Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Gabrielle Zwi, Co-Chair of the Rockville Human Rights Commission, and members of the Rockville Pride Planning Committee.
Discussion
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer/Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The commemorative month also recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history-locally, nationally, and internationally.
In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marks the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ Americans.
PRIDE Month celebrations include parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts. LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants from around the world. Memorials are held during PRIDE month for those community members lost to hate crimes and/or HIV/AIDS. Two former US presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, have issued proclamations declaring June as Pride Month. The City of Rockville has issued proclamations declaring LGBTQ+ Pride Month since June 2017.
WorldPride 2026 will take place in Amsterdam from July 25 to August 8, 2026. It travels across the globe. WorldPride 2025 took place in Washington, DC, and it was an honor to have the event held in this part of the world.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.
Public Notification and Engagement
The City of Rockville’s Human Rights Commission and the Rockville Pride Planning Committee will celebrate the tenth annual Rockville Pride in Town Square on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 2-5 p.m.