Lafayette Mayor Boulet remains silent on Pride Month proclamation

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies were met with deafening silence Tuesday night when they called for a proclamation declaring June Pride Month.

The mayor-president of Lafayette, Monique Boulet, and her administration had not responded to emails on the subject from members of PFLAG Lafayette, so they spoke directly to elected officials during the Lafayette city council.

“What do I say to these people who begged me to stay in this city that doesn’t love me and asked me to stay and fight for them for a piece of paper that doesn’t mean anything? nothing for you ?” said Matthew Humphrey. “It’s a picture and it’s a newspaper and it’s your job. And it means everything to them, and you will deny it to us this year. I really have nothing left to say because my words ring hollow to you . And in the past we’ve at least had a council that had the courtesy to go around, that had the courage to go around the mayor and, at this point, I don’t know if that’s the case.”

Jae Reagan said Lafayette has a rich and diverse history that was built in part by members of the LGBTQ community. A proclamation is particularly important, Reagan said, because this community continues to face more discrimination, greater hardship and higher rates of violence and suicide.

“Refusing to issue this proclamation to recognize our struggles and celebrate the progress we have made gives the impression that you condone this violence, condone this hatred and condone this oppression,” Reagan said. “It’s an act that tells people you don’t care.”

Neither Boulet nor any member of the municipal council acknowledged the proclamation requests. Asked by a reporter after the meeting, the mayor said she had no comment on the matter at this time.

Boulet has issued several proclamations since taking office in January. Among these are the proclamations of the 249th anniversary of the United States Army in June, National Bicycle Month in May, National Community Development Week in April and Mois de la Francophonie (Month of the Francophonie), the Blind Veterans Day and World Down Syndrome Day in March.

The downtown Lafayette Y sign was painted this week ahead of the fourth annual Pride Parade on June 29.

“Granting this proclamation to our community does not have to be controversial,” said Tracy Fabre. “We live in a time where people live authentically, legally marry whoever they want, and raise children in loving LGBTQ homes. Pride is widely celebrated around the world, and denying that would send the message that this community are second-class citizens and not valued members of our city.