Text of PA HR 422 (2024)

PRINTER'S NO. 3060 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 422 Session of 2024 INTRODUCED BY BENHAM, KENYATTA, MAYES, SALISBURY, SCOTT, SMITH- WADE-EL, PIELLI, WAXMAN, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, BRENNAN, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, McNEILL, WARREN, DONAHUE, VENKAT, ABNEY, KINSEY, RABB, KHAN, SANCHEZ, ROZZI, MALAGARI, DELLOSO, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI, KIM, BOROWSKI, OTTEN, KRAJEWSKI, BURGOS, FRANKEL, CONKLIN, SAPPEY, SHUSTERMAN, GIRAL, FLEMING, MADSEN, MERSKI, KINKEAD, O'MARA AND D. MILLER, MAY 6, 2024 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 6, 2024 A RESOLUTION Recognizing the month of June 2024 as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, Our Commonwealth was founded on the principles of freedom, fairness and tolerance; and WHEREAS, Through military service, in debates and demonstrations, at the polls and in countless other acts of democracy, Pennsylvanians have consistently defended these principles; and WHEREAS, Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) Pennsylvanians and their allies have had significant roles in the economic, cultural, spiritual and political development of this Commonwealth while working tirelessly to maintain and promote culture and history; and WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has been the site of many pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WHEREAS, The activism that has been vital for promoting tolerance and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has flourished in this Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, On April 25, 1965, borrowing a strategy associated with the African-American civil rights movement, a group of gender-variant persons of color organized a sit-in to protest discrimination toward LGBTQ+ individuals at Dewey's lunch counter in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, This event has been recognized as the first LGBTQ+ sit-in in the nation and one of the first demonstrations launched with the goal of protecting the dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals; and WHEREAS, The Annual Reminder marches held in front of the Liberty Bell on Independence Day from 1965 through 1969 drew national attention to the LGBTQ+ community's struggle for liberty and equality; and WHEREAS, Initiatives in keeping with the Dewey's lunch counter and Annual Reminder demonstrations have generated greater inclusion among LGBTQ+ Americans in their respective communities; and WHEREAS, Commonwealth agencies and officers have traditionally been on the forefront of LGBTQ+ recognition, regardless of which political party has been in control; and WHEREAS, In 1975, Governor Milton Shapp issued the first Statewide resolution in the nation recognizing LGBTQ+ equality; and WHEREAS, In 1976, Governor Shapp established the Pennsylvania Council for Sexual Minorities, the first governmental body in the nation to examine LGBTQ+ issues; and WHEREAS, In 1979, Governor Richard Thornburgh became the 20240HR0422PN3060 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 first Republican governor in the nation to issue a Statewide resolution recognizing LGBTQ+ equality; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians remain committed to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion and quality of life; and WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to Philadelphia Gay News, the oldest continually published magazine devoted to LGBTQ+ issues; and WHEREAS, The John C. Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia, one of the nation's first affordable LGBTQ+ elder housing facilities, and the Persad Center in Pittsburgh, the second oldest licensed counseling center serving the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV, offer additional resources; and WHEREAS, The month of June is recognized worldwide as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York City, considered to be a turning point in the fight for global LGBTQ+ equality; and WHEREAS, "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" highlights the work, struggles, accomplishments and challenges of LGBTQ+ individuals in this Commonwealth and beyond; and WHEREAS, As a celebration of diversity, "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" reflects this Commonwealth's unique history of welcoming and securing equal treatment for all individuals and adds greatly to the social inclusion and economic health and well-being of our communities; and WHEREAS, With increasing anti-LGBTQ+ hate, the House of Representatives must show now more than ever that we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and that they deserve to be visible and heard; and WHEREAS, More work needs to be done to eliminate discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community; therefore be it 20240HR0422PN3060 - 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the month of June 2024 as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" in Pennsylvania. 20240HR0422PN3060 - 4 - 1 2