Date:         Thu, 26 May 1994 14:02:49 -0700
From: Mills Mike <mills@aztec.al.bldrdoc.gov>


        The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today declared June as
Lesbian and Gay Pride Month in Sonoma County.
        The board passed a resolution recognizing that the more than 40,000
lesbians and gays in the county are joining others across the country
and around the world in marking the 25th anniversary of Stonewall, the
New York incident traditionally cited as the beginning of the modern
gay rights movement.
        Maddy Hershfield of Sonoma County Project 10 was on hand to receive
the proclamation.  Hershfield, who works with teens on sexual
orientation issues, said a recent U.S. Health and Human Services study
showed that some 30 percent of teen suicides were committed by youths
confused about their sexual orientation.
        ``What kind of message are we sending kids?'' Hershfield asked.
``This proclamation is one more way to open doors for them.''
        Dennis Anderson of the Sonoma County Lesbian and Gay Pride
Committee agreed.
        ``This is the first year they've given us a whole month,'' he said.
``The past two years we've only gotten a week.''