June is Pride Month in Benton County
Benton County values and supports diversity was the message the County declared as the Board of Commissioners officially proclaimed June as Pride Month. A proclamation was signed June 4 during the Commissioner’s scheduled meeting at the Kalapuya Building. Dharma Mirza, President of the Board of Directors for Mid-Willamette Trans Support Network, had the privilege of reading the County’s Pride Month proclamation.
Prior to the meeting, County employees representing the 2SLGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex) community and their allies were treated to a breakfast gathering.
“Benton County is committed to equitably serving all members of the community and welcomes ideas which value the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of County governance, services, and operations to County residents and visitors,” said Commissioner Nancy Wyse. “We value and recognize diversity in our workforce, and we continue to work on creating a space of respect, fairness, equity, collaboration, and belonging that reflects our rich, diverse, and multicultural community.”
Groups supporting the local 2SLGBTQI+ community include Intersection Parent Connection, Mid-Willamette Transgender Support Network, Oregon State University Pride Center, Out ‘N About, Rainbow in the Clouds, Pride Corvallis, and the Philomath Pride Collective.
Philomath Pride Collective’s Rose Bricker attended the County’s Pride Month proclamation signing to promote the public’s attendance at Philomath Pride on June 15. This all ages, family friendly event takes place from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Philomath City Park. Benton County is sponsoring this year’s event.
Pride Month was established in the U.S. in 1970 in response to years of organizing efforts following the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in 1966 in San Francisco, the Stonewall Uprising in 1969 in New York City, and other efforts across the nation to resist the oppressive laws and social restrictions that threatened the safety and wellbeing of their communities.
Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.