Latest / KMUD News / Humboldt County Declares Pride Month Amid Rising Anti-Queer Legislation
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker A: Multiple Pride flags are now flying on local government buildings, with the City of Arcata raising its Rainbow Flag on Monday and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors following suit on Tuesday during an official proclamation ceremony. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors formally declared June as Pride Month, recognizing the history, contributions and resilience of the 2 SLGQIA community. The proclamation celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion throughout the county. Supervisor Natalie Arroyo introduced the proclamation and read it aloud during the Board meeting.
- 0:43Speaker B: Whereas in 2022 proclamations were signed by United States President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom declaring June as Pride Month and the county of Humboldt joined the State of California and federal government in recognizing Pride Month to honor the history of of Two Spirit lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people and support the rights of all citizens to experience equality and freedom from discrimination and whereas the month of June is annually celebrated as Two Spirit LGBTQIA Pride Month throughout the country to honor the 1969 Stonewall uprising in Manhattan, which is acknowledged as a tipping point for the Two Spirit LGBTQIA rights movement and whereas the first Pride March was held on June 28, 1970 in New York City on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and continues across the United States and in Humboldt county and Whereas the Rainbow Flag is widely recognized as a symbol of pride, inclusion and support for social movements that advocate for two Spirit LGBTQIA people in society and shall be raised annually throughout the month of June at County of Humboldt facilities and whereas 2spirit LGBTQIA people are residents, colleagues, leaders, neighbors and loved ones who continue to have influential and lasting contributions that make the County a vibrant place in which to live, work and visit and Whereas the County of Humboldt is committed to advocating for equity, visibility, dignity and safety of two Spirit LGBTQIA people as well as our most vulnerable trans and BIPOC members in this diverse community and whereas in 2023, the county of Humboldt's first queer affinity group was established as a space for two Spirit LGBTQIA employees and their allies within the organization to convene for the purpose of policy suggestion, networking and professional development. The Queer Affinity Group is designed to cultivate an inclusive workspace for all employees and is not intended to be a space of educating but organizational progress. Whereas While society at large increasingly supports two Spirit LGBTQIA equality, it is essential to acknowledge that education and advocacy remain vital to end discrimination and prejudice within Humboldt county and across the nation and Whereas this nation was founded on the principle that every individual has infinite dignity and worth and the county of Humboldt calls upon the people of this county to embrace this principle and work to eliminate prejudice everywhere that it exists. And whereas celebrating Pride Month promotes awareness and provides support, support and advocacy for Humboldt County's two spirit LGBTQIA plus community. And is an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue to strengthen alliances, build acceptance, advance equal rights and honor the humanity of all two spirit LGBTQIA plus people. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims June 2025 and annually thereafter as Pride Month and celebration and Support of the Two Spirit LGBTQIA + Community. Community.
- 3:42Speaker A: In 2020, the Board of Supervisors issued a directive to support equity and inclusion in the workplace. One initiative that grew out of that effort is the Humboldt County Queer Affinity Group, which has created supportive spaces for employee connection and engagement. A member of the group accepted the proclamation on behalf of the community.
- 4:06Speaker C: Good morning, members of the board, county staff and co workers. My name is Ariel Hilton Bridges and I am here to accept this proclamation on behalf of the Queer Affinity Group and the queer community. I am here on behalf of those in our community who are no longer with us. I am here for those who cannot be here due to stigma, fear or misunderstanding. I am here because those who came before me stood up for equality, love and community. Thank you for standing alongside us and standing up for us. Thank you for your support in the affinity groups as a whole and in particular for the queer Affinity group. And thank you for being with us once again this year and hopefully for many years to come.
- 5:12Speaker A: In an emotional exchange, Supervisor Arroyo spoke to the troubling rise in anti queer rhetoric which has been highlighted with the widespread anti queer legislation and the ongoing attempts to erase queer and trans existence, which leads to devastating outcomes, especially for queer youth.
- 5:37Speaker B: I think it's safe to say that this is an unusual time for a lot of community members who feel scared. And so I appreciate you mentioning that and also speaking about people we've lost. I know I've lost people in people I know have lost their children to suicide. And that is a real consideration. So I know we, we want to make this a celebratory moment, but I think it's really important to also talk about people's safety, physical safety, and intellectual, emotional, psychological safety. And that's why I will continue to be an outspoken voice in support of queer community members. So, you know, not only do I want to celebrate equality and everyone's right to be themselves, but it's critically important that we literally save people's lives.
- 6:41Speaker A: You can find a copy of Humboldt County's Pride month proclamation@kmud.org.