PRINTER'S NO. 2802
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
596
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, FRANKEL, STURLA, ZABEL, BIZZARRO,
SHUSTERMAN, KINSEY, McNEILL, SANCHEZ, DONATUCCI, KENYATTA,
CRUZ, SCHLOSSBERG, ULLMAN, T. DAVIS, JOHNSON-HARRELL,
ISAACSON, HILL-EVANS, RAVENSTAHL, MURT, THOMAS, WEBSTER,
YOUNGBLOOD, CIRESI AND HOWARD, OCTOBER 29, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 29, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2019 as "LGBT History Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "LGBT History Month" was established in 1994 by
Rodney Wilson to celebrate and teach gay and lesbian history;
and
WHEREAS, "LGBT History Month" has been endorsed by the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network, the Human Rights Campaign, the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Education
Association; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of "LGBT History Month" is to recognize
influential figures that have played a key role in progressing
LGBTQ rights and civil liberties; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a rich history of LGBTQ
accomplishments as well as influential figures; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, in the City of Philadelphia, one of the
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first organized LGBTQ protests in United States history helped
to ignite the modern LGBTQ equality movement; and
WHEREAS, Among those influential figures is Cheryl Dunye, a
lesbian filmmaker, who grew up in Philadelphia and created films
whose themes explored the intersection of race, sexuality and
personal identity; and
WHEREAS, Billy Strayhorn, an openly gay black man, wrote
arrangements for musicals that challenged racist representations
of people of color and was frequently active in the advancement
of civil rights; and
WHEREAS, Governor Milton Shapp signed an executive order in
1975 that ended discrimination of employees in State government
based on sexual orientation, making Pennsylvania the first State
in the United States to authorize such a change; and
WHEREAS, Kiyoshi Kuromiya founded the Critical Path AIDS
Project, which was a collection of local organizations that
provided helpful resources and services to people with HIV; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
in conjunction with the LGBT Center of Central PA History
Project, is performing research and recording prominent
Pennsylvania LGBTQ historical sites, events and figures to
better teach individuals about Pennsylvania's LGBTQ history; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's LGBTQ history should be recognized
and celebrated; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of October 2019 as "LGBT History Month" in Pennsylvania.
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