City of Fresno shows support for LGBTQ+ community after county blocked library Pride outreach
For the sixth year in a row, the rainbow flag was raised at Fresno City Hall to celebrate Pride Month and send a message of inclusivity to the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
Over 100 people attended Friday’s ceremony, led by Annalisa Perea, the City of Fresno’s first openly gay councilmember. Shaded areas, free snow cones and rainbow hand-held fans were provided.
“When this flag was first raised five years ago, it marked an important milestone,” Perea said to the crowd. “It told our LGBTQ+ community that they are not only welcomed, but that they are embraced in our city.”
A slew of local elected officials and candidates were present to show solidarity, from school board members to Assembly members, including Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez.
Chavez was one of two County Supervisors who voted in favor of a request from library staffers to participate in the Fresno Rainbow Pride event that followed Saturday’s annual Pride parade. The library participated in previous years but was ultimately denied permission to attend this year’s celebration less than a month ago by the board.
“I won’t get political, but we all know the importance of showing up and voting,” Perea said Friday. “Elections do matter; they do have consequences. So, Supervisor Chavez, I just want to say thank you for being here. Your presence is felt.”
The county has never officially recognized Pride Month, and it took the city a week-long debate among Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, the City Council, community leaders and residents to raise the Pride flag for the first time back in 2021.
The city proclaimed June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month at Thursday’s council meeting, followed by a roaring round of applause. Although other local elected officials across the Central Valley, besides those in Fresno County, have also shown some resistance to recognizing Pride.
Two Tulare County Supervisors walked out of the board’s meeting this week during its proclamation recognizing three Tulare-based LGBTQ+ organizations, citing objections to one of the groups.
Last year, Madera’s mayor walked out as the City Council honored a local high school group for Pride month.
At Friday’s flag-raising ceremony, Perea said LGBTQ+ residents can face difficulties living in the Central Valley. She also said representation and support from local government is important.
“The fact that we are holding this event in front of City Hall just shows what happens when government steps up to the plate and shows that our community is respected, is valued, is welcomed,” Perea said.
Fresno supervisors voted to authorize the county’s public health department to participate in this year’s local Pride events.
Local LGBTQ+ leaders honored with Harvey Milk Awards
Several local leaders were honored with Harvey Milk Awards at Friday’s Pride flag-raising ceremony. The awards were named after the first openly gay man elected to public office in California as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assasinated in November 1978.
Award recipients include:
- Co-founders of Fresno Inclusive, Julie Nicole and Sam Schmitz were recognized for their work in providing inclusive healthcare.
- Rev. Anna Lopez, who is regarded across the Central Valley for her work in interfaith dialogue, shamanic healing, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
- Jesus Aceved, a Central Valley based social media creator with 1.6 million followers on TikTok, was voted this year’s “Fan Favorite Award” recipient.
- Carole Goldsmith, who recently retired as Chancellor of the State Center Community College District. She was recognized for her efforts in advocating for the first Pride flag raised at City Hall.
The crowd on Friday shared a moment of silence for the late Virgil Wigley, the founder of Fresno’s historic LGBTQ+ bar, The Red Lantern, who passed away in February.
Keynote speaker Leilani Price, a Fresno-based drag queen and activist, encouraged those in attendance to give back to the LGBTQ+ community.
“I challenge each and every one of you to volunteer and give back,” Price said. “Register to vote, give back to your community, and more importantly, be unapologetically yourselves.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:18 PM.