Title
TBLG History Month Proclamation
Memorandum
PROCLAMATION
TBLG History Month
October 18, 2010
WHEREAS, in October 1994 the inaugural Lesbian and Gay History month was declared; and
WHEREAS, the transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay members of the Ann Arbor community have a long-standing and proud history of leadership in advocating for the civil and human rights of all community members, and all citizens will benefit from a better understanding of this history; and
WHEREAS, in January 1970 gay men & lesbians in Ann Arbor came together to form the Ann Arbor Gay Liberation Front, one of the first such organizations in the United States; and
WHEREAS, in September 1971 the University of Michigan instituted, on its Ann Arbor campus, the first staff office for sexual orientation concerns established within an institution of higher learning in the United States; and
WHEREAS, in June of 1972 the Ann Arbor City Council proclaimed "Gay Pride Week", the first such action by a municipal governing body in the United States, and in July 1972 Ann Arbor became the first municipality in the nation to extend broad protections for "sexual orientation" in employment, housing and public accommodations through our local Human Rights Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, in April 1974 Ann Arbor became the first jurisdiction in the United States to elect an openly lesbian or gay person to any public office, with the election of Kathy Kozachenko to the Ann Arbor City Council ( Human Rights Party); and
WHEREAS, in 1975 two Ann Arbor labor unions, AFT Local 3550 (Graduate Employees' Organization) and the Transportation Employees Union, became the first in the country to negotiate contractual protections for lesbian and gay workers; and
WHEREAS, in September 1976 Ann Arbor's Youth Liberation published the first print resource by and for TBLG youth, and Ann Arbor's TBLG community has continued to pioneer support and resources for TBLG individuals; and
WHEREAS, Ann Arbor's TBLG community also continued to champion employment non-discrimination, domestic partner and "Other Qualified Adult" benefits options, as well as protections on the basis of gender identity or expression providing models for other employers and institutions across the nation.
NOW THEREFORE, I, John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan do hereby proclaim the month of October as , Transgender, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Month in the City of Ann Arbor, and call upon all citizens & civic organizations to learn about the contributions of transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay individuals, and especially to celebrate the leadership of Ann Arbor residents in shaping a world free from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.
I hereby set my hand and seal
This the 18th day of October, 2010
John Hieftje, Mayor