During the cloudy Monday morning the local LGBTQ community raised the Pride flag to celebrate Harvey Milk Day at Long Beach City College’s PCC.
Led by Jerome Hunt, LBCC’s student equity coordinator, opened the ceremony by welcoming all to sit in the quad while he gave a brief discussion about Harvey Milk.
Hunt also discussed the anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been introduced and have kept trans people in the bushes.
On the stage was Herlinda Chico, a current Trustee and LBCC student herself. Chico shared her remarks for the community, as she has been part of the LGBTQ community for years.
Milk was a well known LGBTQ+ activist who was assassinated for his political activism a year after his elected term in San Francisco’s board of supervisors in 1977.
Harvey Milk day is a reminder to all that being part of the LGBTQ community is a recognized group who still battles against injustice.
However, as time has progressed, many more bills have been passed to accept and create a safe space for those who are openly queer.
Governor Newsom released a proclamation in honor of Harvey Milk Day in California, which caused a “Great Sea” to secure this day as Harvey Milk Day.
The Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club, which was established in 1977 after an anti-LGBTQ initiative was installed to prevent LGBTQ students and teachers from being in a classroom, gained recognition in Long Beach and across California.
Superintendent-President Mike Munoz expressed the amount of support that the community and its members have received at LBCC.
He gave the stage back to Hunt who gave way for the flag to be raised.
All in the audience clapped and cheered in celebration of Harvey Milk Day and June’s upcoming pride month.
Joey Smith, a member of the LGBTQ club and a student who is currently doing online classes was on campus and said she was very happy for the raising of the flag.
“It has given me a space on campus,” Smith said.
The building on campus that provides a space for students to relax and be themselves on campus.
Harvey Milk day was the first of many pride month celebrations that will be hosted by LBCC.