FLINT, Michigan—The City of Flint will once again recognize June as Pride Month. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley in 2020 became the first mayor to recognize June as Pride Month in the City of Flint.
Recognizing Pride Month is a part of Mayor Neeley’s ongoing commitment to promoting social justice and upholding the City’s long tradition as a leader in the fight for equality in our community and beyond.
“How can we expect others to respect our struggles if we cannot respect others’ struggles,” Mayor Neeley said. “We will continue to fight for justice for all people.”
The City of Flint also has issued proclamations declaring Black Lives Matter and condemning bias against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Community organizers have hosted Pride Festivals in the City of Flint for the past decade, although last year’s format changed to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, planning is underway to do a series of smaller events during the summer rather than a large festival in order to promote safe social distancing. Information about those events is available on the Flint Pride Facebook page.
Pride Month was first recognized nationwide by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and again under President Barack Obama. In the State of Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also declared June as Pride Month in both 2019 and 2020.
Mayor Neeley issued a proclamation in 2020 recognizing June as Pride Month for the duration of his term.
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