Ann Arbor Pride Month Proclamation

Thank you, City of Ann Arbor for recognizing Neutral Zone for its LGBTQ+ community as we enter Pride Month. NZ Youth leaders Juniper Rooze and Aiden Runchey accepted the award and spoke about the upcoming NZ Rainbow Resistance Project.

Special thanks to Councilman Radina, LGBTQ Liaison Naomi Goldberg, and Mayor Taylor for this powerful proclamation. We love the part of NZ making it possible for LGBTQ+ youth to embrace their power to advance social justice and support one another, finding strength, creativity, and resilience to live as who they are.

Read the full text of the proclamation below the pictures.

Neutral Zone teen leaders Juniper Rooze and Aiden Runchey accept the proclamation from Mayor Chris Taylor

Left to right: Neutral Zone Program Director Hananiah Wiggins, NZ Teen Leader Juniper Rooze, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, NZ Teen Board Member Aiden Runchey

NZ Teen Leaders Juniper Rooze and Aiden Runchey hold up the proclamation in front of the Ann Arbor City Council Building

An official printed copy of the proclamation

Proclamation text version:

PROCLAMATION
June 2025 LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Ann Arbor

WHEREAS, each June, LGBTQ+ people and their friends and family recognize the journey toward liberation and those who have fought for equality, including the queer and transgender people of color who took to the streets in New York City at the Stonewall Inn and in cities around the country; and

WHEREAS, the City of Ann Arbor holds a historic place in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement for equality and continues to lead within the State of Michigan in working to advance equality and safety for LGBTQ+ people; and

WHEREAS, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies are advancing rapidly across the country, with 27 states prohibiting transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, 27 states restricting access to medical care for transgender youth, and 19 states censoring LGBTQ+ content in schools; and

WHEREAS, coordinated efforts are underway to erase transgender people, including youth, from public life and make it impossible for them to obtain accurate identity documents, to receive health care, to serve our country in the military, and to participate fully in life; and

WHEREAS, we recognize transformative, youth-led work that The Neutral Zone makes possible, including where LGBTQ+ youth in our community can embrace their power to advance social justice and support one another, finding strength, creativity, and resilience to live as who they are.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christopher Taylor, Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 2025 as Pride Month and affirm our City’s commitment to working against discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people and ensuring that all LGBTQ+ people, including transgender and LGBTQ+ youth, in the Ann Arbor community have dignity, equality, and justice.

I hereby set my hand and seal this 1st day of June 2025

(signed)

Christopher Taylor
Mayor of the City of Ann Arbor