The Pride Flag will no longer be displayed outside Redlands City Hall during Pride Month.
After it was determined that the flag violated existing policy, the city council was asked to amend the language so that it could continue flying the flag during Pride Month. In a 3-2 vote, the council declined.
Mayor Eddie Tejeda cast a decisive vote, reversing his previous support for the flag’s display.
“It is my opinion that if we adopt changes to our flag policy, that we do so at our own risk … In this case, it will demonstrate favor of one group over others,” Tejeda said. “For these reasons, I will change my vote and not support changing our flag policy.”
Someone in the chamber shouted “coward!”
Redlands is one of many California jurisdictions caught up in a conservative pushback against LGBTQ advocacy. As anti-LGBTQ bills sweep through red states, California localities like Huntington Beach have also voted to ban official Pride Flag displays.