Kingsburg leaders turn down idea to recognize LGBTQ+ Pride month, after late night debate
After more than three hours of public comment on Wednesday, a proposal to recognize LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Kingsburg died without receiving any City Council support other than from its sponsor.
Councilmember Jewel Hurtado asked the City Council to approve her request to recognize LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which is typically commemorated in June in many cities.
The other four members of the council said while they support the LGBTQ+ community, they felt recognizing the month and flying the Progress Pride flag at City Hall was unacceptable.
“Part of unity in Kingsburg is we all need to support each other,” Mayor Laura North said. “Not one group above another.”
Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community said the gesture, though relatively small, would have gone a long way to recognize a group that often feels isolated and can be at higher risk for mental health problems.
For example, youth in the LGBTQ+ community seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth, according to the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis intervention for that community.
Dozens of speakers from Kingsburg said they could not support flying any flag other than the American flag at City Hall. That included speakers like resident Troy Tillman, who held an American flag in the chambers.
“We stand for this flag. We stand for the California Republic flag,” he said. “I don’t believe we need another flag to divide us.”
Others speakers noted the irony of that argument, because Kingsburg routinely flies a Swedish flag at City Hall. The city has a history connected to Swedish immigrants.
Resident Shawna Johnson said she was a former teacher who saw some of her students grow up to identify with the LGBTQ+ community, though most never felt at home in Kingsburg. She said recognizing the LGBTQ+ community is not that different than the Swedish Days festival.
“This is what makes a community thrive: Diversity, recognition and, most importantly, acceptance,” she said.
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, representatives of the Fresno County GOP sent out an email blast to recruit people to speak out against Pride Month.
Kingsburg has a conservative reputation. Many of the speakers against recognizing Pride Month referenced their Christian beliefs, pointing to the Bible. There are at least 19 churches in the city of 12,000 people.
Those are not progressive churches who are open to accepting people who fit into the LGBTQ+ community, according to Stetler Brown, who lives in the town with his same-sex partner.
He said he wanted to take the opportunity to stand up and speak for the community, and especially youth who may struggle with mental health and feel rejected by conservative communities.
“I want them to know they are loved and supported even if the leaders don’t pass a resolution,” he said. “They have people like me looking out for them.”
Multiple people outside City Hall during the meeting said on Twitter that members of the right wing extremist group The Proud Boys were in attendance.
A large crowd had gathered outside of the meeting Tuesday, as the building was at 50% capacity because of pandemic rules.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Hurtado on Wednesday tried to get the council to support the proclamation for Pride Month without having to fly the Progress Pride flag.
“I don’t see why not,” she said. “I don’t see why it hurts.”
That idea got no support either.
Many cities in the central San Joaquin Valley recognize Pride Month, including larger areas like Fresno and mid-size cities like Merced. The Selma City Council voted March 1 to recognize Pride Month there this year for the first time.
This story was originally published May 19, 2021 at 11:43 PM.
