Stepping out of a brightly decorated “Radiating Love” Ride On bus, Montgomery County officials joined in the celebration of Pride Month by raising a Pride flag in Downtown Rockville at the Isiah Leggett Executive Community Building.
“We are not going backwards. Nothing is going to make us go backwards,” declared County Executive Marc Elrich as he stood with eight members of the county council, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th), several Maryland delegates and union and nonprofit leaders.
Elrich announced the opening this summer of MoCo Pride Center in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. The space for members of the LGBTQ+ center will be open seven days a week for community, affirmation and resources.
“I am so proud of the work we’ve been doing,” said County Councilman Evan Glass, who served as emcee for the flag raising event. “We know not everybody has such a welcoming and supportive body” of legislators.
Staring out at a supportive, flag waving crowd, Glass said, “All of us here have your back. That is the message we are sending today.”
Added Phillip Alexander Downie, executive director of MoCo Pride Center, “pride has never been about fitting into the world. It’s about creating the world we deserve.”
https://twitter.com/SuzannePollak/status/1929885466771235261
The @RideOnMCT #PrideBus has arrived for this morning’s #PrideFlag ceremony! The #Pride Bus will be operating on various routes all month long throughout @MontgomeryCoMD. #RideWithPride #PrideOn #PrideMonth #RadiatingLove #PrideDay pic.twitter.com/DSkXEL9WM3
— Montgomery County, MD – Dept. of Transportation (@MCDOTNow) June 3, 2025
