Small-town mayor bravely stands up to hecklers & conservative Christians to declare June Pride Month

In tiny Liberty Hill, Texas, population 3,645, the mayor stood up to council members and residents in opposition to a recent proclamation and declared that June was Pride Month in the small town, “in harmony with the larger community of the United States.”

The proclamation was met with boos and a smattering of applause by townsfolk gathered for the occasion.

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The public declaration was sought by Liberty Hill resident Amanda Crossland, who lost her son Jaycee to suicide shortly after he came out as gay. She told KXAN-TV in nearby Austin that she’s been working with Liberty Hill’s mayor, Liz Branigan, on a way to honor him.

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“I promised him after he died I would do everything I can to make sure this doesn’t happen to someone else. To make sure people like him know they have support.”

Branigan read the proclamation standing next to Crossland and two supporters.

“Whereas, Liberty Hill is a Loving, Wholesome and Family-centered community; and Whereas, Liberty Hill is an inclusive and supportive community; and Whereas, We value all of our citizens because of the unique and precious nature of all of God’s children; and Whereas, We oppose hate, abuse, discrimination or bullying of any person, Now Therefore, I, Liz Branigan, as Mayor, do proclaim the month of June as Pride Month in Liberty Hill, in harmony with the larger community of the United States.”

Video of the event reveals one resident calling out the words “Lord have mercy” as the mayor begins reading the Pride proclamation. Another declares, “For shame,” as she finishes.

After she says the words, “Whereas, Liberty Hill is a Loving, Wholesome and Family-centered community,” another attendee can be heard uttering the word “Bulls**t” through a sneeze.

@amyw028

The mayor was SO strong. The room was full of angry, hateful people but she persisted!!!! #libertyhilltx #pridemonth #fyp

♬ original sound – Amy

“This is a slap in the face,” said one man wearing a hat decorated with the American flag of the proclamation during public comment.

“This divisive and irrelevant proclamation is now sadly in the official record,” lamented another, older resident.

“Opposing hate, abuse, discrimination or bullying — that can all be true without proclaiming the month of June as Pride Month in Liberty Hill,” advised another.

The comments were met with applause from a majority of the town’s residents.

“This is supposed to be a day of acceptance. It’s not even a celebration,” Crossland said, “because it’s a fight.”

“I didn’t expect when I showed up today that there would be a huge amount of hatred.”

Proclamations in the small town are the purview of the mayor and she doesn’t need council approval to issue them. One member did speak in opposition to the proclamation at the start of the meeting.

The town’s mayor pro tem Crystal Mancilla said “no action item” accompanies the issuance.

“It’s just a proclamation,” she said, trying to assuage the residents in opposition. “It’s not a policy.”