Voters in Huntington Beach, California, will decide Tuesday whether a ban on flying the rainbow Pride flag and other nongovernmental banners on city property will be enshrined in its municipal charter.
Measure B in the seaside community known for its big waves and annual dog surfing competition would prohibit the display of Pride, breast cancer awareness and religious flags in places like City Hall.
The ballot measure builds on an ordinance approved last year by the conservative City Council majority, which undid a previous council vote in favor of flying the rainbow flag on city buildings during Pride Month in June.
“It’s not just that they’re making a decision not to fly any nongovernment flag,” said Peg Coley, the executive director of the LGBTQ Center Orange County. “They are unwinding an inclusive policy. They’re reversing diversity and inclusion.”
Measure B would exempt city, county and state flags, as well as the U.S. and armed forces flags, from the ban. Commemorative banners, like those for POW-MIAs or the Olympics, also would be allowed.
It would require a unanimous vote by the City Council to fly a commemorative flag from city facilities.
Critics say Measure B is a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community, but supporters say it removes divisive identity politics from the public square.
The LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD called the ballot measure “extreme.”
“Enshrining discrimination fuels division,” Barbara Simon, a spokesperson for GLAAD, said in an email. “We saw it flying proudly in Huntington Beach to honor trans teenager Nex Benedict last month. Pride flags show LGBTQ people, youth and our allies that they are welcome.”
Benedict was a 16-year-old transgender student in Oklahoma who died last month after a fight with three students in a school bathroom.
Huntington Beach has waded deep into culture wars in recent years, banning mask and vaccination mandates, condemning the Biden administration’s immigration policies, slamming Gov….
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