With a City Council resolution and a flag raising, the city and New Britain Pride are celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month in New Britain.
On Monday, June 10th, the 2019 “Pride in the City’ month will begin with the official raising of the Pride Flag in front of City Hall in Central Park, announced John Board, President of New Britain Pride.
The flag raising will be at 9:30am.
Then, on Wednesday, June 12th, the Council will take up a resolution that begins by declaring that, “members of this Council support the rights, freedoms, and equality of those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ).”
The resolution, introduced by the Council President, Ald. Eva Magnuszewski (D-AL), Majority Leader, Ald. Carlo Carlozzi, Jr. (D-5) and Minority Leader, Ald. Robert Smedley (R-4), commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion on June 28, 1969.
As GLAAD says,
The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBT movement. At the time, police raids on bars catering to LGBT patrons were common, but that night, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. While historical accounts of the night vary, the violent response ignited a national firestorm of activism that brought new visibility to the struggle for LGBT equality.
The New York Times reported, on June 6, 2019, that for the first time, the New York Police Department has apologized for actions of police officers in the raid that night.
The Council resolution says that, “the modern history of the LGBTQ community started with individuals who took a stand for human rights and dignity at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969.”
The resolution declares that the Council,
- “Recognizes [that] LGBTQ rights are human rights and are protected by the Constitution.”
- “Recognizes that all residents should be treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
- “Encourages residents to join the celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month to provide a continuing opportunity for all persons to learn about the discrimination and inequality that [the LGBTQ community] has faced.”
- “Agrees that the City of New Britain must strive to ensure that promise of equality is realized for all.”
The resolution would, “declare the month of June as, ‘Pride in the City’ month and encourage all individuals to partake in events celebrating the progress of the LGBTQ community.”
The Council meeting is at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
