Whereas LGBTQI+ individuals in Texas have historically encountered bigotry, discrimination, hatred, and violence, but have struggled tirelessly to obtain equal rights and protection of the law; Whereas, the Circle of Friends was Dallas’ first gay organization, established in 1965; Whereas, in 1972, an LGBTQI+ couple was denied the right to marry by the State, which was not illegal, but was uncommon and deemed inappropriate; Whereas, on June 24, 1972, Dallas, Texas, held its first unofficial gay pride parade; Whereas Dallas hosts the world’s largest LGBTQI+ seated dinner fundraiser; Whereas the first Rainbow LULAC chapter was formed in Dallas; Whereas Dallas has more Rainbow Crosswalks than any city in America; Whereas Dallas is the first-and-only city in America to have an official pride version of the City flag; Whereas the landmark legal case, England v. City of Dallas, opened municipal employment, statewide, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens; Whereas the landmark legal case, Baker vs. Wade, established the unconstitutionality of Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code; Whereas, in 1975, the oldest southern LGBT rights organization, the Houston LGBT Political Caucus, was founded; Whereas, in 1975, the Dallas Gay Political Caucus was the first major gay and lesbian political organization in Dallas to counter the anti-gay sentiment that was building throughout the country at the time; Whereas, in 1976, Austin declared Gay Pride Celebration Week in the month of June; Whereas, in 1978, Reverend James Harris ran as the first openly gay candidate for Dallas City Council; Whereas, in 1979, the Houston Gay Pride Parade was first held in the community area of Neartown Houston; Whereas, in 1980, the first official gay pride parade took place in June in Dallas; Whereas the earliest AIDS resource center in Dallas was the Oak Lawn Counseling Center, founded in 1981 by Harold P. (Howie) Daire and Candy Marcum, which provided educational and patient support service