Spartanburg City Council offers message of support in Pride Month proclamation
Spartanburg City Council issued its first Pride Month proclamation during the meeting on Monday, June 26.
The proclamation for the recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month was presented by Mayor Jerome Rice at the start of the meeting. It was proposed by Councilwoman Erica Brown on behalf of Uplift Outreach Center, who approached her about the possibility after the June 12 council meeting.
Brown said Monday was the eight-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
“I think it's very fitting that today the city was able to give the Pride proclamation to the Uplift group,” Brown said. “We're going to continue to push for equality and equity and inclusiveness and diversity in this community.”
Representatives from Uplift Outreach Center, Upstate Pride, PFLAG Spartanburg and the Upstate South Carolina LGBT Chamber of Commerce were among those present for the proclamation's presentation.
The proclamation states the city's intentions to “advocate for the elimination of all forms of discrimination” and “ensure that everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect and peace.”
"This decision marks a significant step in acknowledging and celebrating the diversity that exists right here in Spartanburg. It's a strong message of inclusivity, equality and respect," said Tyler Prescott, CEO of the Upstate South Carolina LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Prescott said the fight for equality doesn't stop with a proclamation. "We need folks in city council and county council and our boards and commissions taking up the cause for LGBT equality," he said.
While this is the first proclamation to specifically recognize Pride Month, Spartanburg City Council has issued proclamations in the past to honor the Upstate Pride March and Festival, previously held in June and now held in October in downtown Spartanburg.
"The first of those was issued by Mayor Junie White in 2010, who was at that time the first mayor in South Carolina to ever do so," said City of Spartanburg Communications Manager Christopher George.
However, advocates say there is still work to be done in supporting the local LGBTQIA community.
"We are so excited to be receiving this Pride proclamation, but I would be remiss if I didn't remind us all that this isn't just a checked box on your DEI list," said Jodi Snyder, Program Director at Uplift Outreach Center and DEI Director for Upstate Pride SC. "I ask you to go above and beyond proclaiming that it's Pride Month, and I ask to have a police liaison for the LGBTQ+ community. I ask for an LGBTQ+ advisory board, and I demand a hate crime bill for all marginalized people in Spartanburg."
Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg. Can't get enough food news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for foodies, Spartanburg Eats.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg City Council offers message of support for Pride Month
