PINOLE, Calif. (KRON) — The month of June doesn’t just offer a time to celebrate gay rights. On Wednesday, the nation also recognizes Juneteenth.

Pinole is where the city’s youngest mayor used his unique perspective to create a celebration highlighting both events.

If you want to get to know someone, they say you should take a walk in their shoes.
Or in Devin Murphy’s case, just take a walk alongside him.

“He’s exceptional.” “He is at every little gathering in the city we go to! He’s very personal, he knows my name.” Those are some of the words said about Pinole Mayor Devin Murphy.

In 2023, Murphy became the youngest mayor in Pinole’s 120-year history — being sworn in at just 29 years old. He was also the city’s first Black and openly gay mayor.

“It was very difficult to understand how folks received me so as I was trying to build approval I had to recognize I am who I am, and I was going to no matter what, maybe piss off some people but also make others happy and make lives better,” Murphy told KRON4.

One of the ways he looked to make lives better was to create space for community empowerment. Under his direction, the city launched a dual Pride and Juneteenth celebration, which is now in its second year.

“It’s about recognizing the historic significance of both events,” Murphy said. “I feel like my purpose is to create spaces like this. It could be because I sit on the intersections of these identities. But I also frankly think it’s just who I am as a human being.”

Being the first leader of the city to tick off so many boxes wasn’t new for Murphy. He was also the first openly gay and Black student body president at his alma mater UCLA.

However, just because he’d been the first before, doesn’t mean it was always comfortable.

“As mayor, I went to meetings with all mayors of Contra Costa County monthly, and most of those mayors weren’t my age; they didn’t look like me and had backgrounds different from me,” Murphy said.

Those differences only emboldened Murphy to do more for his community, crediting his mother for influencing his passion for public service.

“Seeing her work in social welfare in uplifting our city and community inspired me to make systemic changes,” he said.

Murphy remains on the city council and is currently mayor emeritus. His true passion is to create clean economy initiatives.

“One day I hope everybody in Pinole has solar, has storage for that solar, and I hope that they feel it’s going to empower them to be better neighbors to each other,” Murphy said.

Murphy joins this walking group regularly to connect with those he represents. He says he simply wants people to feel like democracy is working for them.

“I want them to recognize they are seen, and they are heard and that I may not know everything about their community,” Murphy said. “But I’m willing to listen and willing to bring their backgrounds, cultures creeds and understanding of the world into policy here in Pinole.”

KRON4’s Pride Special will air at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26.