WHEREAS, Our great state and nation strives to promote the principles of equality and justice and the inalienable rights of all people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS, California’s and America’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths; and

WHEREAS, To achieve a more just and fair society, we must teach our children to respect one another, to appreciate our differences, and to recognize the common good in all of us; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people come from all walks of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, economic status, physical or mental ability, medical condition, sex, or gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS, More lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are being elected to public offices across the country, playing in professional sports leagues, occupying the highest positions in business and government, and serving as role models for all; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people have made important and lasting contributions to our great state and nation in every field of endeavor, including, but not limited to, business, medicine, law, humanities, science, literature, politics, education, music, philanthropy, sports and athletics, arts, and culture, that enrich our national life; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, for the first time in the history of the United States, a sitting President, former President Barack Obama, affirmed support for the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation or gender; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States struck down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, affirming that all loving and committed couples who are married deserve equal treatment and respect; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Proposition 8 sponsors had no standing to appeal the federal trial court’s decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, thereby restoring marriage equality in California; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States has found a constitutional basis for marriage equality, granting millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals across the country the ability to marry people whom they love; and

WHEREAS, Married same-sex couples now enjoy the same rights and privileges granted to other married couples, including joint tax filings, military benefits, family and medical leave, and the ability to sponsor a foreign spouse; and

WHEREAS, An unprecedented number of adults in the United States identify as LGBTQ+, with a jump from 5.6 percent to 7.1 percent of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer in 2022. Young people, especially Generation Z, are driving the increase; and

WHEREAS, The transgender community in particular, has gained newfound prominence in the media, entertainment, sports, and business, raising awareness about gender identity and the obstacles this community continues to face; and

WHEREAS, President Joseph Biden became the first American President to issue a formal presidential proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility; and

WHEREAS, While our great state and nation have progressed in our journey toward dignity, understanding, and mutual respect for all, we still have a long way to go in eradicating the prejudice and discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and their families encounter, and to this end, we continue working for the passage of the inclusive federal Equality Act, comprehensive immigration reform, and increased awareness of the difficulties facing the transgender community; and

WHEREAS, Friends and allies of the LGBTQ+ community have shown considerable support and commitment to the struggles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, To build a more robust and better state and nation, we must continue to help advance the cause of equality for all people; and

WHEREAS, Each year, June marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising that gave birth to the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights movement; and

WHEREAS, The first New York City Pride Rally occurred one month after the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, when 500 people gathered for a “Gay Power” demonstration in Washington Square Park, followed by a candlelight vigil in Sheridan Square; and

WHEREAS, On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the NYC Pride organization simultaneously hosted “WorldPride” during its 2019 season. This was the first WorldPride celebration hosted on United States soil, and the second North American WorldPride in the event’s over 20 year history; and

WHEREAS, June 2019, marked the first annual proclamation of the month as LGBTQ+ Pride Month by the Governor of California; and

WHEREAS, In December 2022, President Joseph Biden signed the federal Respect for Marriage Act, repealing the federal DOMA and requiring the federal government, and all states and territories to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In January 2023, California became the first state legislature in the nation to reach 10 percent representation for LGBTQ+ individuals, matching the estimated 10 percent of people identifying as LGBTQ+ in California; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people continue to be disproportionally affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic mentally, emotionally, and financially, requiring targeted support in recovery efforts; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people have had their resiliency tested in the face of a severe uprising in hate crimes across the nation, but are resolved to come back stronger than ever in the face of adversity; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights are targeted by state legislators all across the nation with over 450 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in 2023 alone, according to American Civil Liberties Union. Making it increasingly pertinent for advocates and lawmakers to continue fighting for and protecting LGBTQ+ rights in the state of California; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans, their families and friends, and all those committed to justice and equality celebrate, during the month of June, the rich culture, the notable achievements, and the outstanding services that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans make to our great state and nation; now, therefore, be it