This is really our
unofficial kick off to summer, the beginning of Pride Month.
Pride Month is not just the celebration, it’s the struggles of the people.
Pride is an opportunity to uplift the immeasurable contributions
and achievements
of this community and of the present and honor
the history of the LGBTQ+
rights movement and the past, and work towards the equitable future
that we want to see, the future that we have to fight for.
Hope is a discipline.
Hope isn't an emotion, as Mariame Kaba reminds us:
hope is hard work and we have to practice it every day.
We must celebrate with the events
like today's flag raising and the upcoming Pride Parade.
But we must continue to demonstrate
and to unveil the need for a greater equity and equality
in areas such as employment, housing, health care, education.
Until we are all safe, no one is safe.
Be visible, be loud,
be exactly who you are, and all of who you are
because you are beautiful and it saves lives.
Happy Pride everyone.
And you know it went from just being the rainbow
to the beautiful colors of the trans community, of the bipoc community.
And to see it fly in the city of Seattle represents
the diversity and intersectionality within the queer community.
So, it’s so exciting to know that we are well represented.
That anyone that comes to City Hall knows that the city is behind
and supports the queer communities.
Be who you are.
Love who you love.
Support and value those around you.
We are human.
To be an ally is not just to say it.
Allies are those who step up for us when our voice is being shut down.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, happy Pride Seattle.