{"id":688,"date":"2026-05-21T15:35:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=688"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:35:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:35:42","slug":"this-nc-town-canceled-last-years-lgbtq-recognition-now-pride-is-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=688","title":{"rendered":"This NC town canceled last year\u2019s LGBTQ+ recognition. Now, Pride is back."},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Wake Forest Mayor Ben Clapsaddle designated June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in a proclamation Tuesday, a reversal to the previous mayor\u2019s move scrapping the town\u2019s official recognition of LGBTQ+ history.<\/p>\n

Read more 2 Triangle towns rank among the nation\u2019s best places to live. Why they stand out<\/a><\/p>\n

At a Board of Commissioners meeting this week, Clapsaddle said the town will join nationwide Pride celebrations next month to recognize LGBTQ+ history and honor LGBTQ residents who have \u201clong contributed to the cultural, civic and economic life of Wake Forest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the mayor of the town of Wake Forest, I encourage all residents to reflect on the importance of respect, understanding and belonging for all members of our community,\u201d Clapsaddle said in the proclamation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The move comes after then-Mayor Vivian Jones introduced a resolution last fall declaring October as LGBTQ History Month, which drew opposition from some commissioners and conservative groups in the town of about 60,000 residents.<\/p>\n

Jones soon walked back the effort, citing \u201cstrong feelings on both sides of the issue,\u201d The News & Observer previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhereas my willingness to issue the proclamation was motivated by my commitment to one of the goals of our Strategic Plan \u2014 \u2018Fostering a Safe, Diverse and Welcoming Community\u2019 \u2014 I now realize that by expressing support for our LGBTQ community I may have unintentionally suggested the Town\u2019s official support for one set of deeply held beliefs over another set just as deeply rooted,\u201d Jones wrote at the time.<\/p>\n

That decision became a point of contention in Jones\u2019 reelection campaign, as she sought to explain her stance on LGBTQ issues<\/a> to voters. She ultimately lost to Clapsaddle in the general election, collecting just 30% of the vote to Clapsaddle\u2019s 70%.<\/p>\n

Read more How Chapel Hill will use parking to keep a homegrown robotics company downtown<\/a><\/p>\n

Amanda Cottrill, a co-founder of Wake Forest Pride, said at the time that Jones\u2019 reversal of the proclamation was a blow to the local queer community.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who are queer exist,\u201d she told The N&O in September. \u201cIt\u2019s not a belief. We\u2019re here. We\u2019re a part of the community just like everybody else. When I saw that it made me sad for our whole community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cottrill stood beside Clapsaddle on Tuesday as he read the declaration \u2014 an effort she said was years in the making and signified more than just \u201ca piece of paper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Proclamations] send a message,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cThey tell LGBTQ+ residents, families, business owners, youth, and neighbors that they are seen, valued, and part of this community too. No town is perfect, and the work of building belonging is ongoing, but moments like this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com<\/u>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more The Carolina Hurricanes are back in a conference final. Is it \u2018win now or never\u2019?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wake Forest, NC, Mayor Ben Clapsaddle proclaimed June as Pride Month, reversing a prior cancellation to honor LGBTQ+ history and community contributions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nThis NC town canceled last year\u2019s LGBTQ+ recognition. 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