06/14/2026
On Tuesday, Mayor Matthew Lundh issued Cle Elum’s first Pride Proclamation. I was incredibly honored to co-sponsor the proclamation alongside Councilmember Williams and Councilmember Cook and so moved by the amount of people that showed up to fill council chambers with love and recognition for their neighbors.
But, why does it matter? Why is proclaiming June Pride Month important?
It’s about engagement, enablement, respect, dignity, love and acceptance. It’s about community.
I’ve seen people come together and new friendships form. I learned that a group of new friends followed the proclamation with a meal together to celebrate this historic moment. When people can share joy at a table with folks they don’t know the names of, because they know they are amongst friends, we’ve done something right.
Since Tuesday, I’ve heard from residents I know and ones I have the chance to get to know now. They’ve shared how this has made them feel safer, more at home, more welcomed to engage with their government, and finally feel represented in city hall.
We’ve had people who were previously not sure about getting involved reach out to ask how to. I’ve talked to people about commissions and boards, what it’s like to be elected, great volunteer groups in our community, and the amazing impact we can have together - all because of a simple act to make it clear we welcome them to do so. It cost us nothing, but from it we get so much.
On Tuesday, we said to our neighbors: be you, and be you here because we need you here. When people love themselves, they love their neighbors more and they love their community harder. Through acceptance without question, communities can really thrive.
At many City Council meetings, I have the honor of issuing proclamations on behalf of the City of Cle Elum recognizing important events, organizations, and causes. For the first time since becoming Mayor, I had the opportunity to issue two proclamations that were sponsored directly by councilmembers.
The first was Cle Elum’s inaugural Pride Month proclamation. Sponsored by Councilmembers Williams, Buechle-Curtis, and Cook, it was clearly a meaningful moment for many in our community. Judging by the standing-room-only crowd that packed council chambers, the proclamation resonated deeply with those in attendance. I know it was especially significant for Councilmember Williams, who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
What struck me most, however, was hearing from the many residents who shared their stories and spoke about what the proclamation meant to them personally. Since then, we have already seen community members inspired to become more involved—expressing interest in serving on boards and commissions and finding other ways to contribute to our city. At its heart, this proclamation was about community, belonging, and ensuring people feel welcome in Cle Elum. I was grateful to be part of that moment.
We also issued a second proclamation, sponsored by Councilmembers Harper and Ratliff, recognizing Family Strength and Stability Month. This proclamation reaffirmed the importance of strong families and the profound impact that engaged and supportive parents have on the young people in our community. It also highlighted the role families play as the foundation of a strong community and in preparing the next generation of leaders.
While these proclamations focused on different themes, they shared a common purpose: strengthening our community and recognizing the people and values that make Cle Elum special.
I am grateful to the councilmembers who brought these proclamations forward and look forward to seeing more opportunities to highlight causes, organizations, and individuals that contribute to the strength and vitality of our community. Through these recognitions, we can continue to build awareness, encourage involvement, and foster a sense of connection throughout Cle Elum.
