Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe (center) with openly gay state lawmakers Mark Sickles (left) and Adam Ebbin (right), at a private LGBT Pride Month celebration in Richmond. Photo: Twitter

Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe (center) with openly gay state lawmakers Mark Sickles (left) and Adam Ebbin (right), at a private LGBT Pride Month celebration in Richmond. Photo: Twitter

RICHMOND, Va. — In a private reception held at the Governor’s Mansion earlier this week, Gov. Terry McAuliffe proclaimed June LGBT Pride month, making him the first ever Virginia governor to do so.

Equality Virginia’s Executive Director James Parrish was in attendance at the event, thanked McAuliffe for taking this step and showing his support for LGBT rights in the Commonwealth.

“Equality Virginia is grateful to have such a strong ally in Governor McAuliffe and is pleased that the Governor is recognizing June as LGBT pride month,” said Parrish in a statement.

The text of his McAuliffe’s Pride Month proclamation is as follows:

LGBT Pride Month

6/1/2014 WHEREAS, the June 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City precipitated the modern fight for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights; and WHEREAS, more LGBT Virginians are living their lives openly today than ever before; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth celebrates its diverse LGBT community, and is committed to ensuring equality for all Virginians; and WHEREAS, Virginia is dedicated to fostering acceptance and preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and WHEREAS, the people of Virginia’s LGBT community are a vital part of all fields and professions and contribute to a stronger Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth and its economy are more prosperous when the civil rights of all people are equal; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terence R. McAuliffe, do hereby recognize June 2014 as LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

As his first order of business just moments after his inauguration on January 11, McAuliffe signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia state government.