On June 28th, Commissioners Katie Scott and Jason Morgan hosted a documentary screening and panel discussion on Facebook Live as part of the Board of Commissioners' recognition of the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The panel discussion included Joe Schoch from the Jim Toy Community Center, Amber Byers from Corner Health, LJ Sarten from Ozone House, and Suzie Staley from Neutral Zone.
After watching Stonewall Forever: A Documentary about the Past, Present, and Future of Pride, the group discussed services that are offered to people who identify as LGBTQ+, particularly youth, by their organizations. They also talked about the importance of knowing the past to inform the work that still needs to be done to ensure Washtenaw County is a welcoming and affirming environment for all.
At their June meeting, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing Pride Month in Washtenaw County. This year, the Board added language in the resolution about the importance of the Stonewall riots as the first Pride and specifically honored the role of the two transgender women of color who helped lead the fight, Martha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
Click here to watch the full event and panel discussion.