Government Officials Around the Country Issue Lupus Awareness Month Proclamations

Each May, the entire lupus community comes together to celebrate Lupus Awareness Month by wearing purple, telling their lupus story, and encouraging others to join the fight against this devastating disease.

As part of Lupus Awareness Month, we work with advocates around the country to reach out to elected officials to generate proclamations, which are official government documents recognizing special and noteworthy events – in our case, proclaiming May as Lupus Awareness Month in that area. Proclamations can be issued by most governing bodies within a state, typically including city councils, mayoral offices, state legislatures, and more.

We're thrilled to report that this May, we worked with lupus advocates to generate more Lupus Awareness Month proclamations from elected officials than in any previous year! Lupus Awareness Month proclamations raise awareness of the disease among the elected officials involved with issuing the proclamation as well as the general public in the area (just like lighting up a local building in purple!).

We're so thankful to the advocates who worked tirelessly to secure these proclamations and are looking forward to securing even more in 2024! See below for a complete list of proclamations secured in 2023.

Northeast Region

Holyoke, MA – Mayor Joshua A. Garcia

New York, NY – Mayor Eric Adams
Olga Lucia Torres, Northeast Region Chair

Providence, RI – Mayor Brett Smiley

Pacific Northwest Region

State of Montana – Governor Greg Gianforte
Stephanie McCaughey, Lupus Advocate

State of Washington – Governor Jay Inslee
Erin Elsasser, PNW Advocacy Co-Chair

Portland, OR – Mayor Ted Wheeler & the City Council
Kathleen Brooks, Lupus Advocate

Seattle, WA – Mayor Bruce Harrell
Sanjay Mishra, PNW Advocacy Co-Chair

Southeast Region

Commonwealth of Kentucky – Governor Andy Beshear
Rhonda Harris, Southeast Region Ambassador

Bay Minette, AL – Mayor Robert A. Wills
Johnelle Kelly, Lupus Advocate    

Belleair Beach, FL – Mayor David Gattis
Gina Schell, Southeast Region Advocacy Co-Chair

Birmingham, AL    – Mayor Randall L. Woodfin
Jessica Azrin, Southeast Region Support Group Facilitator

Chattanooga, TN – Mayor Tim Kelly
Carolyn Lawhorn, Southeast Region Ambassador & Support Group Facilitator

Chelsea, AL – Mayor Tony H. Picklesimer
Tonya MacNicol, Southeast Region Ambassador

Clermont, FL – Mayor Tim Murry
Cindy Lait, Southeast Region Advocacy Committee Member

Dania Beach, FL – Mayor A.J. Ryan IV
Jerlonda Jones, Southeast Region Advocacy Committee Member

Davenport FL – Mayor Brynn Summerlin
Camille Hernandez, Southeast Region Ambassador

Fort Pierce, FL – Mayor Linda Hudson
Pamela Klinger-Milazzo, Southeast Region Ambassador

Freeport, FL – Mayor Russ Barley
Christine Stearns-Houde, Southeast Region Ambassador

Haines City, FL – Mayor Roy Tyler
Chriscynthia Williams, Southeast Region Ambassador

Horse Cave, KY – Mayor Randall Curry
Karisa Lewcyzk, Southeast Region Ambassador

Miramar, FL – Mayor Wayne Messam
Nadine Kidd, Southeast Region Ambassador

Mountain Brook, AL
Jessica Azrin, Southeast Region Support Group Facilitator

Nassau County FL – Chairman Klynt A. Farmer
Sebrina Smith-Henry, Southeast Region Ambassador

New Orleans, LA – Mayor LaToya Cantrell

Oldsmar, FL – Mayor Dan Saracki
Gina Schell, Southeast Region Advocacy Co-Chair

Orange County, FL – Mayor Demings
Amanda Quinones, Southeast Region Advocacy Committee Member

Orlando, FL – Mayor Buddy Dyer
Amanda Quinones, Southeast Region Advocacy Committee Member    

Smyrna, TN – Mayor Mary Esther Reed
Tisa Beard, Lupus Advocate

St. Cloud, FL
Amanda Quinones, Southeast Region Advocacy Committee Member

Stuart, FL – Mayor Troy McDonald
Pamela Klinger-Milazzo, Southeast Region Ambassador

Winter Haven, FL
Beverly Minniefield, Southeast Region Ambassador & Support Group Facilitator

Southern California Region

Burbank, CA – Mayor Konstantine Anthony
Shannon Lee, Southern California Advocacy Chair

San Diego, CA –County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
Yolanda Apalategui Lugo, Southern California Advocacy Committee Member

Santa Monica, CA – Council Member Jesse Zwick
Abby Mahler, Southern California Advocacy Committee Member

Ventura, CA – Supervisor Kathy Long
John Fraser, Southern California Advocacy Committee Member

If you helped secure a proclamation in 2023 and don't see it listed here, send us an email so we can add it!