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PRINTER'S NO. 2037
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
386
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, FRANKEL, MURT, BIZZARRO, McCARTER,
SCHLOSSBERG, DONATUCCI, SOLOMON, T. DAVIS, ZABEL, HANBIDGE,
McNEILL, A. DAVIS, ISAACSON, KINSEY, KENYATTA, COMITTA,
RAVENSTAHL, HILL-EVANS, McCLINTON, WARREN, WILLIAMS,
HOHENSTEIN, DALEY, CALTAGIRONE, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, ROZZI,
OTTEN, MERSKI AND KIRKLAND, JUNE 7, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 7, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of June 2019 as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Our Commonwealth was founded on the principles of
freedom, fairness and tolerance; and
WHEREAS, Through military service, in debates and
demonstrations, at the polls and in countless other acts of
democracy, Pennsylvanians have consistently defended these
principles; and
WHEREAS, Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
or questioning (LGBTQ+) Pennsylvanians and their allies have had
significant roles in the economic, cultural, spiritual and
political development of this Commonwealth while working
tirelessly to maintain and promote culture and history; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has been the site of many pivotal
moments in LGBTQ+ history; and
WHEREAS, The activism that has been vital for promoting
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tolerance and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has flourished
in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, On April 25, 1965, borrowing a strategy associated
with the African-American civil rights movement, a group of
gender variant persons of color organized a sit-in to protest
discrimination toward LGBTQ+ individuals at Dewey's lunch
counter in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, This event has been recognized as the first LGBTQ+
sit-in in the nation and one of the first demonstrations
launched with the goal of protecting the dignity of LGBTQ+
individuals; and
WHEREAS, The Annual Reminder marches held in front of the
Liberty Bell on Independence Day from 1965 through 1969 drew
national attention to the LGBTQ+ community's struggle for
liberty and equality; and
WHEREAS, Initiatives in keeping with the Dewey's lunch
counter and Annual Reminder demonstrations have generated
greater inclusion among LGBTQ+ Americans in their respective
communities; and
WHEREAS, Commonwealth agencies and officers have
traditionally been on the forefront of LGBTQ+ recognition,
regardless of which political party has been in control; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, Governor Milton Shapp issued the first
Statewide resolution in the nation recognizing LGBTQ+ equality;
and
WHEREAS, In 1976, Governor Shapp established the Pennsylvania
Council for Sexual Minorities, the first governmental body in
the nation to examine LGBTQ+ issues; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Governor Richard Thornburgh became the
first Republican governor in the nation to issue a Statewide
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resolution recognizing LGBTQ+ equality; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians remain committed to advancing LGBTQ+
inclusion and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to Philadelphia Gay News,
the oldest continually published magazine devoted to LGBTQ+
issues; and
WHEREAS, The John C. Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia, one
of the nation's first affordable LGBTQ+ elder housing
facilities, and the Persad Center in Pittsburgh, the second
oldest licensed counseling center serving the LGBTQ+ community
and people living with HIV, offer additional resources; and
WHEREAS, The month of June is recognized worldwide as "LGBTQ+
Pride Month" to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York
City, considered to be a turning point in the fight for global
LGBTQ+ equality; and
WHEREAS, "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" highlights the work, struggles,
accomplishments and challenges of LGBTQ+ individuals in this
Commonwealth and beyond; and
WHEREAS, As a celebration of diversity, "LGBTQ+ Pride Month"
reflects our Commonwealth's unique history of welcoming and
securing equal treatment for all individuals and adds greatly to
the social inclusion and economic health and well-being of our
communities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of June 2019 as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" in Pennsylvania.
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