IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month in Jackson County, Missouri, honoring the history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22307, June 15, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Jalen Anderson and Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, June is recognized nationally as Pride Month, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a pivotal moment in the struggle for LGBTQ+ civil rights and equal treatment under the law; and,
WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ community has made significant contributions to the cultural, civic, economic, artistic, educational, and social fabric of Jackson County and the Kansas City metropolitan area; and,
WHEREAS, Kansas City and Jackson County have a longstanding place in LGBTQ+ history, including the publication of The Phoenix: Midwest Homophile Voice in Kansas City from 1966 to 1972, one of the earliest LGBTQ+ publications in the United States and the first of its kind in the Midwest; and,
WHEREAS, Kansas City's Pride movement traces its roots to the 1970s, with the first local Pride Festival held in 1975 and subsequent Pride celebrations helping build visibility, community, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ residents throughout the region; and,
WHEREAS, what began as a single Pride celebration in Kansas City has expanded throughout Jackson County and the Kansas City metropolitan area, including the establishment of community Pride celebrations such as Independence Pride, as well as other events, festivals, educational programs, and celebrations that reflect the growing visibility, engagement, and contributions of LGBTQ+ residents across the region; and,
WHEREAS, Jackson County recognizes that the LGBTQ+ community is diverse and intersectional, and that Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and other LGBTQ+ people of color have played a critical role in advancing equality, culture, advocacy, and community throughout Ja...
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