WASHINGTON — President Obama proclaimed June LGBT Pride Month, but an effort to recognize it in Loudoun County is facing opposition.
Loudoun County Supervisor Kristen Umstattd says that in the wake of the June 12 mass shooting at an Orlando gay club, there was an outcry from local members of the LGBT community, and supervisors received more than 30 emails.
So Umstattd plans to introduce a proclamation recognizing LGBT Pride Month.
“I do think it is the decent and Christian thing to do, to acknowledge that we support equal rights for all citizens in this county,” she said at Thursday evening’s board meeting.
“God made all of us, and he may have made us different, but he made all of us and he loves us just the same, so I will be bringing that up on July 5.”
Will Estrada, chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, is already urging other members of the board to vote “no.”
He spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“The voters of Loudoun County elected you as supervisors to fix our roads, fund our schools, fund our law enforcement, deal with development and budget issues and keep our taxes low. That’s what this board should be focusing on, not finding other issues of controversy,” Estrada said.
“This board should not be recognizing, in my opinion, people because of who they love or their sexual orientation. Has the board given our wounded warriors a month of pride? Resolutions, I believe, should be given to people and groups based on their achievements.”
