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Mayor Raises Flag for LGBTQ Pride Month
6/6/2008

Mayor Matt Ryan today hosted a flag raising to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month. 

He was joined by members of the Binghamton Pride Coalition, Pride and Joy families, I3, Southern Tier AIDS Program, and members of the Metropolitan Community Church. The flag-raising ceremony kicked off a month of events to celebrate and raise awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) issues.

“This is a chance to celebrate the many contributions of the LGBTQ community, to reject any and all forms of prejudice, and to declare our commitment to the growing movement that advocates for equal protection under the law for all families,” said Mayor Ryan. Justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and fairness are all guiding principles of my administration, and this occasion embodies them.”

Mayor Ryan has been a leading advocate for LGBTQ rights. He was the first Binghamton mayor to raise the Rainbow Flag in honor of LGBTQ Pride month, and last year he signed an executive order recognizing same sex-marriage in the City of Binghamton.

Since the Mayor’s order, the LGBTQ rights movement has gained ground in New York State and beyond. Governor David A. Paterson three weeks ago directed that same-sex couples legally married elsewhere should be treated the same by state agencies as their heterosexual counterparts. One day later, on May 15, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Same sex marriage is already recognized in Massachusetts and many countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada.

“Governor Paterson and the California Supreme Court have taken the next step toward full rights for the entire LGBTQ community,” said Mayor Ryan. “But a lot of work remains. We must eliminate not just discriminatory laws, but also the violence and hate directed at the LGBTQ community. This affects all of us, and it’s imperative that we all do our part.”

Reports show that despite growing momentum in the LGBTQ rights movement, violence persists. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation in 2007 increased by 24% over the previous year.

At today’s ceremony, Mayor Ryan issued a proclamation declaring June LGBTQ Pride Month in the City of Binghamton. Councilman Sean Massey read City Council’s recent resolution declaring the same, and which passed unanimously. In April, the Council issued a proclamation honoring Binghamton High School’s Gay/Straight Alliance for its National Day of Silence efforts.

For more information and event listing for the June LGBTQ month please visit the Binghamton Pride Coalition website at: http://www.binghamtonpride.org.

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