Green Bay raises the Pride Flag over Leicht Park

GREEN BAY, WI—(WGBW)—The City of Green Bay kicked off Pride Month with a community-wide celebration on Sunday, featuring a Pride Flag-Raising Ceremony and a Resource Fair at Leicht Park in Downtown Green Bay. 

About a dozen community organizations and resources showcased local organizations that provide support, services, and resources to the LGBTQ+ community and allies.  

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said the city had ignored the LGBTQ+ community for years, but now, Green Bay is considered a city of support.

“As some of you might know, when I was elected, our score on the Municipal Equality Index, which is something that the Human Rights Campaign put together, was a lowly 28,” Genrich told the crowd. “Now we are very proud to say that we have a 100. A perfect score for the City of Green Bay.”

Later, Genrich said the Common Council and the Equal Rights Commission were instrumental in helping the city increase its Equality score.

“(They) have created that non-discrimination ordinance that we have on the books,” Genrich said. “Because of the fact that we are very proudly raising the flag and have proclaimed it to be Pride Month in June here in the City of Green Bay. We’ve made some strides in that area, and we’re going to continue doing that.”  

Leaders Speak

Several Green Bay Alders were present. Local legislators, 30th Senate District Senator Jamie Wall, 89th District Representative Ryan Spaude, and 90th District Representative Amaad Rivera-Wager, were also present.

Rivera-Wagner and Spaude are both out gay men and both serve on the LGBTQ+ Caucus in the state legislature. 

“Especially during dark times, to love out loud is a radical act,” said Rivera-Wagner. “To be partnered with the Mayor of Green Bay, who sees our community. Who is trying to make sure that every resident, no matter how they identify, who they love, how they show up, can thrive in the City of Green Bay. And that to me is worth celebrating.”

Spaude used his time to tell the crowd about the package of bills the LGBTQ+ Caucus introduced last week, including a bill to ban conversion therapy, repeal the traditional marriage amendment in the constitution, recognize June as Pride Month, and a bill to end the “Gay or Trans panic defense.”

“I don’t know if these bills are going to become law this session, or the next one, or the one after that,” Spaude said. “But I know with all of my heart, with every fiber of my being, these bills will become law one day in Wisconsin.”

Green Bay Common Council Member Joey Prestley said it is important to him to have a city that is supportive of the community and all its members.

“The next thing I want to do, I want to see our city ban conversion therapy,” Presetly said. “If Ryan (Spaude) and Amaad (Rivera-Wagner) can’t get it done at the state level, we’re going to do it here!”

Pride Flag Raising

Following speeches by Green Bay alders, local legislators, and community members, the Pride Flag was raised at Leicht Park. It will fly throughout June, symbolizing Green Bay’s ongoing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.

Following the flag raising, the crowd enjoyed the Levitt AMP Green Bay Music Series, which featured live performances, food trucks, and many community activities.