June is to be proclaimed Pride Month in Kirkland (Washington State)

Kirkland Views ^ | May 30, 2014 | Rob Butcher, editor and scribbler

[2ndDivisionVet]

The City of Kirkland will join the State of Washington and King County in proclaiming June 2014 as "Pride Month." Please refrain from posting any critical comments about this subject as the comments may be deemed as hate crimes against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.

The following is from the City's Council Packet for June 3:

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Stonehill Riots which is regarded as the catalyst for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement for civil rights in the United States. In June 1969, a group of gay customers at the pub in the Stonewall Inn (Greenwich Village, New York) grew angry over harassment by law enforcement and held a demonstration, which turned into a multi-day riot and protest. The Stonewall riots have been commemorated since the 1970s with "pride marches" held every June across the United States.

The City of Kirkland’s Affirmative Action Policy was amended in 2001 to include sexual orientation and is now established as:

Within the parameters required or allowed by law, it is the policy of the city to promote and assure equal opportunity based on ability and fitness to all persons regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a disabled person. (Kirkland Municipal Code 3.80.020)

This is the first year the City of Kirkland has proclaimed June as Pride Month. In March, Governor Inslee’s office has proclaimed June as “LGBT Month.” King County will proclaim the same on June 9, 2014.

The City’s Diversity Committee, created in the early 1990s, is committed to cultivating “the development of an inclusive workplace using organizational values for strategic planning, and to guide us in the creation of a shared workplace culture.” Members of the Diversity Committee will be at the June 3 Council meeting to accept the proclamation.

A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF KIRKLAND

Proclaiming June 2014 as “Pride Month” in Kirkland, Washington

WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals are making meaningful contributions to work and life; and

WHEREAS, the catalyst for LGBTQ civil rights began with the Stonewall Riots in New York in June of 1969 and on the first anniversary of the riots, the first gay pride parades took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and near the Stonewall Inn in New York; and

WHEREAS, Gay pride or LGBTQ pride refers to a worldwide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals are proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity; and

WHEREAS, Washington State added “sexual orientation” to Washington state’s anti-discrimination law in 2006, to ban discrimination in housing, employment, and insurance; and

WHEREAS, multiple states, including Washington, legalized marriage equality for same-sex couples;

WHEREAS, the Federal government has implemented changes to correct inequalities that extend hate crime protection, allow for hospital visitation rights, address bullying and other injustices endured by LGBTQ individuals; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kirkland Affirmative Action Policy is established, within the parameters required or allowed by law, to promote and assure equal opportunity based on ability and fitness to all persons regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a disabled person; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Amy Walen, Mayor of Kirkland, do hereby proclaim June 2014 as “Pride Month” in Kirkland, Washington as a celebration of hope and acceptance and an affirmation that LGBTQ rights are human rights.

Signed this 3rd day of June 2014

______________________

Amy Walen, Mayor

[moovova]

“Please refrain from posting any critical comments about this subject....”

The author’s admonition seems to be working well at yon website. Posters are completely cowed.

Not.

Gonna take a lot of Brown Shirts to round up the offenders.

[boop]

"This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Stonehill Riots"

I thought it was the Stonewall riots.

Why did the reporter call it Stonehill?

Must be some kind of homophobe.

[TheRobb7]

[Rodamala]

Pride is one of the 7 deadly sins. Got that?

[21twelve]

“Jorge” sounds like a freeper:

“Hey, I am normal. I am proud of that. Is that permitted?”

Reply

jorge gthog61 • 13 hours ago

No, suggesting others aren’t normal is considered hate. You have 11 of 12 months for pride and they only have June to schedule their pride-related activities in Kirkland. Although 1/12 is over 8% which is a much higher number un-hetero than found in most studies.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I just don’t get the use of the word “pride”. One can be proud of their country, like the first lady is finally, or proud of your honor roll student, or proud of your bully kid who beats up honor roll students, or proud of someone over a difficult accomplishment, but proud to be a sex pervert?

Even being proud to be a white person, or a black person, or latino or whatever race is just plain stupid. Nothing was accomplished to be proud of, it is just how it is.

The word “pride” has been flushed of any meaning.