LANSING (WWJ) Governor Whitmer has issued a proclamation marking June as Pride Month in Michigan.
“Michigan will always be a place where everyone has the freedom to be who they are and love who they love,” Governor Whitmer said in a press release issued by the Governor's Office. “As a proud, lifelong ally, I am grateful to celebrate Pride Month and celebrate the work we’ve done to protect the LGBTQ+ community."
According to the proclamation, 373,000 Michigan residents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+).
“Since I took office, we expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to cover the LGBTQ+ community, established the Michigan LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, and banned conversion therapy for minors,” Governor Whitmer said in the release. “Our work is not done, but every year, we make progress to move Michigan forward. Let’s keep getting it done.”
In the proclamation, she said Michigan “will celebrate” LGBTQ+ individuals this month. She also said “important work…must be done to continue building a more fair and just state for all.”
“It’s more important than ever to make ourselves heard, and Pride Month is a key part of that,” State Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) said in the release. He is the first openly gay person of color to serve in the Michigan Legislature.
According to the press release, Governor Whitmer’s administration has taken a long list of actions to protect the LGBTQ+ community including: establishing first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ commission, signing legislation to ban conversion therapy for minors, signing an executive directive to strengthen protections against discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity (and for those doing business with the state), and more.
View the full proclamation here.