The Woodland City Council is poised to declare June as Pride Month during its upcoming Tuesday meeting.
The council's proclamation explained that the LGBTQI+ community "took a brave stand for human rights" in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City "marking the first major demonstration for LGBTQI+ people to come out as their true selves, build community and promote equal rights for all."
The proclamation highlighted the amount of progress that has been made since then while noting that members of this community still face discrimination for simply being themselves.
"Since 2018, the City Council re-affirmed the city of Woodland as a 'safe and welcoming' place for all people, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity," the proclamation stated. "Countless individuals throughout Woodland, California are dedicated to improving and embracing the lives of the LGBTQI+ people while celebrating and embracing the work of individuals and organizations who have continuously fought to create equality for all."
The 4th annual Pride Parade, hosted by CommuniCare+OLE, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22 in downtown Woodland.
The parade will begin at the corner of Cleveland and Main streets and conclude at the corner of Main and Second streets. The community will be able to continue to "march with Pride" and participate in an ice cream social and resource fair at the Woodland United Methodist Church located at 212 Second St.
The event will feature giveaways, games, a photo booth and more, according to a press release.
"This year as many LGBTQ+ communities are under attack across the country, it is more important than ever that we come together this Pride Month and show support and allyship for our LGBTQ+ friends, family and neighbors," Alicia Hardy, CEO of CommuniCare+OLE, said. "We invite the entire community to join us to celebrate love, self-expression and inclusion this Pride month."
The event was organized in partnership with Yolo County Health and Human Services and Woodland United Methodist Church.
The release noted that before 2021, the city didn't have an official Pride celebration.
"When CommuniCare+OLE (at the time, CommuniCare Health Centers) began offering more LGBTQ+ services in Woodland in 2019, there was a strong desire from the staff and LGBTQ+ members of the community to do more to affirm and celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals," the release recounted. "A grant became available under California's Elevate Youth program in November 2020 allowing for the first annual Woodland Pride Parade in June 2021."
If interested in registering a float for the parade, visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzCCWzF7FVH7xhquw_CIGGPbSf-11fu8wZgIroEI47V33Miw/viewform.
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