Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 21st, 2017
Contact: James Gonzales
james@baymec.org
City of Santa Clara to Fly Rainbow Flag for the First Time
Local Governments Take a Stand in Support of LGBTQ Inclusion for Pride Month
SANTA CLARA, CA – Santa Clara will join other Bay Area cities and counties to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month by flying the rainbow flag at their city hall. This will be the first time the City of Santa Clara has publicly recognized its LGBTQ community in this way. As the White House fails to acknowledge LGBTQ Pride Month, local governments are stepping up to the plate to ensure the inclusion of otherwise marginalized communities.
Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) board members will attend this historic flag raising ceremony in the Mission City on Thursday to cheer on the city’s public show of support for LGBTQ Pride Month.
“Raising the rainbow flag in Santa Clara is significant to our community, particularly after the White House failed to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month as it has in the past, said BAYMEC President James Gonzales. “People in our community and other minority communities experience treatment emulated by our leaders and institutions. Santa Clara is publicly saying we recognize, accept and acknowledge you and your struggles will result in better treatment of LGBTQ people. The White House failing to do so will have the opposite effect.”
“I remember the first time I raised the rainbow flag in San Jose in 2001 and Santa Clara County in 2007. It still makes me proud every time I see another government building fly the flag as a symbol of support and inclusion for the LGBTQ community,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor and BAYMEC Co-Founder Ken Yeager.”
When: Thursday, June 22nd 10:00 AM
Where: Santa Clara City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave Santa Clara, CA 95050
What: LGBTQ Pride Flag Raising
Who: City and County Elected Officials, Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center, Community Leaders, and Members, BAYMEC Board Members
BAYMEC board members will be made available at the event for interviews.
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The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) is a bi-partisan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) political action group. It has been advocating for the civil rights of LGBT people since 1984 in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.