Questions about how to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, or whether to recognize it at all, have turned into a major debate across the East Bay.
In Oakley, two city council members resisted the reading of a mayoral proclamation this week recognizing Pride Month in that East Bay city.
"This calls for a gay pride month? I mean, we only honor the veterans for one day out of the month. We have Memorial Day set aside for one day out of the month," Oakley Vice Mayor Doug Hardcastle said at Tuesday's city council meeting.
Hardcastle says he doesn't believe there is a problem in Oakley regarding the LGBTQ community, and that proclaiming an entire month for Pride seems excessive.
"I wouldn't ask for a proclamation. I'm overweight a little bit that, you know, people do a special proclamation for fat people or something like that,” he said.
In the end, a motion that could have tabled the proclamation failed, and Mayor Claire Alaura moved forward.
"I want it to be clear that I, alone, issue this proclamation for LGBT Pride Month and welcome those who would like to support it,” she said. “But I do that for the same reasons that I have supported previous proclamations made here, which is to support the people who are in our community."
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Then, she read her proclamation.
"I, Claire Alaura, as mayor of Oakley along with the undersigned, proclaim the month of June as LGBT Pride Month and invite everyone to reflect on ways we can live and work together with a commitment to mutual respect and understanding."
Earlier this month, the Dublin City Council voted to declare June LGBTQ Pride month, but rejected a separate motion to fly the rainbow flag at city hall for one day. Now, there are reports that the city council will revisit the rainbow flag issue at a meeting next week.
The Walnut Creek City Council also voted earlier this month to draft a resolution proclaiming next month as Pride Month, but encountered reluctance among the legislators.