 4:30 pm <br /> • Carrboro Orgullo Pride Celebration —June 14, 2025 from 5-8 pm <br /> Paul Slack, Department of Civil Rights and Civic Life Director, introduced the item. <br /> Paul Slack and Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2025 <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 />