OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
June 22, 2022
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Waguespack, Martin, Garza, O'Shea, Rodriguez, Villegas, Brookins, Osterman, Sposato, Coleman, Hadden and Dowell, a resolution commemorating pride month and honoring LGBTQ activist Elise Malary.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The month of June is Pride Month; and
WHEREAS, Pride Month is celebrated in June in part to mark the anniversary ofthe Stonewall Rebellion, which took place in late June and early July 1969, when queer and trans people fought back against the ongoing violence they had faced at the hands ofthe police; and
WHEREAS, During Pride Month we celebrate sharing stories from a variety of perspectives and affirm the importance of human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or gender identification; and
WHEREAS, We celebrate that here in Chicago, in 1924 Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States, on the ideals of melding the German homophile movement with the American ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, continually referencing the importance of law and order, and a person's right to pursue happiness; and
WHEREAS, Chicagoans have publicly celebrated Pride since at least 1970, with what is recognized as the first Pride march, from Washington Square Park to the Water Tower, on Saturday, June 27, 1970; and
WHEREAS, We recognize the importance of fighting for Pride, for demanding that all people recognize the equality of all, regardless of who people love or of gender identity, and that without the fight, without the call to attention, the discrimination, the embarrassment, the sweeping under the rug would continue; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to those who have come before and fought for equality, who have fought to not have to live in the shadows, we can live together as a stronger community, because the affirmation that when we see each other for who we are, who we want to be, how we want to be seen by others, to really see each other and accept each other, we build stronger bonds between us and we make our communities stronger; and
WHEREAS, The struggle is not ended, as there are people who work to undo the achievements toward equality; and
WHEREAS, We rejoice for those who have survived the discrimination that has harmed so many, we celebrate those who continue the struggle for equality, we condemn the stigma and isolation that so many have suffered, and we mourn those who have died; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we celebrate Pride Month, joining with the LGBTQIA+ community in applauding the advancements that have been made, standing together against discrimination, and promise to work together to make sure that no advancements are reversed.