LGBTQ+ Groups to Rally for Pride at McCoart
WOODBRIDGE, VA – Equality Prince William, Casa BruMar Foundation, and PFLAG Prince William County will be officially requesting to the Board of County Supervisors that June be recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride month. To show support of the LGBTQ+ Pride proclamation, these organizations will be hosting a Pride Rally at the McCoart Building, located at 1 County Complex Ct in Woodbridge on June 16th from 1:00pm-6:00pm.
“The importance of passing LGBTQ+ Pride Month is more relevant today than it has been in the last two years since the first time it was proclaimed in Prince William County. Our Black LGBTQ+ community members, specifically our Black transgender and gender non-conforming members are experiencing hate, discrimination, and death disproportionately to the rest of us. We are asking the Board of County Supervisors to recognize this Pride proclamation as an acknowledgment of and dedicate it to their Black lives,” said Evelyn BruMar, Executive Director, Casa BruMar Foundation.
As part of the rally, organizers are lining up speakers to inform, inspire, and motivate the crowd. In addition, the League of Women Voters will be there registering participants to vote.
Recognizing intersectionality has been an important part of the LGBTQ+ rights movement according to Amy Cannon, Equality Prince William board member, “I have realized in the last couple of years how important it is to practice intersectional activism. We need to work together to lift each other up and get things done to make the world better.”
Rally attendees will be required to wear face coverings and maintain 6-feet physical distancing in order to support public health guidance. Casa BruMar Foundation is accepting mask donations in order to provide masks at the rally. Attendees are encouraged to wear pride flag masks in a show of solidarity.
“Proclamations are an important part to creating an inclusive county,” said PFLAG Prince William Youth Facilitator, Jason Shriner. “They remind our elected officials that we are a part of the community and that we expect the policies and practices of local government agencies to reflect the needs of our community.”
Prince William County residents can add their names to the petition that will be submitted along with the formal request to the Board of County Supervisors. The deadline to sign on is June 10, 2020.
