A longtime Cary resident, Sally Zumbach, was a leader in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in the Triangle. During the late 1980s, Sally Zumbach became involved with PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in support of her son Mark, who came out in his mid-twenties. Eventually, she became the president of the Raleigh-Durham/Triangle Chapter of PFLAG. Throughout the years, Sally not only advocated for the LGBTQ+ community, but she opened her family home to those who sought refuge. The house in Cary, where Sally lived at the time, served as a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community in the Triangle who found themselves without a home once they came out. Additionally, a hotline dedicated to those that needed support was run out of the Zumbach home for several years. Sally died suddenly of heart failure in 1995 at the age of 61.  Her husband Arthur, continued to operate the hotline for several months after she died. 

It is evident that Sally’s efforts impacted the lives of many people in Cary and throughout the Triangle area. Although Sally passed away in 1995, her legacy lives on. Cary, in collaboration with the Historic Preservation Committee and the Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force, is proud to recognize the important work that Sally did and has gifted a commemorative plaque to her family as an acknowledgment of her tireless efforts to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

For fifty years, PFLAG has been where LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies have come together in pursuit of justice and affirmation—and always leading with love. What began as a letter led to a march, which launched a meeting and birthed a movement of millions.

Since its earliest days, PFLAG has been the connector for LGBTQ+ people with community, parents with resources, and allies with tools, bolstering the LGBTQ+ movement with strength, power, and love.

For a full history, please visit pflag.org/50years

The month of June is designated as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in commemoration of the Stonewall Uprising which occurred in June 1969 in New York, that marked the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.  Pride Month is a time to recognize, celebrate and reflect on the impact and contributions that the LGBTQ+ community has made to Cary and across the world. For more information and events, visit the Cary PRIDE Month webpage.

Cary is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and community where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to be their best and authentic selves.

Cary’s participation in the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Scorecard demonstrates Cary’s commitment to ensuring that Cary has inclusive services for the LGBTQ+ community.

In June 2022, Cary adopted a Nondiscrimination resolution and policy that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations and employment against a broader base of protected classes which also includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to eliminate barriers that prevent people from reaching their full potential and being their true and best self.

During Pride Month and beyond, Sally Zumbach’s legacy lives on, as we reaffirm our support for the LGBTQ+ community and remain committed to being an inclusive, safe and welcoming community for all.

Below is a tribute to Sally Zumbach in The Front Page. A text document of the article can be found here.