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San Antonio proclaims June 2025 Pride Month; community leaders urge more resources after recent deadly attack on local artist
Summary
The City Council issued a proclamation designating June 2025 as Pride Month and heard remarks from LGBTQ+ service providers and councilmembers calling for continued support and more resources after the recent death of local musician and actor Jonathan Joss.
The San Antonio City Council on June 5 proclaimed June 2025 as Pride Month and raised the death of local musician and actor Jonathan Joss during remarks tied to the proclamation.
The mayor read the proclamation declaring June 2025 as Pride Month in San Antonio. Representatives from local LGBTQ+ organizations addressed the council, describing rising threats to transgender and LGBTQ+ youth and urging continued city support for mental-health, housing and youth services.
Chris Chan, identified in the presentation as a youth leader, told the council events and city-level leadership show the city cares about the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ residents. Speakers representing mental-health and youth shelter organizations said they are seeing higher rates of crisis among young people and urged sustained support. Laxat Lavro (they/she), executive director of a local mental-health service cited by the speakers, said the programs are urgently needed; Justin Holly, executive director of a youth shelter, and Sofía Sepúlveda, director of Quality Texas, also described the need for services and safe spaces.
Several councilmembers used the opportunity to praise local service providers and to warn of legislative and social threats beyond the city. Councilmember Mickey Rodríguez and others pressed for the city to continue focusing resources on housing and services for LGBTQ+ young people. Rodríguez remembered Jonathan Joss and characterized his death as the result of community-level hostility; he asked the council to increase support and resources.
Speakers repeatedly referenced state-level measures and hostile rhetoric directed at transgender people and said that local governments and community organizations must respond with services and protection. Several councilmembers said Pride should be observed year-round in policy and practice, not only during June.
The proclamation and the remarks did not include Council action to change city policy or make a funding commitment on June 5; speakers urged further action and additional resources at future meetings and through nonprofits and service providers.
