Another county department wants to attend Fresno Pride. Supervisors to vote
Another Fresno County department will ask the board of supervisors on Tuesday for permission to spend money as part of the Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade, a request similar to one made by other county staffers shut down last week by the board.
Fresno County Department of Public Health Director Joe Prado has submitted the request to participate in the festival at Fresno City College that follows the annual parade through the Tower District. Along with the request is permission to spend $125 for a 10-by-10-foot booth.
The cost of the booth would be offset by a funding from California Department of Public Health Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention and Collaboration dollars, according to county records. The festival has been estimated to draw some 16,000 to 20,000 revelers.
The booth would be stocked with informational brochures, according to the request, that cover hepatitis C, HIV and HIV prevention, STD myths and testing, syphilis and monkeypox, according to county records.
The department routinely participates in community events for educational efforts, the request said.
“Participation in the Fresno Rainbow Pride Festival supports effective grant implementation, community trust, and continuity of established public health engagement efforts,” the request says.
The request is the second in as many weeks from a county department. The board voted 3-2 on May 12 to deny a request by the Fresno County Library to participate.
The Department of Public Health’s participation last year in the Fresno Rainbow Pride festival also served as the flashpoint for the county’s new more-restrictive policy about holidays and observations.
Supervisor Garry Bredefeld championed Policy 80 to control what holidays or days of recognition county employees are allowed to recognize while on the job after he saw health department employees had participated in the Pride festival and passed out condoms, lube and informational materials.
The request this year does not list condoms or lube, but only the brochures.
Along with Bredefeld, Supervisors Nathan Magsig and Buddy Mendes voted to adopt the policy last year and to deny the library’s request last week.
Magsig said last year Fresno County should have a presence at the Pride event to continue to provide education, but the county also needs a policy on spending.
The request goes before supervisors at the regular meeting, which is 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
