June has traditionally been LGBTQ Pride Month (originally called Gay Pride) ever since the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 that most historians credit as the birth of the modern gay rights movement. In Howard County, Maryland, the tradition continues.
On the evening of June 7 County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball read an executive proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the county. The event was witnessed by nearly two dozen diverse members of the county’s LGBTQ+ community and supportive allies who gathered in front of the George Howard Building—the seat of the county government—for the ceremonial proclamation reading.
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| County Executive Calvin Ball |
Whereas… The LGBTQ+ community in Howard County is vibrant
and growing with a mission to create ongoing opportunities for open dialogue about sexual orientation and gender questioning for
those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+; and
Whereas… Each resident deserves to be accepted with
compassion, acknowledged for their contributions and inspired to celebrate
life’s gifts within a safe and supportive community; and
Whereas… It is fitting for Howard County Government to
recognize Pride Month as a way to support individual rights and reaffirm our
commitment to inclusion, equality and justice for all.
Now therefore, I, … Calvin Ball, County Executive of
Howard County, Maryland, do hereby proclaim
June 2021
Pride Month
In Howard County, Maryland
****
When the skies darkened following
the ceremony, the Howard Building was alternately bathed in lights representing
the colors of the rainbow, the familiar symbol of the LGBTQ+ community.
Howard County government has traditionally
supported LGBTQ+ rights. In fact, it was the first jurisdiction in the state to
pass a non-discrimination measure based on sexual orientation in 1973. And in
2011 it was among the first jurisdictions in the state to pass protections
based on gender identity and expression.
In 2019, Howard County government
co-sponsored the first ever LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in the county, which
turned out to be a colossal success with some 10,000 attending. HoCo Pride will
renew the festivities on October 9 after a year off because of the pandemic.
The significance of the
proclamation presented by the County Executive was not lost on LGBTQ+ community
leaders.
“This is a very important moment
for the community,” says Jumel Howard, Chair of HoCo Pride, Vice President of
PFLAG Howard County, and Regional Director of PFLAG Mid-Atlantic. “We are
appreciative of the County Executive and his administration for being on the
front lines in advocating for equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Alisha Tronetti, a student at
University of Maryland and a member of the HoCo Pride Steering Committee,
points out, “Events like these are extremely important. The LGBTQ community is
small and need the public display of support from county government.”
Others see this as an
opportunity for progress beyond the symbolism of this recognition.
“I’m grateful our county government has
recognized Pride Month,” says Byron Macfarlane, the county’s Register of Wills
and the first openly LGBTQ elected official in Howard County. “It sends a message
that Howard County embraces the LGBTQ+ community and that hate has no home
here.”
He adds, “I hope that beyond
today’s proclamation, we’ll continue to break down barriers and stand in
solidarity for true and meaningful equality in every aspect of the daily lives
of our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors.”
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