2023 -- S 1088

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LC003099

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING JUNE OF 2023, AS "PRIDE

MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, Pearson, Murray, Felag, Kallman, DiMario, Burke,
LaMountain, Cano, and Gu

     Date Introduced: June 01, 2023

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Annually, June is the month chosen to celebrate "Pride," a time for the

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities

and all Americans to reflect on the struggles and injustices endured by LGBTQIA+ communities.

It is a month to take pride in the progress that has been made since the fateful Stonewall Riots in

1969, in Greenwich Village, New York, which were in response to rampant discrimination by

police and a legal system that was hostile to the LGBTQIA+ community; and

     WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ people still experience harassment and discrimination based on

their sexual orientation and gender identity locally, nationally and internationally. LGBTQIA+

people of color and particularly trans women of color face greater disparities in the areas of

health, housing, and criminal justice and are many more times likely to be the victims of fatal

violence; and

     WHEREAS, Although much progress has been made, including, but not limited to,

gaining civil rights protections in Rhode Island in 1995 and 2001, winning the right to marry in

Rhode Island in 2013, and nationally in 2015, more progress needs to be made; and

     WHEREAS, "Pride" is a time to celebrate the right to live authentically and to be proud

of "who you are" instead of ashamed by a social stigma that was, and unfortunately still is, a

reality in our society; and

     WHEREAS, In order to form a more perfect union, America was founded on the

principles of equality and "liberty and justice" for all, but for too long, since our nation's

founding, LGBTQIA+ and many other Americans have been denied those precious rights and

freedoms that were supposed to be granted to all; and

     WHEREAS, This year’s celebrations include the 47th Rhode Island PrideFest &

Illuminated Night Parade on June 17th, featuring all-day entertainment from a variety of local,

regional and national acts, food vendors, and booths highlighting numerous business and

nonprofit organizations; and

     WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ communities and people from across the State will be

celebrating notions of love, equality, understanding, respect, acceptance, and justice, and the

belief that love is love and that trans rights are human rights, and expressing solidarity in the

continued fight for social justice against all intersecting forms of oppression; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby joyously celebrates

and commemorates June of 2023, as "Pride Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Joseph Biden, President of the

United States, the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Rhode

Island Congressional Delegation, the LGBTQ Action Network, TGI Network of Rhode Island,

SAGE-RI, PrYSM, Youth Pride, Inc., Project Weber/Renew, Open Door Health, Black and Pink,

and Thundermist Health Center.

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