Full Breakdown
Connecticut Declares June LGBTQ Pride Month as Republican Candidate’s Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric Sparks Broad Condemnation
6/6/2026, 9:04:43 PM
June Pride Month Proclamation
Governor Ned Lamont signed a proclamation naming June LGBTQ Pride Month, affirming that “the rights of everyone to be themselves and live openly, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.” The proclamation highlighted two 2026 statutes: Public Act 26-77, which consolidates hate-crime laws to aid prosecution of bias-motivated crimes, and Public Act 26-33, which obligates private insurers to cover fertility care for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals.
Legislative Foundations
Lamont’s administration has previously banned the gay and transgender panic defense, expanded youth HIV-prevention medication, created the LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Network, and signed the Connecticut Parentage Act (2021) and Reproductive Freedom Defense Act (2022). In 2025, Public Act 25-154 prohibited health-care discrimination based on gender identity or expression.
Key Figures & Groups
- Governor Ned Lamont (D) – Proclamation author.
- Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz (D) – Co-signatory.
- Jadon MacCormack – Republican candidate for the 50th District state House seat, known for anti-LGBTQ statements.
- Connecticut Republican Party – Party leadership that condemned MacCormack’s remarks.
- Democratic officials – Including Rep. Joe Courtney (D-2nd) and state senators who publicly rebuked the candidate.
Official Statements & Responses
Lamont described MacCormack’s comments as unacceptable and out of step with Connecticut values. The Republican Party issued a statement condemning any rhetoric that could be interpreted as encouraging hostility, intimidation, or violence toward any individual or group. Lt. Governor Bysiewicz praised the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and leadership. Congressman Joe Courtney called the rhetoric reckless and said it erodes the fabric of communities.
Criticism & Opposition
Republican senators Jeff Gordon and Heather Somers joined Democrats in denouncing MacCormack’s call for the death penalty for LGBTQ individuals, calling the remarks “beyond unacceptable” and “hateful.” The Connecticut Republican State Central Committee urged MacCormack to withdraw, emphasizing candidates’ duty to maintain civil discourse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Connecticut has a legacy of leading the nation on critical issues facing the LGBTQ+ community and being one of the most welcoming states in the country, and I am proud to let everyone know that in this state we celebrate the rights of everyone to be themselves and live openly, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity,” — Governor Ned Lamont
- “Throughout our history, here in Connecticut and across the nation, the LGBTQ+ community has shown extraordinary resilience, courage, and leadership,” — Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz
- “All the politicians go ahead and publish, ‘Happy Pride Month.’ Let’s celebrate the pride, the homosexuals, the sodomites, as I call them,” — Jadon MacCormack (radio interview)
- “Calls for state-sanctioned violence cross a moral line that our community cannot ignore,” he said.” — Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock)
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
MacCormack claimed Connecticut “has had the death penalty for sodomites for hundreds of years,” a historical assertion not supported by any source provided. No record of such a law appears in the material, leaving the statement unverified.
What’s Next
State officials continue to press MacCormack to exit the November ballot while the Democratic administration advances its LGBTQ-focused agenda. The episode highlights a clash between Connecticut’s expanding legal protections for LGBTQ residents and extremist rhetoric within state politics.
