DARIEN, CT — Pride Month is fast approaching, and the local group that supports the LGBTQ+ community is hoping the town of Darien will recognize June with a proclamation.
Dan Guller, chair of the Darien Pride committee, spoke during the public comment period of Monday’s Darien Board of Selectmen meeting. Guller asked if the town could issue a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month, and urge residents to support the LGBTQ+ community.
Guller cited research done by The Trevor Project that shows that having a supporting and accepting adult in a queer youth’s life can reduce suicide attempts by 40 percent.
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The Trevor Project is a nonprofit that was formed in 1998 that focuses on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth.
“Just one caring adult can make such a huge difference. For LGBTQ+ kids who may not have that adult in their lives, Darien Pride is committed to being that adult or those adults. I’d like to think we’d all do the same thing,” Guller said.
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To that end, Guller read an excerpt from a draft proclamation that Darien Pride developed. He said he’d leave a copy with the board.
“It is vital for the mental health of our LGBTQ+ youth that their hometown of Darien supports them and welcomes them,” Guller’s draft said in part. “Pride Month is an occasion for all of us to show support for LGBTQ+ individuals and to promote the values of diversity, acceptance and inclusion.”
David Martin, a longtime Darien resident, spoke in support of Guller’s request.
“I believe that the town and the citizens of this town value tolerance and inclusion, and we want everyone who lives here or visits here to feel welcome and accepted,” Martin said. “With all of the vitriol and anger that we see and hear and read about in the national press targeted towards the LGBTQ community, wouldn’t it be the right thing to issue a proclamation of acceptance and inclusion so the LGBT community here and those who choose to visit will feel welcome and accepted? I urge you to consider that.”
The board did not immediately respond to Guller’s request during the meeting.
Patch has reached out to the First Selectman’s office for more information.
Guller told Patch on Wednesday he’s hopeful the board can discuss the idea during its next regularly scheduled meeting later this month. He said he wants the town to back up its community values statement, which was approved last summer.
“Darien’s sense of community is rooted in residents who respect one another, welcome diversity in all facets of life, and are engaged in our larger society,” the statement says. “We value equity, fairness, inclusivity and dignity for all. We insist on a culture of respect and recognize that words and actions matter.”
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Last fall, there was pushback from Darien Pride regarding the town’s flag policy. Darien was looking to establish a policy on flags that can be flown at town hall.
Ultimately, the board of selectmen voted 3-2 that only the American flag, Connecticut flag and Darien flag are allowed.
Several members from Darien Pride said they felt the three-flag policy targeted the LGBTQ+ community and specifically the displaying of the Pride flag.
First Selectman Monica McNally said that wasn’t the case, and that the three allowed flags represented everyone in the community.
In December 2022, Guller walked 40 miles from his house to town hall, holding the Pride flag each day in protest of the town’s flag policy.
For more information on Darien Pride and their upcoming events in May and June, click here.
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