| R 343 |
| 2024 -- S 3128 Enacted 06/04/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING JUNE OF 2024, AS "PRIDE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Murray, Pearson, Mack, Bell, Valverde, Lauria, Lawson, Cano, Kallman, and DiMario |
| Date Introduced: June 04, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Annually, June is the month chosen to celebrate "Pride", a time for the |
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities |
| and all Americans to reflect on the struggles and injustices endured by LGBTQIA+ communities. |
| It is a month to take pride in the progress that has been made since the fateful Stonewall Riots in |
| 1969, in Greenwich Village, New York, which were in response to rampant discrimination by the |
| police and a legal system that was hostile to the LGBTQIA+ community; and |
| WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ people still experience harassment and discrimination based on |
| their sexual orientation and gender identity locally, nationally and internationally. LGBTQIA+ |
| people of color and particularly trans women of color face greater disparities in the areas of |
| health, housing, and criminal justice and are many more times likely to be the victims of fatal |
| violence; and |
| WHEREAS, Although much progress has been made, including, but not limited to, |
| gaining civil rights protections in Rhode Island in 1995 and 2001, winning the right to marry in |
| Rhode Island in 2013, and nationally in 2015, more progress needs to be made; and |
| WHEREAS, "Pride" is a time to celebrate the right to live authentically and to be proud |
| of "who you are" instead of ashamed by a social stigma that was, and unfortunately still is, a |
| reality in our society; and |
| WHEREAS, In order to form a more perfect union, America was founded on the |
| principles of equality and "liberty and justice" for all, but for too long, since our Nation's |
| founding, LGBTQIA+ and many other Americans have been denied those precious rights and |
| freedoms that were supposed to be granted to all; and |
| WHEREAS, This year’s celebrations include the 48th Rhode Island PrideFest & |
| Illuminated Night Parade on June 15th, featuring all-day entertainment from a variety of local, |
| regional and national acts, food vendors, and booths highlighting numerous business and |
| nonprofit organizations; and |
| WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ communities and people from across the State will be |
| celebrating notions of love, equality, understanding, respect, acceptance, and justice, and the |
| belief that love is love and that trans rights are human rights, and expressing solidarity in the |
| continued fight for social justice against all intersecting forms of oppression; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby joyously celebrates |
| and commemorates June of 2024, as "Pride Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Joseph Biden, President of the |
| United States, the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Rhode |
| Island Congressional Delegation, the LGBTQ Action Network, TGI Network of Rhode Island, |
| SAGE-RI, PrYSM, Youth Pride, Inc., Project Weber/Renew, Open Door Health, Black and Pink, |
| and Thundermist Health Center. |
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| LC006153 |
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