Lubbock Pride tell everythinglubbock.com they are still working to get the mayor and Lubbock City Council to officially designate June as Pride month here in Lubbock. But they said their efforts have received little to no response from the council. That is why the organization hosted a peaceful sit in at the council’s meeting in support of the proclamation for the third year.
Kim Gonzalez with the Democratic Executive committee sits along with 40 others who showed up for the peaceful rainbow sit-in at the city of Lubbock’s city council meeting on Tuesday. Gonzalez said, ” you know, we just want the council and the city of Lubbock to know that we’re going to keep showing up. The idea behind it is the Lubbock Pride and other LGBTQ organizations in town have been asking for a pride proclamation from the city of Lubbock for the past three years. And ultimately, it falls on deaf ears. You know, we never get a response.”
Another individual that was in the crowd is Grace Rogers, a board member of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays or otherwise known as PFLAG of Lubbock said it is important they do something like this. ” People need to know that we’re here and we’re and we’re peaceful and we’re a part of the Lubbock community. We’re an important part of the community. And because right now, rights for LGBTQ people are being eroded either by law or by custom.”
Gonzalez said recognizing Pride through a proclamation would mean a lot to the LGBTQ+ community and should be acknowledged. Gonzalez explained, “They are our friends or our family members and their business owners. They pay taxes here and they contribute the same as everyone else. And so for them to be ignored for something as simple as a pride proclamation when other businesses and organizations going to have theirs honored, it’s not fair.”
Mayor Mark McBrayer said people are welcomed to stick up for what they believe in and the city and its council respect that. “I want to be respectful to all the citizens of the city of Lubbock, and I respect the right of every citizen of this city to have their voice heard on any issue that is important to them that concerns this city and concerns them.”
Gonzalez said even though they were not acknowledged, they extend an invitation to the Mayor and Council to attend the Pride Fest on Saturday June the 28th and take the chance to make the proclamation.
