HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56

ACKNOWLEDGING JUNE 2023 AS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, June 2023 marks the 54th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, when brave and diverse members of the LGBTQ+ community courageously fought back against discrimination and violence perpetrated upon them based on their sexual orientations and gender identities; and

WHEREAS, the riots sparked the modern American LGBTQ+ civil rights movement and movements around the world; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQ+ Delawareans are our family members, our friends, our neighbors, and our co-workers; and

WHEREAS, we honor the longstanding and tenacious dedication of both members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to progress for and the uplifting of members of the community; and

WHEREAS, in Delaware, we have made great legislative and social progress in ensuring equal rights and a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ Delawareans, but we know that there is always more work to be done; and

WHEREAS, we recognize the many outstanding LGBTQ+ organizations and non-profits that exist in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, in the LGBTQ+ community, special challenges are faced by people of color, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, the elderly, and our youth; and

WHEREAS, compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, LGBTQ+ youth continue to experience much higher rates of mental health and substance abuse issues, self-harm, suicide attempts, suicide, and homelessness than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts; and

WHEREAS, in November 2022, Delaware elected two more openly LGBTQ+ members of the General Assembly, bringing the total number of openly LGBTQ+ members of the General Assembly to five; and

WHEREAS, those five openly LGBTQ+ members of the General Assembly reflect the great diversity of the Delaware LGBTQ+ community; and

WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ community is currently under attack across America, including record numbers of hate crimes especially against transgender and non-gender-conforming individuals; and

WHEREAS, the drag community—which has played such an important historical role in the liberation of LGBTQ+ Americans and has done so much to lift up the LGBTQ+ community including during the AIDS crisis, is being smeared and targeted; and

WHEREAS, every June, communities across the United States and around the world come together to celebrate LGBTQ+ lives and recommit to guaranteeing equality, fairness , and safety for all LGBTQ+ people.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the state of Delaware acknowledges the month of June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution acknowledges June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the State of Delaware.