I Hereby Proclaim: Who and What are Worthy of Proclamation in the City of Saline?
At the June 4 meeting, Saline City Council proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer pride month.
Here are some of the other proclamations by city council since 2015. This list isn’t all-inclusive. There may be others, but these showed up in a quick word search of city council agendas.
- May 2017 – National Historic Preservation Month
- April 28, 2018 – Arbor Day
- May 2017 – National Bike Month
- April 2017 – National Library Week
- May 20, 2017 – National Kids to Parks Day
- October 2016 – Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- October 2016 – National Bullying Prevention Month
- October 2016 – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- May 2016 – National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- May 2016 – National Bike Month
- May 21, 2016, National Kids to Park Day
- April 22, 2016 – Earth Day
- April 5, 2016 - National Service Recognition Day
- May 20-21 – Poppy Days
- November 2015 – Veterans Appreciation and Recognition Week
- October 2015 – Breast Cancer Awareness month
- October 2015 – Domestic Violence Month
- October 2015 – National Bullying Prevention Month
- September 2015 -- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
- July 2015 – Parks and Recreation Month
- June 2015 – Gun Safety Week
- May 2015 – National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- May 2015 – National Police Week
- May 2015 – National Kids to Park Day
- May 22-23, 2015 – Poppy Days
- May 2015 – National Bike Month
This kind proclamation isn't standard for council under Mayor Marl - which he appeared to acknowledge at Monday's meeting. In fact, Marl didn't personally sign this proclamation, as he usually does.
There are several proclamations relating to health issues. There are a few standard governmental issues, celebrating police and parks. The city has touched on social issues, such as bullying and domestic violence.
But it's rare for the city to issue edicts like the LGBTQ Pride proclamation. There aren't corresponding proclamations for Black History Month, or National Hispanic Heritage Month. What about poor people? January is poverty awareness month.
Councillor Christen Mitchell said the city will stand up for people who need support.
Is the LGBTQ community the only group in Saline that needs support? That's a loaded question. How much support is there, really, in a city council proclamation?
It might just be that members of the LGBTQ community in Saline ask city council for this kind of support, and that blacks, Hispanics and poor people don't see much value in a proclamation. Or, maybe, it's simply because there aren't any blacks, Hispanics or poor people on city council.
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