Text of RI S 1137 (2025)

2025 -- S 1137 ======== LC003009 ======== S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 ____________ S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING JUNE OF 2025, AS "PRIDE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Senators Murray, and Mack Date Introduced: June 05, 2025 Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar WHEREAS, Annually, June is the month chosen to celebrate "Pride", a time for the 1 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities 2 and all Americans to reflect on the struggles and injustices endured by LGBTQIA+ communities. 3 It is a month to take pride in the progress that has been made since the fateful Stonewall Riots in 4 1969, in Greenwich Village, New York, which were in response to rampant discrimination by the 5 police and a legal system that was hostile to the LGBTQIA+ community; and 6 WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ people still experience harassment and discrimination based on 7 their sexual orientation and gender identity locally, nationally and internationally. LGBTQIA+ 8 people of color and particularly, trans women of color face greater disparities in the areas of 9 health, housing, and criminal justice and are many more times likely to be the victims of fatal 10 violence; and 11 WHEREAS, Although much progress has been made including, but not limited to, 12 gaining civil rights protections in Rhode Island in 1995 and 2001, winning the right to marry in 13 Rhode Island in 2013, and nationally in 2015, more progress needs to be made; and 14 WHEREAS, "Pride" is a time to celebrate the right to live authentically and to be proud 15 of "who you are" instead of ashamed by a social stigma that was, and unfortunately still is, a 16 reality in our society; and 17 WHEREAS, In order to form a more perfect union, America was founded on the 18 principles of equality and "liberty and justice" for all, but for too long, since our Nation's 19 LC003009 - Page 2 of 2 founding, LGBTQIA+ and many other Americans have been denied those precious rights and 1 freedoms that were supposed to be granted to all; and 2 WHEREAS, This year’s celebrations include the 49th Rhode Island PrideFest & 3 Illuminated Night Parade on June 21st, featuring all-day entertainment from a variety of local, 4 regional and national acts, food vendors, and booths highlighting numerous business and 5 nonprofit organizations; and 6 WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ communities and people from across the State will be 7 celebrating notions of love, equality, understanding, respect, acceptance, and justice, and the 8 belief that love is love and that trans rights are human rights, and expressing solidarity in the 9 continued fight for social justice against all intersecting forms of oppression; now, therefore be it 10 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby joyously celebrates 11 and commemorates June of 2025, as "Pride Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 13 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald Trump, President of the 14 United States, the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Rhode 15 Island Congressional Delegation, the LGBTQ Action Network, TGI Network of Rhode Island, 16 SAGE-RI, PrYSM, Youth Pride, Inc., Project Weber/Renew, Open Door Health, Black and Pink, 17 and Thundermist Health Center. 18 ======== LC003009 ========