Nearly 30 years ago, Ocean Springs was the site for Mississippi's first Pride parade and march to celebrate lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer people. Last week, the city also became the first on the coast to issue a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. Remembering the backlash from the pride march in 1993, some say the city has come full circle.
Rob Hill, state director of the Human Rights Campaign, says it also indicates the kind of work that needs to continue throughout the state.
"While we've seen at the state level an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation, we're seeing at the municipal level folks who are trying to mitigate some of the damage done by trying to send a message that these communities are open for business," said Hill.
"That these communities welcome everybody."
Earlier this year, Republican Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing on girls and women's sports teams at public schools and universities. Attempts to add protections for the LGBTQ community in Mississippi's hate crime laws have failed to pass at the State Capitol in recent years.
Republican Mayor Shea Dobson of Ocean Springs, who issued the proclamation, says it's important that young people in the community, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feel valued and supported by their leaders.
A young conservative, Dobson says the decision represents the direction of the greater society.
"I have my beliefs. If others don't particularly share it, that's okay. But, I think that this is really kind if symbolic of the way that the Republican Party is going and really the entire American society... just really being a little bit more accepting and open to everyone," said Dobson.
According to a recent study by the Human Rights Campaign, the city of Jackson ranks at the top for policies and protections for LGBTQ people while Southaven ranks last.
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