Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially proclaimed June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month in California, issuing a sweeping declaration that honors the state’s pioneering role in the fight for equality while issuing a sharp rebuke of current federal policies. Newsom’s Sunday proclamation, which coincides wi th the 57th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in New York, highlights California’s deep ties to LGBTQ history, pointing to resistance movements in the state that predated Stonewall by several years. “This month, and every month, California supports and celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community as they take pride in who they are and whom they love,” the proclamation reads. “That pride is inseparable from history: a history of resistance, resilience, and the refusal to be erased.” The governor drew a direct line from those historical struggles to modern challenges. The document notes early acts of LGBTQ resistance, including the 1959 protests at Cooper’s Do-nuts in Los Angeles, the 1966 uprising at Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, and 1967 demonstrations at the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles. Newsom acknowledged the state’s complex history with LGBTQ rights, referencing both dark periods and hard-won victories. He cited San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk’s successful campaign to defeat the anti-gay Briggs Initiative, as well as the world’s first AIDS clinics opening at the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco General Hospital. Addressing the current political climate, Newsom warned that “the fight is far from over.” He cited statistics showing that more than one in five hate crimes are motivated by anti-LGBTQ bias, noting that transgender people — particularly Black transgender women — bear a disproportionate share of that violence. The proclamation also took direct aim at Washington. “A hostile federal administration is attempting to erase decades of progress, outright denying the existence of transgender people, even as it works to attack critical supports for transgender and other LGBTQ individuals,” the proclamation states. Despite the ongoing challenges, the declaration ends on a note of solidarity, with the governor highlighting the rainbow flag currently flying over the State Capitol. “California is proud to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all members of the LGBTQ community,” Newsom stated, “to protect and build on our progress toward a better and safer future for all.” ...read more read less