Agenda Item: 4a
Meeting Date: June 23, 2026

PROCLAMATION

OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle remains committed to bolstering our public agency's assets and
strengths of equity, diversity, and inclusion, true to our Century Agenda goals and
our values of respect, anti-racism and equity, integrity, stewardship, and excellence;
and

WHEREAS, New York's June 1969 Stonewall Inn riots made history as an early uprising against

the police violence that openly targeted communities and individuals across
America identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual,
two-spirited, or more (LGBTQIA2S+ or "trans and queer" for short). These Stonewall
protests were led by the Inn's poor trans Black and Latine patrons joined by
homeless youth who lived in the adjacent park. Their fierce fight for the right to live
and gather safely, openly, and authentically became a seismic moment in U.S.
history; and

WHEREAS, 1970's commemoration of Stonewall included the first Pride march observed by
community members in Seattle and several other big cities, and has since become the
worldwide recognition, celebration, and political event for trans and queer people
it is today; and

WHEREAS, these communities' fight for the dignity, respect, equality, inclusion, and belonging
continues in our streets, courts, and legislative chambers, to keep pushing back
against deadly attacks, discrimination, police violence, and bigoted laws; and

WHEREAS, despite significant progress for their human rights since Stonewall, this year again

brought a growing number of laws and legislation rooted in bigotry and homophobia
that aim to deny American freedoms of expression and speech protected by the
Constitution, crucial gender-affirming medical care, and other life-saving forms of
education and legal protections. This year the ACLU is tracking 530 such hateful bills
across the country, six of them here in Washington; and

Proclamation - Pride Month 2026

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WHEREAS, well-loved UW student Juniper Blessing was one of ten trans people we know of

slain in May 2026 alone in the U.S. Across our country anti-Blackness, racism,
ableism, misogynoir and misogyny, colorism, and anti-immigrant hatred
interconnect with transphobia and queerphobia to spur increasing physical attacks
and erode protections for fundamental rights and dignity in spaces like hospitals,
schools, places of employment, housing, and public accommodations; and

WHEREAS, how trans and queer people form and shape their families continue to be an arena
in this fight; and

WHEREAS, people of color make up 40% of trans and queer adults, and of the 1.3 million immigrant

adults identifying as trans and queer, 23% lack adequate documentation. This
intersectionality of multiple identities compounds the lived experiences of trans and
queer migrants, particularly those of color; and

WHEREAS, such experiences spur migration here by those forced to leave home countries or

homes in other US states and cities to avoid persecution, state-sponsored attack,
and other forms of violence including sexual assault; and infuriatingly , our own
country's machinery of incarceration and deportation tears them from their new
homes here to send them back into the danger, deprivation, and death they had
risked everything to flee; and

WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle celebrates and values its trans and queer employees, business

partners, and community members year-round and during Pride month, in part
through support of its Port-Wide Pride and Transgender Inclusivity employee
groups. The Port learns from and lifts up their leadership as they work to keep this
an employer that can attract and retain its expert workforce through healthcare
equity, gender affirming care, family formation, and benefits responsive to the
needs of all employees; and

WHEREAS, because Pride Month is a time to learn about, reflect on, and honor the trials and

contributions of these community members in their fight for human rights, it is an
opportunity for the Port of Seattle to commit to solidarity and allyship to eradicate
discrimination and injustices for collective liberation; and

WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle stands strong against discrimination, threats, and deadly violence

against trans and queer people, communities, families, and allies, in accordance
with Port values and its belief in equality, liberty, and justice for all.

Proclamation - Pride Month 2026

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NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby proclaims June 2026 - PRIDE

MONTH.

Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this 23rd day of June 2026.

Port of Seattle Commission

Port of Seattle Commission

Proclamation - Pride Month 2026

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