Update from Kate
RAINBOW FLAG FLIES AT COUNTY FACILITIES THE MONTH OF JUNE HONORING LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH
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With the nation and world rocked by injustice and strife, seemingly coming apart at the seams, I have uplifting news to share as well as a brief history lesson.
On June 2, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution proclaiming June 2020 as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning + Pride Month.” Last year, the Board authorized the flying of the Pride Flag at the Civic Center Administration Building in recognition of Pride Month. This year, the “Rainbow Flag” is being flown for the entire month of June and from all County facility flag poles, expressing our commitment to supporting the visibility, dignity and equity for our LGBTQ+ community.
Join me and take a few minutes to listen as Marin County’s Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Dr. Jei Africa, explains the significance of the Rainbow Flag, its history and the meaning of changes to the colors in the flag on June 18, 2019. You can click on the photo below to see Dr. Africa's presentation slides.
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 The Stonewall uprising, led by Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson and Storme Delarverie, was a series of spontaneous, explosive demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York. The uprising is widely considered to be one of the most important events leading to the modern fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.
Last week, on June 2, 2020, Dr. Africa reflected again on the importance of the Stonewall Uprising, this moment in history, and on the need to keep pressing ahead to secure equity and justice for the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Africa is joined by Dana Van Gorder of The Spahr Center and youth advocates, voicing a clarion call to stand up to hate and prejudice and take decisive action to create a better world now.
SAGA (Sexual and Gender Acceptance), the Marin County employee affinity group, has been instrumental in the initiative to fly the Pride Flag and in bringing LGBTQ+ issues, concerns and celebrations into the workplace and community so that all may know this shared history.
In the final paragraph of the 2020 Resolution, which passed unanimously, the Marin Supervisors resolved to “fully support the rights, freedom and equal treatment of LGBTQ+ people and … to ensuring that County programs and services are fully inclusive of and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ people and people affected by HIV.” We stand - in pride - as we dedicate this month of June, and our efforts year-round, to bringing this commitment to life.
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