County Commissioners proclaim June Pride Month

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously proclaimed the month of June as Pride Month during its regular meeting Tuesday, June 7.

The BOCC’s proclamation urged Thurston residents “to recognize the contributions made by members of the LGBTQ+ community and to actively promote the principles of equality, liberty, and justice.”

“Thurston County is strengthened by and thrives upon the rich diversity of ethnic, cultural, racial, gender and sexual identities of its residents; all of which contribute to the vibrant character of our county,” the proclamation read.

Members of the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Olympia attended the meeting to accept the proclamation. PFLAG is a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, including their families and friends.

“The LGBTQ+ community is finding itself under attacks,” PFLAG Board Member Lucas Miller said. “That makes it all the more important that we have the support of our allies, our surrounding communities, and our elected officials.”

Gallup’s 2021 Hate Crime Report recorded that 64% of LGBTQ+ people had experienced violence or abuse because of their sexual orientation, the proclamation quoted, adding that the 2021 TransActual Lives Survey reports 13% of LGBTQ+ individuals indicated that they had experienced some form of unequal treatment by health care staff when accessing services because they are LGBTQ+.

Commissioner Carolina Mejia, who attended the meeting virtually, expressed gratitude for the efforts of PFLAG in ensuring the well-being of the LGBTQ+ community in their region.

“It’s a way of us moving forward together as a county,” said Mejia.

“For everyone to be comfortable and be their true selves wherever they are,” she added. “That is my hope not only for our community members but our employees as well.”