Taylor Mayor Dwayne Ariola has declined to issue a proclamation honoring Pride Day in the city, saying he wants to focus on events he feels unite the community, such as Juneteenth.
Pride Day festivities, however, will still go on as planned in Heritage Square Park downtown 4-10 p.m. June 28.
Members of the local LGBTQ+ community say they are stunned by the mayor’s stance, especially since Taylor in 2021 was the first city in Williamson County to recognize June as Pride Month and/or June 28 as Pride Day.
“I made the decision not to advance a specific proclamation because I believe we have other meaningful opportunities in June to come together – such as Juneteenth, a unifying observance begun in Texas and now national in scope that honors freedom and resilience,” Ariola said.
Supporters of Pride events hope Ariola will reconsider. A petition launched on Change.org has already garnered 1,000 signatures.
“Personally, I believe the mayor’s decision is shortsighted, discriminatory and regressive in nature. It's a terrible reflection for our city,” said Jose Orta, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community who submitted the application to recognize June 28 as Pride Day in Taylor.
For more on this story, see the May 31-June 1 edition of the Taylor Press.
