On June 4, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and the Board of County Commissioners celebrated Pride Month with a flag raising of the Progress Pride flag at the Historic Brennan Court House. The flag raising was followed by a panel discussion highlighting the personal and historical experiences of those on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Throughout Pride Month, Hudson County will display a section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in the Court House rotunda, hosted by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs | Tourism Development in partnership with the Hudson County LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force. The quilt serves as a powerful tribute to the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and a reminder of the ongoing importance of compassion, awareness, healthcare access, and equality.
“Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate love, acceptance, and the strength of the LGBTQ+ community here in Hudson County and across our nation,” said Craig Guy, Hudson County Executive. “We are proud to raise the Pride flag as a symbol of solidarity and inclusion, and we are honored to recognize the history and sacrifices of those impacted by the HIV/AIDS crisis through today’s panel discussion and the display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Hudson County will continue striving to build a more inclusive community that uplifts, supports, and celebrates every resident.”
In a joint statement, the LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force said: “The Hudson County LGBTQ+ Task Force is honored to recognize the display of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt at the Historic Brennan Court House during the month of June. The Quilt stands as a powerful tribute to the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and serves as a reminder to the resilience, courage, and advocacy of those affected by the epidemic. As we celebrate Pride Month, we also reflect on the history of the LGBTQ+ community, honoring those whose lives and contributions helped pave the way for the progress we continue to pursue today. We thank all those who made this display possible and encourage Hudson County residents and visitors to take time to view the Quilt, remember those we have lost, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of promoting dignity, equity, compassion, and access to care for all.”
The panel discussion, called “Showing the Love: Hudson County Lives, HIV/AIDS, and the AIDS Memorial Quilt,” featured Darice Toon, Director of the Hudson County Human and Health Services Department, the Honorable Joseph Turula, presiding judge of the Civil Division for the Hudson Vicinage of the New Jersey Superior Court, and Jonathan Lucas, Finance Director for Hudson Pride Center.
The panel highlighted personal and historical experiences from individuals who served on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The discussion honored the resilience, activism, and advocacy that helped guide communities through one of the most difficult periods in the nation’s history.