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H8619
2026 -- H 8619
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LC006528
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2026 AS "PRIDE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Kazarian, Blazejewski, Kislak, Handy, Fogarty, Tanzi,
Ajello, McGaw, Cruz, and Stewart
Date Introduced:
June 04, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island celebrates LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
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Queer, Intersex, Asexual +) people in June of 2026, by honoring the history, struggles, and
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successes of LGBTQIA+ people and by supporting peace and prosperity for everyone; and
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WHEREAS, In 1949, the Rhode Island General Assembly established the State
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Commission for Human Rights with the understanding that "[t]he practice or policy of
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discrimination against individuals...is a matter of state concern", and that "discrimination foments
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public strife and unrest, threatens the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the state, and
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undermines the foundations of a free democratic state" R.I.G.L. Section 28-5-2; and
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights is one of the oldest state
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agencies in the country that specializes in antidiscrimination law enforcement; and
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WHEREAS, The Commission enforces all Rhode Island antidiscrimination laws in the
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areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and delivery of services; and
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WHEREAS, In 1995 the Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation which added
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protections for sexual orientation to our antidiscrimination laws; and
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WHEREAS, In 2001, Rhode Island became the second state in the nation to pass
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legislation which added protections for gender identity to our antidiscrimination laws; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island State statutes prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex
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(including pregnancy and sexual harassment), disability, ancestral origin, religion, age, sexual
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orientation, and gender identity/expression; and
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WHEREAS, Lesbian and gay Rhode Islanders organized their first PrideFest in 1976
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with approximately 75 people in attendance. Called the "76ers", these individuals marched
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through downtown Providence despite State and City leaders attempting to block the parade.
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They sought to celebrate their diversity, and to highlight the contributions they had made to the
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wider community; and
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WHEREAS, On June 25, 1978, Gilbert Baker, an Army veteran from Kansas, designed
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the rainbow flag as a symbol for the gay liberation movement, which flies during the annual
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Rhode Island Pride Parade. Each color of the flag has a meaning: hot pink for sexuality, red for
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life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise blue for art, indigo for
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harmony, and violet for spirit; and
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WHEREAS, On November 20, 1999, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a well-known advocate for
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trans rights, created the first Transgender Day of Remembrance, commemorating all the trans
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people who were killed by anti-transgender violence and bigotry; and
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WHEREAS, The Netherlands became the first country to recognize the freedom to marry
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for LGBTQ+ people in 2001; Massachusetts affirmed the autonomy, dignity, and equality of
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LGBTQ+ people when the state’s highest court became the first to recognize the freedom to
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marry for LGBTQ+ people in 2003; Rhode Island passed a law that went into effect on August 1,
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2013 recognizing marriage equality; and in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ensured nationwide
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marriage equality ruling all state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, allowing gay and
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lesbian couples to marry nationwide and requiring states to recognize a lawful same-sex marriage
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performed in another state; and
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WHEREAS, After dramatically boosting the attendance and community involvement in
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PrideFest, in 2018, PrideFest led to Providence being listed as one of the "World's Best
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Destinations for LGBT Pride Celebrations" by National Geographic; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island will celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community on June 20, 2026
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with the PrideFest Celebration and Illuminated Night Parade; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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celebrates June of 2026, as "Pride Month" and embraces the LGBTQIA+ community with
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appreciation for their culture, creativity and contributions; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That this House will hereby continue to respect every Rhode Islander and
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work to ensure equity and justice as a hallmark of Rhode Island legislation; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rhode Island Pride.
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