June 4, 2020

“Vote: Mr. Fisher made a motion to adopt the Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Queer or Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month Proclamation as follows: Whereas, Hingham is a community that values diversity and inclusion, and is committed to equal rights and opportunities for all its residents; and Whereas, Hingham recognizes the important contributions of its LGBTQ+ residents to the Town's history, culture, economy, and civic life; and Whereas, June 28, 2020 marks the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an event that gave rise to the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement in the United States; and Whereas, June is now designated across the country and in the Commonwealth as Pride Month; and Whereas, we celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community towards securing important rights and freedoms, often through struggle and adversity; and Whereas, we remain vigilant against continued oppression and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, and against any new political efforts to overturn these accomplishments; and Whereas, we affirm our support for our LGBTQ+ residents, including our students and our employees, vendors and visitors and stand with them to protect their civil rights and ability to live openly without fear; and Whereas, we congratulate the members of the Hingham Pride Project for their efforts to increase LGBTQ+ visibility and to support LGBTQ+ citizens, particularly our LGBTQ+ youth, through the distribution of over 1,000 Pride flags that are flying across Hingham; and Whereas, we acknowledge the important efforts of the Hingham School Committee, the School Department leadership, teachers and staff to support our LGBTQ+ students and to help all students meet core educational competencies that prioritize social-emotional learning, health and safety and respect for others; Now, therefore, we the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Hingham, do hereby proclaim June 2020 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Voted this 4th day of June 2020 by Karen A. Johnson, Mary M. Power, Joseph M. Fisher Executive Session The Chair States: The Board will enter into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation because discussion of this matter in Open Session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the Town. The Board will not reconvene in Open Session. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Fisher: yes Ms. Power: yes Ms. Johnson: yes.” (Motion: Fisher)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)