I had the privilege of representing the Town in three important events this weekend: National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday; Saturday’s Pride Promenade, kicking off Chapel Hill-Carrboro Small Town Pride; and the annual CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday.
Gun Violence Awareness Day, also known as Wear Orange Day, is an annual event to honor victims and survivors of gun violence, offer support to families and communities shattered by gun violence, and raise attention and rally support to end gun violence. Each year, together with advocacy partners, such as North Carolinians Against Gun Violence and Moms Demand Action, we gather at Peace and Justice Plaza and raise an orange flag in remembrance and as a call to action.
Public support in NC for sensible gun safety laws is high. For example, 90% of North Carolinians support background checks for all gun purchases. Despite this, our legislature continues to make the state a more dangerous place to live. Two months ago - and just two days after yet another horrific school shooting – this one in Nashville, TN - the NC legislature voted to repeal our Pistol Purchase Permitting system, eliminating background checks for handguns conducted by local sheriffs' offices.
We, as a community, are united in our desire to end gun violence.
In contrast to the somber tone of Friday’s event, the Pride Promenade was a festive and feisty affair. Pride is a celebration of progress - for example, my wife and I could not get legally married when we first made a lifetime commitment to each other. We had a “commitment ceremony” 18 years ago and my not-legal wife was barred from having a legal relationship with our two children. Today, we are married in the eyes of the law – with all the rights and privileges that bestows - and she is the legal parent of our two amazing children. That is real progress. And, yet…
Pride is also a time to protest - against the hate, discrimination, and marginalization that we continue to face, especially the trans community, and most especially, people of color and youth. It is critical that we stand together and be more visible than ever in demanding access to quality and affirming health care, non-discrimination in the workplace, and the right to celebrate our culture, history and diversity through drag shows and story times.
Chapel Hill is a truly welcoming and affirming community for the LGBTQIA community.
And finally, Sunday’s CROP Hunger Walk, an annual fundraiser to address global and local hunger, is primarily led and has significant participation by our faith communities. The funds raised are split between Church World Service and the Interfaith Council for Social Service. Hunger and poverty are on the rise here as well as around the globe. From 2019 to 2022, the number of undernourished people grew by as many as 150 million. The causes – and the solutions – are complex and we need to all work together to keep lifting up and supporting those most vulnerable in our community.
Given how much we seem to be fighting amongst ourselves in Chapel Hill these days, it was heartening and deeply meaningful to play a small role in these events. Each one offered a window into our community’s commitment to fight injustice and affect meaningful change in our town, state, nation, and globe. We truly are better when we center the most vulnerable and invest our copious resources in making the world a better, safer, healthier place for all.