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Shelton proclaims June 2026 Pride Month as public commenters sharply disagree
Summary
The council read a Pride Month proclamation recognizing sponsors and urging inclusion; several public commenters both criticized and praised the proclamation, raising concerns about council members' social media and threats received by pride organizers.
The Shelton City Council on June 2 read and recognized a proclamation designating June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Shelton, citing local sponsor organizations and urging residents to celebrate diversity and protect equal treatment under the law.
Council member Harris read the proclamation, which lists 18 sponsoring organizations and highlights community contributions from local groups including youth services and the YMCA. "The Shelton City Council recognizes June 2026 as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus, LGBTQ plus pride month in the city of Shelton," Harris stated while reading the resolution text.
Members of the public delivered sharply divergent remarks during the public-comment period. Philip Wilson, a Mason County resident, said he opposes the Pride proclamation and invoked historical social-science claims in his objection: "In 1934, Oxford anthropologist JD Unwin ... found that in 100% of the cases when a society adopted total sexual liberalization, the society collapsed within 100 years," he told the council. His remarks framed the proclamation as harmful.
Other speakers supported the proclamation. Clavia Swastiki, a Shelton resident, thanked council members for passing the proclamation and said it could be "saving a life" by supporting vulnerable residents. Ari Green read an abridged poem commemorating queer youth and the risks they face.
Separately, a public commenter identified only as Paul criticized the conduct of individual council members on social media and said the Shelton Pride Committee had received death threats after posts by a council member regarding stolen campaign signs. "I would just like to encourage the council member to retract his statement and stop feeding the flames of hatred," Paul said, urging elected officials to be more professional on public platforms.
The council proceeded with the formal proclamation reading and later continued to other agenda business. No ordinance or binding policy change was adopted at the meeting; the proclamation is a ceremonial recognition by the council.
