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Lakewood proclaims June 2026 Pride Month and announces city’s first official Pride celebration June 20
Summary
Council read and adopted a proclamation declaring June 2026 Pride Month; the proclamation—issued by Mayor Wendy Schramm and read by Councilor Ken Cruz—announces the city's first official Pride celebration in Belmar on June 20 with community events and performances.
The Lakewood City Council proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month and announced the city's first official Pride celebration, scheduled for June 20 in Belmar.
Councilor Ken Cruz read the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Wendy Schramm, saying the city is committed to "supporting visibility, dignity and equality for LGBTQ+ people and our diverse community." The proclamation highlighted the role LGBTQ+ individuals have played in the community and called on residents to work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.
Event details provided during the proclamation included family-friendly programming, a lineup of performers and community business participation; organizers said events will include a drag brunch, drag bingo, storytime and a range of performances. Councilors and public commenters asked that the city back the words with safety measures for attendees and outreach to vulnerable community members.
Public comment at the start of the meeting included praise for the proclamation and reminders that proclamations should be backed by concrete policy and protections for LGBTQ+ residents. Robyn McKinnon and others urged the council to ensure safety and support are available during Pride events and year-round.
Outcome: The proclamation was read into the record and the event announcement will be posted to Lakewood’s event channels and the Lakewood Speaks site for more information.
