On June 30th, a bomb threat was emailed to the public library in the neighboring town of Montclair. The police were informed of the bomb threat at 3:59. The library was hosting a Drag Story Hour at 4pm.

Montclair is a vibrant, culturally diverse, artsy town, that hosts an extremely well-attended Pride festival every year. Rainbow flags fly in front of many homes and businesses. It is known to be a safe and welcoming town for LGBTQ+ folks.

I imagine that it feels like a safe and welcoming place to the LGBTQ+ kids who grow up there. I know it has been a safe space for so many young people from neighboring, less progressive towns (like ours) to go shop, eat, hang out, and be themselves, amongst friends and allies.

This bomb threat is being treated as a bias incident, and the investigation has been elevated to the county and state levels. The incident has been condemned publicly by town, county, and state officials, who are committed to protecting the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community.

Even in the most progressive of towns, LGBTQ+ citizens experience marginalization in the forms of harassment, bullying, discrimination, micro-aggressions, and family rejection. It is important, especially for our younger LGBTQ+ residents, to know that our public representatives support the marginalized people in our communities.

It is important for them to know that if an event like this were to occur in our town, there would be swift support from all of our elected officials. It is important for them to know that they are welcome here, they are celebrated here, they are equal here, and they are safe here.

This is why vocal and visible allyship from community members and officials is important. This is why the raising of flags is important. This is why a Pride Proclamation is important and necessary.

In our small town, each year for the past six years a Proclamation has been presented by our Board of Commissioners, declaring June as Pride Month, and reinforcing the idea that diversity is celebrated here, and that everyone is safe here.

Here is the proclamation. Signed by all of the commissioners, except the Public Safety Commissioner, for the sixth year in a row. I wonder how welcome and safe that makes our LGBTQ+ residents feel at times like this.