Raleigh mayor says she’s ‘angry as hell’ at hate targeting LGBTQ+ community
The city of Raleigh needs to stand up, support and celebrate its LGBTQ+ community in light of recent hate, says Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
“My sister grew up LGBT, and it makes me angry as hell to see what is going on,” the mayor said during this week’s City Council meeting.
“I want all of us, everybody in this community, to feel loved, to feel accepted, to feel appreciated. There is no room for hatred,” Baldwin said. “And this month in particular we have to stand up, as Council member (Jonathan) Melton said. We need to stand up to this. And we need to show and express our commitment.”
Raleigh needs to take “a stance and say this is who we are as a city,” Baldwin said.
“Seeing not only what our state but our country has become, there is just no room for that,” she said.
Several council members spoke about Pride month, which is celebrated in June to recognize the 1969 Stonewall riots and the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The city of Raleigh issued a proclamation recognizing June as Pride month.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency in the United States this week, citing over 525+ anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures around the country in 2023.
“We stand firmly in solidarity with the LGBT community,” Raleigh City Council member Megan Patton. “It’s not just rainbows. We have to get to work.”
Melton, one of the first two openly gay people to serve on the council, said this Pride month feels “heavier” than normal.
“We are seeing a lot of anti-LGBTQ, particularly anti-trans acts and legislation,” he said. “Let’s get out there and celebrate, but also keep fighting. And let’s uplift the most marginalized members of our community and stick together. Happy Pride, let’s go celebrate but keep pushing forward.”
In an interview, Melton said he doesn’t intend to pursue a resolution condemning anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
“I plan to use my voice and position to advocate both at and away from the table,” he said.
Baldwin did not respond to a follow-up question about whether the city might pursue a resolution.
This story was originally published June 8, 2023 at 3:46 PM.
