Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Deval L. Patrick
Whereas Massachusetts is home to a vibrant and diverse population. This week we welcome and join all members of the GLBT community in celebrating their diversity and their involvement in our Commonwealth; and
Whereas All citizens come before their government as equals and government cannot discriminate against its citizens; and
Whereas This year we mark the seventh anniversary of marriage equality in the Commonwealth, a result of the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the landmark Supreme Judicial Court case that stated that same-sex couples have the right to marry; and
Whereas This year’s Pride Week, themed "Celebrating 30 Years of World Wide Pride," recognizes another successful year of Boston Pride and invites us all to get out and create change and raise our voices in the name of equality, dignity and progress; and
Whereas We are thankful for the many contributions members of the GLBT community continue to make within our Commonwealth,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim June 1st, 2012, to be,
Pride Day
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, seventeenth day of May, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts