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Athens public commentators thank council for adopting October as LGBTQ History Month
Summary
Members of the Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance and United Campus Ministry used the Athens City Council public-comment period to thank Mayor Patterson and council members for adopting October as LGBTQ History Month and to urge continued partnership to support LGBTQ residents.
Speakers at the Athens City Council public-comment period praised the council and Mayor Patterson for adopting October as LGBTQ History Month and urged ongoing partnership with local LGBTQ organizations.
Chris Neville, president of the Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance, thanked Mayor Patterson and the city council for the proclamation and said the group is “honored to be present today to celebrate LGBTQ History Month” and looks forward to expanding regional events such as an Athens Bridal Fest. "My board and I are honored to be present today to celebrate LGBTQ history month and are fortunate to be able to have such wonderful partners and advocates in our local government," Neville said.
Jamie, who identified themself as a representative of United Campus Ministry, said the council’s action mattered personally and drew attention to Athens’s visible support for LGBTQ residents. "The reason I moved to Athens, Ohio was specifically because when I was doing college tours, I was counting the amount of pride flags that I saw on my college tour, and Athens won," Jamie said.
Arnie Faber, executive director of United Campus Ministry, described the proclamation as both symbolic and substantive: "It's not only a symbolic gesture, but it's a statement of our values," Faber said, urging that recognition help make Athens “better and safer for all.” He framed the proclamation as acknowledging the contributions and struggles of LGBTQ people and as a message to younger residents that they are “valued, seen, and celebrated.”
Council staff opened the public-comment period by reminding speakers to limit remarks to three minutes and to state their name and address. Several speakers who commented on the proclamation identified local organizational ties or addresses in Athens; one speaker, Chris Neville, said he was traveling from The Plains, Ohio, and represented the Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance.
The public-comment session concluded with a motion to adjourn, which the council approved. No formal council action on additional LGBTQ-related items was recorded during the comments recorded in the transcript.
Speakers' remarks were limited to the public-comment period; the council did not debate policy changes during these remarks.
