Gathered on the steps of City Hall in Paterson, Mayor Andre Sayegh, having brushed off the dust of a highly contentious election culminating in his return to office in May, joined with officials to mark June as Pride Month and raise the rainbow flag.

Arts Exchange Commissioner Denise Womack, Direct of Health and Human Services Joel Ramirez, 4^th Ward Councilwoman Ruby Cotton, and Congressman Bill Pascrell stood with the mayor to address Pride, but also some of the issues presently faced by the community coming from Washington DC.

Womack said that she was very thankful for the Sayegh administration, which was the first to raise the rainbow flag officially in 2019.  She described the rainbow flag as “a beacon” which signals the city recognizes and supports the LGBT community, and that she was honored to be invited to help raise the flag.  “Accepting this honor reminds me of the work that remains to be done, that as much as I believe that all across this nation, we see Pride flags being raised, we see advocacy happening, we have to remember that as we are remembering and honoring those people that came before us, the work continues. There are lots of things that are happening to sort of turn back the clock. It is important not only that we acknowledged that LGBTQIA members are part of this community and that we are an integral part of this community, but also that there is a community. I would like to reach out to everyone and simply say that if you are a member of the community, if you are a supporter, if you are family, if you know someone and you’re simply someone who believes that we are all here on a human journey, please continue to advocate for the LGBTQIA community. Please continue to open pathways and opportunities for us to shine.”

Pascrell hailed the diversity of the Ninth Congressional District, one he described as among the most diverse in the entire country.  He spoke of the Stonewall Inn riot in New York City in June of 1969, traditionally seen as the start of the Gay Rights Movement.  “The marking of Pride Month reminds us of the trials of the LGBTQ community, what it has endured, and the month is reminding us that the fight against discrimination and injustice continues,” Pascrell said.

The congressman noted that since that time, great strides had been made to secure equal rights for all, but that journey has been marred by tragic murders and shootings.  He also reminded the audience that LGBT rights and protections were under siege across the country.  “Court rulings reversed repressive laws, affirmed the right for gay couples to adopt children, affirmed the right for marriage equality, and secured workplace protections. New Jersey and our nation are a better place for it.  But our journey is not over. We remember the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. Members of the LGBTQ community are over four times more likely to be victims of violent crime. Even now, far too many states continue discrimination. Worse, some legislators across the country are targeting our youth.”

On the federal level, with the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling likely to be overturned, Pascrell blasted the judicial branch.  “It’s become abundantly clear that we can no longer rely on the increasingly-partisan Supreme Court to safeguard the rights we fought for decades to achieve.”

Pascrell also used the opportunity to pressure the US Senate to advance the Equality Act, where the bill has stalled.  “House Democrats—and I’ll be joining them tomorrow morning—made passing the Equality Act to be one of our first priorities in Congress. It will finally ban all forms of discrimination, and I was damn proud to vote for it.  This bill will fulfill our promise that all of us are created equal and are worthy of dignity and respect.”

Councilwoman Cotton praised Womack, Pascrell, and Sayegh, briefly speaking at the podium to reinforce her support of Pascrell’s endeavors. “As an elected official, we represent everyone. As the Congressman said, we have to pass laws that will protect us all, because all of us are being hurt and discriminated… I always say God will put you where He wants you to be and I’m happy that I’m here today in support, because we cannot be discriminated against, no matter what.”

Mayor Sayegh, sporting an orange tie and orange lapel pin, led the officials across the plaza to hoist the flag.  The rainbow flag was raised to the top, then lowered to half-staff like the American flag opposite it, in recognition of the victims of gun violence both in Paterson and around the nation.

Passaic County lacks a dedicated LGBT youth homeless shelter and many LGBT-oriented resources that some counties like Essex possess.  “A driving force behind raising the flag is to raise awareness and then ultimately, that’ll be turned into action,” Sayegh told Insider NJ.  “I’d be more than willing to meet with any interested party on seeing what we can accomplish together.”

A growing sense of cooperation in Sayegh’s new term seems to be taking root, according to the mayor.  Considering the intensely hostile campaigns which were run, most notably with Sayegh’s chief antagonist, Councilman Alex Mendez, Sayegh appeared optimistic.  “We’re hoping that’ll mean that our vision can be driven without as many obstacles in the way. And as you know, there are a few council people that were running against me, but I’m already working with one of them, Councilman Louis Velez. The other two [Alex Mendez and Michael Jackson] have approved our very ambitious parks improvement plan–$5.7 million, by way of the American Rescue Plan. They voted against it during the election season.”

Mayor Sayegh added that he was hopeful the councilmen who ran against him would be taking a more pragmatic approach now for the City of Paterson’s governance, given the end of “silly season” and the start of a new term.  “That would be the hope,” Sayegh said.  “It is a trite phrase, but the voters have spoken. It’s a mandate. We won in resounding fashion, so, I hope they take notice of that and just allow us to advance an agenda. I preach to the council all the time, ‘shared vision equals a shared victory.’”