Following a 6-to-1 vote, the Pride Flag will fly at Stockton City Hall next month despite the mayor dissenting for the second year in a row.
Many LGBTQ+ community members and supporters spoke during public comment before the vote was taken and called on council members to allow the flag to be raised and flown, as it has been for six years running.
The Pride Flag is a rainbow-colored banner that symbolizes the LGBTQ+ community and is often flown during Pride Month, which is June.
Cymone Reyes, executive director of Central Valley Gender Health and Wellness, said that love is a human experience, not a political statement, referring to a previous close vote to allow the flag to fly last year. In that vote, the mayor along with two other councilmembers voted against allowing the flag to fly. This year, only the mayor dissented.
Jason Lee, a candidate vying for a spot on the Stockton city council in the 2024 election, also told the council that during an election year there were people watching to see that they believe in inclusivity.
Two council members during the comment portion of the meeting voiced their opinions about possible changes to flag policies within the city that wouldn’t require people to have to come out and plead each year for the Pride flag to be put up over and over.
Several audience members shook their heads in agreement and loud claps were heard in support of the statement.
With the passing of the motion the Pride Flag will be displayed from June 25 to July 1 in commemoration of Pride Month.
So does this mean that all individual groups with their own beliefs and agendas all will get equal opportunity to have their flag flown at city hall or do we just give preferential treatment to one select group?
Love is Love is Love is Love.
Keep politics out of it.
Flying the flag says we, as a city, do not condone discrimination based on who you love.
It seems like it should be easy to approve and stop requiring yearly appeals for humanity.