Mayor’s Minutes

To Our Harrison Family,

Throughout the month of June, you may have noticed the Harrison Pride banners flying on Main Street, in our township’s recognition of Pride month.

Since the start of the LGBTQ liberation movement in the early 1970’s, Pride Month has become recognized and celebrated around the world. Celebrations take place in a variety of forms with each having its own distinct local feel and traditions. The month ties to the Stonewall Riots taking place at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, beginning in June of 1969. It is these protests that is often associated with the beginning of the LGBTQ Community’s fight for Equal rights.  “Pride” celebrates the members of LGBTQ community and in the US recognizes the series of landmark Supreme Court decisions over the past 50 years. These cases acknowledged LGBTQ rights that were previously denied.

We all take pride in the history of this country and the trailblazing foundation the United States has laid for freedom throughout the world. However, we also know that these freedoms do not exist in all corners of the globe, even in 2022. The US Constitution, drafted in 1787, created our system of lawmaking and it has withstood the test of time for 235 years… but not without controversy. In hindsight, “controversy” should have been expected, considering the Preamble (of the Constitution) starts with the powerful words, “We the People”.

When it was written, the authors were white, male landowners. Women were excluded from having a say (or vote) and the word “slavery” was intentionally not mentioned in the document. The reality is the definition of “We” has evolved over the years. If you think about it, this evolution is really a microcosm of American democracy.

The evolution of our culture’s view of the LGBTQ community is another chapter in the story of America. Pride Month signifies our society’s shifting views on that front, similar to the evolutions connected to women’s rights, slavery and civil rights. As “We the People” evolves, the primary principles our country was founded upon prevails, and in fact they grow stronger. We believe that all people are created equal and have the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Our ability to evolve as a society is a major reason why our democracy still exists today.

Locally, we recognize the shifts that lead to an evolving society are born with the people…We the People. It is in this sprit, Harrison Township created our IDEA Board a couple of years back, so that we may provide a forum that assures these conversations take place.

You can learn more about the Harrison Township IDEA Board here.