LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Commemorating the New York gay and lesbian community's historic rising up against decades of oppression in the Stonewall Rebellion of June 29, 1969, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday proclaimed June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Pride Month.
The motion, by supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, recalled that "during a period of intense civil unrest among diverse marginalized peoples, a fed-up group of gay and lesbian bar patrons took to the streets of New York to confront and protest the constant years of harassment by the city's Police Department."
"That day, known as the `Stonewall Rebellion,' is recognized as the beginning of the modern gay liberation and civil rights movement to combat prejudice and discrimination against ... lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals. It was the beginning of a grass roots movement," the motion states.
The motion noted that a decade earlier, a similar gay uprising known as the "Cooper Do-nuts Riot" had taken place in Los Angeles.
"Our LGBTQ community is part of the fabric of the past, present and future of Los Angeles County, and we remain a beacon of inclusivity around the world. This is our way of honoring that," Hahn said. "But the threats against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people continue across our nation. By proclaiming June LGBTQ Pride Month and raising the Progress Pride flag above county buildings, we're making our position very clear: the largest county in the nation not only welcomes LGBTQ people and heritage, we treasure and celebrate them."
The motion continued: "As we recognize and honor the rich heritage of the LGBTQ community, we must also recognize that there is more work to be done."