City recognizes Pride

BASTROP – Bastrop Pride and the city’s LGBTQ community received special honors from government officials earlier this month, despite minor opposing community views.

Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo read out an official city proclamation May 28 designating June as Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall riots of 1968 generally recognized as the catalyst for the queer rights movement, according to the speaker.

“Whereas every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal and equitable benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability,” Carrillo said before Bastrop Pride representatives.

The group that created Bastrop Pride was formed in 2021 through striving efforts to foster community and gained their nonprofit status in March of last year.

“Bastrop Pride’s celebrations and programs have grown to serve not only the city of Bastrop, but the entire county and all other communities that may touch our border,” added Carrillo. “Bastrop celebrates the history and diversity of our city’s community, and promotes a society in which all residents can live free from discrimination.”

Despite these claims, one public speaker took to the stand to condemn the city’s decision, quoting the Constitution and John Adams, mentioning “morality and virtue grounded in the laws of nature’s God.”

“Our constitution was made only for moral and religious people, it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other,” Jeanette Watson said. “What was intended to preserve our freedoms has been used to destroy them.”

Watson noted that she has previously petitioned the council against letting the community display their pride, to no avail.

No other comments were raised on the decree, and present Pride committee members were presented with a proclamation plaque.

Bastrop Pride is committed to increasing education, awareness, social and support opportunities throughout the community by way of scholarships, festivals and collaboration with other organizations, according to the city.

“Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate this harmony in which we coexist,” Carrillo said.