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Broomfield council proclaims June for Pride, gun violence awareness and open space; public commenters voice mixed views
Summary
Broomfield’s City and County Council declared June 2026 as Pride Month, June 5 as Gun Violence Awareness Day, and June as Open Space and Trails Month; public-health staff highlighted a local belonging study and firearm safe-storage efforts, while some residents criticized proclamations as symbolic.
Broomfield’s City and County Council opened its regular meeting with three proclamations recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month, June 5 as Gun Violence Awareness Day and June as Open Space and Trails Month.
Mayor Promlim read the proclamations and invited public health and open space staff to the podium. Public health staff described a locally conducted belonging study with Rocky Mountain Equity and described outreach and allyship trainings for community organizations and youth substance-use prevention efforts. “The LGBTQ+ community is repeatedly highlighted as a group at risk due to higher rates of substance use, death by suicide, poor mental health status, and higher rates of loneliness,” public health staff said while presenting the study’s goals and plans for sharing findings across departments and partners.
Advocates who accepted the Pride proclamation urged the council to strengthen supports that the report identified as protective. Lesie O’Brien of the Colorado Be SMART campaign urged secure firearm storage and highlighted statistics linking firearms and suicide — an issue she noted as especially relevant during Pride Month: “Secure firearm storage and removing firearms from a home when a family member is in crisis saves lives,” O’Brien said at the meeting.
Not all public comments were supportive. One resident, speaking during the Pride proclamation segment, told the council that proclamations were “virtue signaling” and urged the city to prioritize road safety, taxes and emergency services. Council members responded in turn, with Council Member Cohen noting the historic exclusion many groups have faced and describing the proclamations as a low-cost way to make vulnerable residents feel safer.
Council also honored open space work and the 25th anniversary of the Broomfield Trail Adventure; Open Space and Trails Manager Bob Woods outlined event logistics and the new “Broomfield 100” community challenge.
No formal council vote was required for the proclamations. The presentations and public comments set the tone for several agenda items later in the meeting, including public-health and public-safety initiatives and community events.
