SANTA ANA, Calif. (KNX) – Two Orange County supervisors unfurled a Pride flag at the Orange County administrative building Wednesday, a few weeks after the Board of Supervisors voted that only county, state and U.S. flags can be flown outside county offices.
Supervisor Katina Foley, who along with Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who against the flag vote, was there when the Pride flag was unfolded. She told KNX News she believes the pride flag stands for inclusiveness.
“That is the whole point of the pride flag. It's the colors of the rainbow. It's, it's supporting a diverse community, not just related to LGBTQ+, but also to diversity in terms of ethnicity and religion, gender,” she said. “It is indeed a symbol of inclusiveness, and so to say that it's divisive is really, I think catering to the hateful rhetoric that we're hearing day in and day out at city halls and county facilities across our nation as we head into this next presidential election.”
She also said the flag serves as a reminder for people to know the county is a safe place for them.
“…during the last couple of weeks, I can't believe how many parents have reached out to me about concern about their young adult, children who are LGBTQ+ and who are feeling so isolated and scared and suicidal,” she said. “And so I want them to know that Orange County cares and we are here to support them and we are a safe place for them.”
Throughout June, the recognition of Pride Month has become a controversial topic at school board meetings. On June 2nd, protests occurred outside Saticoy Elementary School in response to a Pride Month assembly. A couple days later, there were protests outside a Glendale school district meeting regarding gender and sexual identity studies.
Foley remarked that school boards are going to have to plan their meetings differently as they’re not equipped nor accustomed to dealing with these topics.
“…now they are gonna need to learn to handle their meetings much like we do,” she said. “We have people coming and yelling at us and expressing venomous comments at the podium all the time and we have systems in place to keep the peace and to make sure that order is maintained while people express their First Amendment rights.”
Orange County will host its Pride parade and festival on Saturday.
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