Wake Forest drops LGBTQ history recognition, citing ‘strong feelings’ on both sides
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wake Forest canceled LGBTQ History Month proclamation after public backlash.
- Mayor Vivian Jones cited conflicting community views in withdrawing support.
- Facebook post announcing decision drew nearly 1,000 comments in one day.
The town of Wake Forest will no longer proclaim October to be LGBTQ History Month, Mayor Vivian Jones says, citing “strong feelings on both sides of this issue.”
“Whereas my willingness to issue the proclamation was motivated by my commitment to one of the goals of our Strategic Plan — ‘Fostering a Safe, Diverse and Welcoming Community’ — I now realize that by expressing support for our LGBTQ community I may have unintentionally suggested the Town’s official support for one set of deeply held beliefs over another set just as deeply rooted,” according to a statement from Jones shared on the town’s Facebook page Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday, the Facebook post had gained nearly 1,000 comments and been shared 100 times.
The issue stems from a Sept. 2 Wake Forest Board of Commissioners meeting during which Jones announced she planned to declare October “Pride Month in Wake Forest.”
Moments later, Commissioner Faith Cross said she’d be unable to support that proclamation without elaborating.
Jones said she meant to say the proclamation would recognize October as LGBTQ History Month, according to the statement.
“I apologize for confusing the two observances, but more importantly, I am terribly sorry for the discord it has generated in our community,” she said in the statement. “Over the past week, I have heard from several people expressing strong feelings on both sides of this issue.”
After “careful consideration and as an acknowledgement of the diversity of convictions throughout our community,” Jones said she decided not to issue a proclamation.
The Wake County Republican Party praised Cross “for being the only Republican on the board to speak out” against the proclamation.
When reached Wednesday, Cross said she could not immediately respond to questions because she was out of town.
NC Values Coalition, a socially conservative organization that believes marriage is between a man and a woman, urged Christians living in Wake Forest to email Jones and the other commissioners to express opposition to the resolution.
“This proclamation does not represent the values of many families in our community, and I believe the focus of our town should remain on bringing neighbors together rather than adopting divisive agendas,” according to the group’s petition.
Amanda Cottrill, co-founder of Wake Forest Pride, drafted the proclamation and said it was meant to coincide with the second Wake Forest Pride, being held on Oct. 11.
Cottrill, a queer woman living in Wake Forest for the last 20 years, said she and Sam Luce wanted to start Wake Forest Pride because there was a growing need.
“Ther are so many families here that are looking for more safety and neighors and love,” she said.
Cottrill didn’t know the proclamation was being pulled until she saw the town’s Facebook post. The mayor’s statement about supporting one set of “deeply held beliefs over another” was extremely hurtful, she said.
“People who are queer exist,” she said. “It’s not a belief. We’re here. We’re a part of the community just like everybody else. When I saw that it made me sad for our whole community.”
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, several references to LGBTQ+ history have been removed on some federal agency websites including some references to Durham-raised human rights activist Pauli Murray, in addition to references to the Stonewall National Monument, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, among others.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM.
