I AM ON THE STEPS OF SEATTLE
CITY HALL AND MY NAME IS
BRIANNA SMITH.
I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
THE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT LONG,
ELABORATE AND HEARTFELT
INTRODUCTION.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE
RECOGNIZING THAT THE LGBTQ PLUS
COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN
PERHAPS MORE VISIBLE IN RECENT
DECADES BUT IT IS OF VITAL AND
INTEGRAL PART OF THIS SEATTLE
COMMUNITY.
LEADING THE COUNTRY ON THE
ISSUES OF EQUALITY AND INCLUSION
FROM DISCRIMINATION AND
BIGOTRY.
PRIDE MONTH BEGAN IN 1973, THE
YEAR I WAS BORN -- WELL, OKAY,
I'M FIBBING ON THAT ONE.
BUT, THE WEEK WAS BORN IN 1973
IN THE FIRST PRIDE PARADE WAS
IN 1977. THE ISSUES FACING THIS
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND THE
AIDS CRISIS OF THE 1980s GAVE
BIRTH TO AN ORGANIZATION IN
SPOKANE WHICH HELPS WITH THE
AIDS NETWORK IN A VARIETY OF
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. AND
STANDING UP FOR OUR YOUTH AND
INHUMANE PRACTICES SUCH AS
CONVERSION THERAPY IN 2016.
NOW IS WHERE I RIF . WE TALK
ABOUT PRIDE, IT'S NOT A SELFISH
PRIDE BUT A PRIDE IN WHO WE ARE
AS A COMMUNITY.
WHO WE ARE -- WE ARE CAPABLE OF
LOVING AND BEING LOVED.
WE ARE WORTHY AND WE ARE PROUD.
NOW, I'VE HAD THE FORTUNE OF
COMING IN WITH SEVERAL MAYORS
IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN THIS
COUNTRY. THE MAYOR OF CINCINNATI
TOOK OFFICE THE SAME DAY I DID
AND HIS TEAM GETS TO GO TO THE
SUPER BOWL. THEY LOST, BUT
SINCE THEN, HE WENT TO THE
SUPER BOWL.
MICHELLE OF BOSTON GETS ELECTED
AND HER TEAM GOES TO THE NBA.
OF COURSE, IF THEY WERE FACING
GOLDEN STATE, IT MIGHT BE A
DIFFERENT STORY. BUT I TOLD THEM
I HAVE THE BEST HAND OUT OF ALL
OF THE NEW MAYORS.
WHY?
IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT THE
LBGTQ+ COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATES
THE BEST IN OURSELVES . LOVE,
COMPASSION, DETERMINATION,
COURAGE, AND STRENGTH.
ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE
A CITY GREAT. I HAVE THE BEST
HAND AND IT WILL BE BETTER WHEN
WE GET AN NBA BASKETBALL TEAM,
BY THE WAY. THAT'S A JOKE.
>> BUT I HAVE THE BEST HAND AND
I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH MY
COMMUNITY TODAY. THE BEST THING
THAT I CAN DO, THE BEST THING I
CAN DO IS TO KEEP EVANGELIZING
THE LOVE FROM AND TO THIS
COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE BEST
THING I CAN DO AND I AM HUMBLED
TO BE THE MAYOR OF SUCH A GREAT
COMMUNITY.
HAVING SAID THAT, AND I KNOW
THAT MONISHA HAS TROUBLES WHEN
I START TO RIF . I AM HAPPY TO
INTRODUCE A MEMBER OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES WHO IS A LEADER FOR
SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR
UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
I PRESENT TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY MORALES .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR
HARRELL AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
WE COMMEMORATE THE FIRST DAY OF
FLAG MONTH WITH THE ANNUAL FLAG
RAISING. PRIDE MONTH DID NOT
START OUT WITH RAINBOW FLAGS
AND PARADES.
IT WAS A DISPLAY OF RESISTANCE.
IT COMMEMORATES THE STONEWALL
RIOTS IN NEW YORK CITY LED BY
BLACK AND BROWN TRANS WOMEN IN
1969. THIS CATALYZED THE LGBTQ
MOVEMENT. A STRUGGLE THAT IS
ONGOING TODAY.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE WITH THE
SUPREME COURT RULING, CIVIL
RIGHTS ARE AT STAKE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE TO PROTECT ALL
REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY
EXPRESSED THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR
INTENT. WE KNOW THAT SINCE THE
START OF 2020, MORE THAN 300
BILLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO
ATTACK THE TRENDS COMMUNITY.
PARTICULARLY THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE . THE
ATTACKS HAVE SWEPT THE NATION.
I WAS HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH
ALEXA FROM PRIDE ASIA AND HAVE
PRIDE ASIAN DAY WHICH ELEVATES
THE IMPORTANCE OF THECOMMUNITY
WITH THEIR HEALTH AND SERVING
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR REFUGEE
NEIGHBORS.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS
THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMIT TO
REMAIN VIGILANT IN OUR FIGHT TO
ERADICATE DISCRIMINATION AND TO
ENSURE JUSTICE AND LEGAL
PROTECTION FOR ALL IN THE
LGBTQIA COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE .
>> AND NOW I INTRODUCE ANDREW
WHO IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE
LGBTQIA COMMISSION . ANDREW,
PLEASE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ].
>>> IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE
HERE, THANK YOU MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBER.
I REMEMBER BEING IN NIGERIA AND
TOLD THAT I WOULD NEVER ACHIEVE
ANYTHING AND THAT MY LIFE WAS
USELESS.
TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
READING FOR SEATTLE PRIDE
MONTH.
WHEREAS SEATTLE IS HOME TO SOME
OF THE NATION'S MOST ACTIVE
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
WORKING TO ENSURE THE FULL AND
EQUAL RECOGNITION AND
PROTECTION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER,
LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND OTHER
INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WHEREAS THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES
IN SEATTLE ARE AN INTEGRAL AND
VITAL PART OF THE ECONOMIC ,
ARTISTIC, AND SOCIAL SPURS OF
SEATTLE.
WHERE AS IT WAS DESIGNATED
PRIDE MONTH TO COMMEMORATE THE
STONEWALL RIOTS, A SERIES OF
DEMONSTRATIONS LED BY BLACK AND
BROWN TRANS WOMEN. OCCURRING IN
JUNE OF 1969 AND GENERALLY
RECOGNIZED AS THE CATALYST OF
THE ALEX PEDERSEN CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
-- LGBTQ CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
. WITH THE TRANSSEXUAL AND
CELEBRATION IN A UNIFIED
EFFORT TO FORGE A MORE OPEN AND
JUST SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR, SEATTLE
ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO
CELEBRATE THE PROGRAM AND THE
PROGRESS IN OUR CULTURE. TOWARD
JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND FULL
RECOGNITION FOR LGBTQ PERSONS .
AND JOIN US IN THE FIGHT TO
ERADICATE PREJUDICE AND
DISCRIMINATION EVERYWHERE.
THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO PROCLAIM
JUNE 2022 TO BE LGBTQ PRIDE
MONTH . THE FIGHT TO ERADICATE
PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION
EVERYWHERE IS ONE THAT THE
SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION IS
WORKING ON . WE INVITE THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL
TO PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S
ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MEDICAL
CARE, HOUSING, AND SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
THAT SHOWS THE MEMBERS OF THE
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ARE IMPACTED
BY POOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH CARE.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY,
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE MORE
LIKELY TO HAVE ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE THAN THE GENERAL
POPULATION.
OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, WE CALL ON THEM TO
INCREASE FUNDING FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING, FOOD
AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TO
DEVELOP PLANS TO INCREASE THE
COMMUNITY'S CONFIDENCE AMONG THE
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. LASTLY,
ASKING THE CITIES TO INCREASE
SHELTERS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
HOMELESSNESS IS AN ISSUE CLOSE
TO OUR HEARTS.
DUE TO THE DISCRIMINATORY
EFFECT ON PEOPLE . THE ISSUES
IMPACTING THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY
ARE EXPANSIVE AND MULTIPLY
DIVERSE.
WE CALL ON A CONCERTED EFFORT
BETWEEN CITY OFFICIALS AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE
COMMISSION. WE INVITE THEM TO
SHARE A CONVERSATION WITH US
AND TO HAVE CHANGES FOR THE
COMMUNITY. NOW I CALL ON THE
LAVENDER PROJECT.
>>> IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU,
I AM JAELYN SCOTT, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
PROJECT.
IN THIS MONTH WITH THE BLACK
TRENDS PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN
US HERE. THE MOTHERS OF PRIDE
AND FATHERS OF PROUD. THE
COMPTON CAFETERIA AND OTHER
MOVEMENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY,
I HONOR ALL OF OUR LGBTQ
GENDER DIVERSE ANCESTORS WHO
WERE A STEADY HAND OF
RESISTANCE THAT BROUGHT THE
FIRST WAVE, JUST THE FIRST WAVE
OF AND TRANS LIBERATION ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY. TOGETHER LET'S
REMEMBER AND BE INSPIRED BY
THEIR STORIES.
ALSO, LET'S REMEMBER WE HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO.
WITH THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE AND
POLITICAL ATTACKS ON TRANS YOUTH
, THE USE OF TRANS BODIES AS A
WEDGE BY POLITICIANS FOR
CONTINUED VIOLENCE AGAINST
TRANS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK
TRENDS WOMEN. I WANT TO NAME
HOW IMPORTANT THIS YEAR OF 2022
IS. THE ATTACKS COME FOR YOUTH
ESPECIALLY BLACK TRENDS GIRLS
AND WOMEN.
THESE ATTACKS ARE ATTACKS ON
OUR BODILY AUTONOMY AND THEY
ARE INTENDED AS STRATEGIC
DISRUPTIONS TO BOTH LGBTQ AND
GENDER JUSTICE RIGHTS . THESE
RIGHTS WERE HARD EARNED AND WE
ARE NOT GOING TO JUST LET THEM
GO. I ASK US TO REMEMBER THAT
THIS PRIDE AND EVERY PRIDE
FOLLOWING THE UPRISING OF THE
SUMMER OF 2020 WILL FOREVER BE
TIED WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER. A
MOVEMENT STARTED IN LED BY
BLACK YOUNG PEOPLE IN MANY WERE
LGBTQ.
MANY BLACK LEADERS AND YOUTH
GUIDED US TO JUSTICE AND SHOWED
US HOW TO TRULY CARE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. THEY OFFERED
ALTERNATIVES TO JUSTICE AND
RECONCILIATION. THIS MONTH,
LET'S NOT JUST RATE WAVE FLAGS
BUT CALL FOR ACTION AND DEMAND
PROTECTION FOR BLACK TRENDS LIFE
. THE LEADERS OF THE 2020
UPRISING REMIND US THAT PRIDE
IS AN OMINOUS WITH BLACK
LIBERATION.
THERE WILL NOT BE PRIDE FOR
SOME OF US WITHOUT LIBERATION
FOR ALL OF US.
THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE THE
MAGIC AND BEAUTY OF CLEARNESS
AND BLACKNESS AND WE WILL SHOW
THE WORLD.
LIKE BLACK FOLKS IN MY
ANCESTORS AND MY GRANDPARENTS
AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS HAVE
ALWAYS DONE, WE WILL FIGHT ON
ONE HAND AND CELEBRATE ON THE
OTHER.
WE KNOW HOW TO HOLD JOY AND
RESISTANCE TOGETHER. WE WILL
FIND JOY IN THE LARGER THAN
LIFE STORIES OF OUR ANCESTORS.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS AND
WE, LIKE THEM, WILL LEAVE WITH
OUR HUMOR, OUR SHADE, OUR SASS
AND OUR CREATIVITY.
IN THE SHADES OF LAUGHTER, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE AND
RESIST THIS CURRENT WAVE OF
TRANS PHOBIA FACING OUR
COMMUNITY. WE WILL REMEMBER
THOSE WHO GOT US HERE IN THE
FIRST PLACE AND WE WILL LIFT
BLACK TRENDS AND NON-BINARY
LEADERSHIP. WE WILL CELEBRATE
THIS MONTH AND DANCE HARD AND
PLAY HARDER.
WE WILL REMIND THE WORLD THAT
BLACK AND TRANS LIVES MATTER.
TRANS LIVES MATTER. WE TELL
THOSE HOSTILE TO OUR COMMUNITY
TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OF OUR
TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH.
LET'S CELEBRATE TODAY IN THE
SPIRIT OF MOTHER MARSHA AND
LET'S RESIST WHILE WE
CELEBRATE.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO EVERYONE, IT IS AN
HONOR TO BE HERE. I USED A&M
PRONOUNS AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE EAST WHERE WE
CREATE SPACES FOR LOW INVENTORY
YOUTH TO EXPRESS CHANGES THEY
WANT TO SEE AND THERE'S GOALS
WHILE BUILDING THE SKILLS TO
BECOME DECISION-MAKERS OVER THE
HEALTH EQUITY ISSUES THAT
EMPOWER THEM THE MOST. WE
BELIEVE YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE AT
THE CENTER OF DECISIONS
IMPACTING THEIR LIVES AS THEY
HOLD THE KEYS TO SOLUTIONS THAT
WILL WORK BEST TO ADDRESS THEIR
NEEDS.
AT F.E.A.S.T., IT IS CRUCIAL TO
TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZING SKILLS SO THEY CAN
KEEP OUR COLLECTIVE MOVEMENT
FOR JUSTICE ALIVE AND GROWING
FOR DECADES TO COME. TODAY I
WANT TO ELEVATE LESSONS I HAVE
LEARNED OVER THE YEARS WITH
ORGANIZING WITH AND TRANS YOUTH
. THESE GUIDE HOW I WORK AND
ALSO HOW I NURTURE MYSELF AND
THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. WE HOLD
COMPLEX FEELINGS OF CELEBRATION
ALONGSIDE OUR GRIEF AND OUTRAGE
AT ONGOING CURRENT EVENTS. ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE
SHOWN US DURING THE PANDEMIC IS
THAT WE CANNOT CARRY ON WITH
BUSINESS AS USUAL, ESPECIALLY
IN TIMES OF GREAT GRIEF AND LOSS
. WE NEED TO PAUSE AND CHECK IN
WITH OURSELVES AND WITH EACH
OTHER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE GOOD AND THAT OUR PEOPLE
ARE GOOD. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE
OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR GREATER
SYSTEMIC CHANGE OVER THE LONG
HAUL. THE MUTUAL AID CAMPAIGNS
AND INCREASED ADVOCACY FOR
INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES THAT HAVE RESULTED
HAS REMINDED ME HOW THE
COMMUNITIES HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN
CARE OF EACH OTHER. WE HAVE
RESISTED AND PERSISTED IN
RESISTANCE THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
WHEN WE LIVE OUT OUR TRUTH, WE
MAKE WAY FOR OTHERS TO DO THE
SAME.
ORGANIZING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
TAKES YEARS AND EVEN DECADES.
>> WHILE THERE IS NOT ONE
ANSWER, I KNOW THAT JOY AND
HOPE ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR
MOVEMENTS VIABLE.
LAST MONTH AS I GRIEVE FOR
VICTIMS OF BUFFALO AND YOU'VE
ALL THE, THERE IS AN INCURABLE
INCREDIBLE AUTHOR AND MENTOR
WHO IS A PROLIFIC AUTHOR ON
HOPE THAT I HAVE HEARD. SHE
SAYS HOPE IS NOT AN EMOTION,
IT'S A DISCIPLINE WE MUST
PRACTICE IT EVERY DAY.
AS WE TOUCH ON THE THOUGHT OF
LOSING HOPE, MY MUSCLE MEMORY
KICKED IN AND MY RESPONSE WAS
THIS.
BECOMING BITTER AND BECOMING
COMPLACENT IS THE ANTITHESIS OF
WHO WE ARE.
BE YOURSELF, MOST IMPORTANTLY
DON'T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING
STOP YOU FROM EXPRESSING THE
LOVE AND OPTIMISM IN YOUR
HEART.
YOUR LOVE IS A GIFT.
AND AS MANY YEARS AS WE AND OUR
ANCESTORS HAVE GONE THROUGH ,
WE ARE STILL HERE. KEEPING HOPE
ALIVE IS NOT JUST WHO WE ARE,
IT'S WHAT WE DO. ANOTHER LESSON
I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUTH IS
ABOUT CENSORING RADICAL JOY. WE
FIND AFFIRMATION, CONNECTION,
AND JOY IN SPACES THAT WERE NOT
HISTORICALLY CREATED FOR US AND
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL ACT.
ESPECIALLY ON THIS HOLIDAY OF
PRIDE THAT IS AT TIMES COMPLEX.
THE WAYS WE CARE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND ENVISION A BETTER
FUTURE ARE AWAY TO THE TRUTH IN
OUR HISTORY AND OUR TRUTH
CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM US. SO,
ALLOW YOURSELVES TO BE PRESENT
AND ENJOY TODAY AND CELEBRATE
PRIDE MONTH. I HOPE YOU FIND
MOMENTS OF JOY ALL YEAR LONG.
AS YOU FILL YOUR HEARTS WITH
HAPPINESS, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS
IN YOUR REACH. WE NEED THESE
MOMENTS OF JOY IN THESE MOMENTS
TO REMEMBER THE BEAUTY,
BRILLIANCE, AND SACRIFICES OF
OUR ANCESTORS.
THE WORLD MADE POSSIBLE IN THE
WORLD WE PROTECT AND PUSH TO
MAKE JUST. WE ARE THE WILDEST
DREAMS OF OUR ANCESTORS AND THE
EMBODIMENT OF RESILIENCE.
MAY THE POSITIVITY WE GENERATE
FEW WILL OUR ONGOING FIGHT FOR
JUSTICE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO THOSE WONDERFUL
SPEAKERS AND WE WILL COMMENCE
WITH THE RAISING OF THE FLAG
FOLLOWED BY CLOSING REMARKS BY
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
McELROY, TEAMWORK MAKES THE
DREAM WORK.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
SPEAKERS WHO HAVE JOINED US
TODAY. YOUR WORDS ARE INCREDIBLY
INSPIRING.
HAPPY PRIDE TO ALL OF THOSE WHO
CELEBRATE.
THERE IS A TIME PERIOD WHEN OUR
COMMUNITY ONLY MET IN DARK
WINDOWLESS PLACES.
THAT WAS THE ONLY SPACES WE
COULD BE OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES.
SO WHEN THE NINTH LARGEST CITY
IN THIS COUNTRY IN A CITY LIKE
SEATTLE WHERE WE CAN BE OUT AND
BE PROUD, WE HAVE ACCESS TO
EDUCATION AND TO HOUSING, TO
JOBS, TO A FUTURE, TO FAMILIES
AND TO LOVE.
IN PLACES WHERE WE CANNOT
REMEMBER, IT'S NOT TOO FAR OFF
THAT WE WERE STILL MEETING.
IN THOSE DARK SPACES.
THOSE WINDOWLESS SPACES, THE
SPACES HE COULD ONLY GET
THROUGH THE DOOR AND YOU COULD
BE SAFE BECAUSE THERE WERE SO
MANY VULNERABLE PEOPLE INSIDE
WHERE WE COULD NOT BE PUBLIC,
WE CANNOT BE OURSELVES AND WE
KNOW OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES
WE HAVE TAKEN SOME SIGNIFICANT
STEPS FORWARD AND WE KNOW THERE
ARE MAJOR ATTEMPTS AND WE
CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
THEY WANT US TO GO BACK TO
THOSE SPACES WHERE THEY DID NOT
SEE US OR HEAR US AND THE
THOUGHTS WERE PERHAPS WE DON'T
EXIST.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE DOING
TODAY.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE DOING
THIS MONTH, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE
ARE DOING THIS YEAR.
SEATTLE HAS SHOWN US AND IS
DEMONSTRATING FOR THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY THAT WE WILL NOT GO
BACK INTO THE CLOSET THAT THOSE
STEPS BACKWARDS, WE WILL SET
THE LIGHT, WE WILL SET THE
BLUEPRINT FOR HOW THOSE IN
THOSE MOMENTS OF HOPELESSNESS
THOSE IN THE MOMENTS OF FEELING
LOST, SEATTLE IS HERE FOR YOU.
WE STAND UP AND PROTECT ONE
ANOTHER.
WE KNOW HOW TO NOT ONLY FIGHT
THE FIGHT FOR TODAY BUT FIGHT
THE FIGHT FOR TOMORROW.
WE HAVE NOT GIVEN UP AND WE
CONTINUE TO SET THAT PATHWAY
FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON, MIDDLE-
AGED PERSON, OLD PERSON WHO
SEES WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN
THEIR JURISDICTION AND LOCAL
AREA AND SAYING THERE IS A PLACE
FOR HOPELESS AND THAT WE CAN
STILL FIND HOME AND HEALTH AND
HAPPINESS BEING OUR AUTHENTIC
SELVES.
WE NOT ONLY FIGHT FOR US BUT WE
FIGHT FOR THEM BECAUSE IN THE
MOMENTS WORDS DARKEST FOR THEM,
THEY WILL KNOW THAT A TRUE LIFE
DOES EXIST WE ARE DESERVING OF
LOVE.
WE ARE DESERVING OF HAPPINESS
AND WE WILL BUILD THAT FOR
OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS MONTH IS ABOUT.
I KNOW THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN
WE GET WEARY AND TIRED BUT THE
IMPORTANT PIECES WE DON'T GIVE
UP, THE IMPORTANT PIECES WE
FIGHT IN THE ROLES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO US THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US AND IF IT DOESN'T
EXIST, WE WILL CREATE IT.
IF IT DOES NOT EXIST WE WILL
COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THAT
WHICH WE NEED. WHAT YOU SEE
TODAY IS YOU SEE A COMMUNITY
THAT MAY LOOK SMALL BUT IS
POWERFUL BEYOND ALL BELIEF.
BECAUSE THEY WORK TOGETHER.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE
DEFINITION OF FAMILY.
BECAUSE IN THE FACE OF REJECTION
AND IN THE FACE OF OBSTACLES
THAT BIND TOGETHER AND SUPPORT
EACH OTHER AND BUILD SOMETHING
EVEN MORE THAN SEPARATE PIECES
THAT'S WHAT I HOPE YOU TAKE
WITH YOU DURING THIS PRIDE
MONTH.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE
NEXT PHASE FOR ALL OF US.
WE DIG DEEP EN ROUTE DOWN AND
SAY WE WILL CONTINUE THIS FIGHT.
THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS
THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR LOVED
ONES AS THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED
TO ALL OF HUMANITY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY,
THANK YOU TO OUR LGBTQ
COMMISSION AND TO OUR
LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING AND THIS
IS WHERE WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.