The York County Commissioners voted narrowly on Wednesday to refuse to issue a proclamation commemorating LGBTQ Pride Month, sparking a lengthy social media response from openly gay Commissioner Justin Chenette.
“My heart is heavy with the defeat of our Pride proclamation. By a single vote. The defeat of this measure is an example that the work is not over, even in York County. You might not think proclamations really matter, but they do because words matter. When elected officials promote equality and acceptance of all people, people feel seen, heard, and valued regardless of their background or circumstances,” said Chenette on Facebook.
“I don’t believe anyone with special interests should have a special month designated to them and I think that they are all treated equally, and I don’t think that there’s any need of that,” said Commissioner Donna Ring during the meeting.
The commissioners voted 2-2 on the proclamation, meaning that it did not pass. The vote marked the first time since 2023 that the county has failed to issue a proclamation on Pride Month.
Commissioners Ring and Robert Andrews opposed the proclamation, with Commissioner Richard Dutremble absent from the meeting.
Only one person spoke during the June 17 hearing’s public comment section, a woman urging the commissioners against supporting a proclamation she believes is a celebration of sin.
Chenette claimed in his Facebook post that the proclamation wasn’t about special treatment for a specific group.
“We have passed a proclamation every year since 2023. The sky didn’t fall. The county’s moral compass didn’t collapse. It didn’t negatively impact anyone’s life to have a proclamation in place. On the flip side, I did see a positive impact. It was heartwarming to hear from county employees who appreciated being finally represented in this way. We sent a clear message that everyone is welcome to live, work, and play here in York County. As I said during the vote tonight, it is a message we should all be able to agree on. No one, including myself, is looking for special treatment or special rights, but simply mutual respect and understanding,” he said.
He also posted the proposed text of the statement, claiming that the “true signing is in our collective hearts.”
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