community; and
WHEREAS, In May 1965, borrowing a strategy made famous by the
African-American civil rights movement of the time, a group of
gender-variant individuals of color organized a sit-in to
protest discrimination toward LGBT individuals at Dewey's
restaurant lunch counter in Philadelphia, recognized as one of
the first demonstrations launched with the goal of protecting
the dignity of LGBT people; and
WHEREAS, The "Annual Reminders" protests held in front of the
Liberty Bell, which occurred every Independence Day between 1965
and 1969, drew national attention to the LGBT community's
struggle for liberty and equality; and
WHEREAS, Dewey's restaurant lunch counter and "Annual
Reminders" demonstrations, in conjunction with other activities
across the United States, greatly contributed toward the growing
acceptance and inclusion of LGBT Americans into their respective
communities; and
WHEREAS, The State government has traditionally been on the
forefront of LGBT recognition, regardless of which political
party was in control; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Milton Shapp, former Governor of
Pennsylvania, founded the Commission on Sexual Minorities, which
was the first governmental body in the nation to examine and
needs and issues of the LGBT community; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, Governor Shapp issued the first Statewide
resolution in the nation recognizing LGBT equality; and
WHEREAS, Governor Shapp's successor, the Honorable Richard
Thornburgh, became the first Republican in the nation to issue a
Statewide resolution recognizing LGBT equality in 1979; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth remains committed to promoting
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