In an effort to acknowledge that “the town is strengthened by and prides upon the rich diversity of ethnic, cultural, racial, gender and sexual identities of all of its residents,” Wareham will formally recognize June 2021 as LGBTQ Pride Month.

During a June 15 meeting, Judith Whiteside, chair of the Board of Selectmen, introduced a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month in town and stating that the town understands that “LGBT rights are human rights.” 

The proclamation, which Selectman Judith Whiteside read into the record, pointed out the significance of June for the LGBTQ community: “The month of June was chosen to commemorate the riots that took place in Manhattan in June of 1969 at the Stonewall Inn” and “The United States Supreme Court ruled in June of 2015 that same-sex couples can marry nationwide as a civil right.”

The proclamation was met with a round of applause from selectmen, town officials and others attending the meeting. 

Although he was not mentioned during the meeting, the proclamation comes after longtime Wareham resident Bryan Landgren wrote a public letter encouraging the town to fly the rainbow flag and formally recognize Pride Month — in a manner similar to the board’s recent proclamation of Race Amity Day.