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Thousand Oaks issues Pride and Juneteenth proclamations and honors Kingsmen Shakespeare Company
Summary
The City Council presented proclamations recognizing Unity KJO (LGBTQIA+ advocacy), Juneteenth, and the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company's 30-year festival; speakers stressed inclusion, youth support and community cultural enrichment.
The Thousand Oaks City Council issued proclamations Tuesday recognizing a local LGBTQIA+ advocacy group, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and Juneteenth.
Council Member Gutierrez urged the council to move beyond tolerance toward 'more love' when recognizing LGBTQIA+ residents and organizations, calling the proclamation a meaningful moment for people who have long sought safety and representation in the city. Lily Barry, introduced by the council as executive board president of Unity KJO, thanked the council and described a recent Kingsmen Park event that drew more than 700 participants to celebrate 'queer joy.' Barry said, 'happy pride everyone' and invited residents to continue community engagement.
The council also presented a proclamation to Michael Art, co‑founder and artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, noting the Kingsmen’s three decades of performances and community outreach; Art told the council the company has hosted more than 100,000 attendees and that it 'has never charged anyone under the age of 18 and we will never charge anyone under the age of 18 to attend.'
Marlina Wallace, chair of the school district’s African‑American District Advisory Council, accepted a Juneteenth proclamation and described the day as both 'American history' and 'a strong reminder' of the long struggle to make freedom real for everyone. She invited families to engage with ADAK’s priorities, including student success and community connection.
The presentations were ceremonial; the council encouraged photo opportunities and community participation in upcoming events. The meeting recessed briefly for technical issues but reconvened for the remainder of the agenda.
