TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution officially recognizing every May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day and the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in the City of Long Beach, and direct City Manager to annually raise the LGBTQ+ Progress Pride Flag (Progress Pride Flag) at Long Beach Civic Plaza and light City assets for certain occurrences, as specified, recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and their rights;
Direct City Manager to update Attachment "A" of Administrative Regulation 8-18 (“Display of National, State, and Other Flags”) to replace the Pride Flag with the Progress Pride Flag; and
Repeal Resolution No. RES-17-0055, which declared the third week of May in the City of Long Beach as Long Beach LGBTQ Pride Week.
DISCUSSION
Harvey Milk Day and LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Since 2009, the governor of California has declared every May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day. Harvey Milk was a visionary leader, an activist, and the first openly gay elected official in California. His unwavering dedication to equality and social justice continues to inspire generations of individuals, and his legacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. By designating May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day, our City can honor his contributions and provide an opportunity for education, remembrance, and celebration of diversity.
On June 11, 1999, then US President Bill Clinton declared June 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and in 2011, then President Barack Obama expanded the proclamation to the whole LGBT community, and in 2021, President Joe Biden declared June 1st through June 30th as "National LGBTQ+ Pride
Month." Pride Month is a worldwide celebration that commemorates the progress made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and promotes acceptance, inclusivity, and equality for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. By acknowledging LGBTQ+ Pride Month, in the City of Long Beach, it showcases our commitment to fostering an environment that values diversity, supports LGBTQ+ individuals, and promotes understanding and respect within our community.
Formal recognition of Harvey Milk Day and LGBTQ+ Pride Month by the City of Long Beach sends a powerful message of inclusivity, equality, and support to our LGBTQ+ residents, employees, and visitors. It demonstrates our City's dedication to fostering a welcoming and accepting environment for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The City of Long Beach recognizes the historical significance of the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of commemorating their contributions, accomplishments, struggles, resilience, and achievements locally, nationally, and worldwide. In the United States' the LGBTQ+ rights movement finds its roots in significant events such as the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, which marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. The City of Long Beach has a vibrant LGBTQ+ community and a rich history of LGBTQ+ pride, activism, and advocacy, exemplifying a spirit of acceptance and celebration and it is essential for the City of Long Beach to acknowledge the historical milestones and ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, while fostering an environment of support, understanding, and equality for all residents.
By proclaiming every May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day in the City of Long Beach and every June as LGBTQ Pride Month in the City of Long Beach and by both raising the Progress Pride Flag at Long Beach Civic Center Plaza and lighting City assets in rainbow colors, to represent the LGBTQ+ community, serves as a testament to the resilience and courage of the LGBTQ+ community in the City of Long Beach and acknowledges the contributions they have made to our City.
Except as indicated below, this action directs the City Manager to fly the Progress Pride Flag at the Long Beach Civic Center Plaza, and that City assets are lit with rainbow colors, on the following days and occurrences:
• On or before May 22nd in recognition of Harvey Milk Day through June 30th.
• During the week of the annual Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride event organized by Long Beach Pride™.
• To demonstrate support for any other important occurrences for the LGBTQ+ community and their rights, including, but not limited to, court decisions, passage or repeal of laws pertaining to LGBTQ+ rights.
This policy is intended to apply absent a conflicting State or Federal holiday or period of remembrance (e.g. Memorial Day, Juneteenth) or a national or intentional movement or major event; with exception for significant events as approved by the City Manager.
This action repeals and replaces RES-17-0055, which was adopted by the City Council to declare the third week of May in the City as Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Week to correspond with the annual event hosted by Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Price, Inc. which previously occurred on the third weekend of May prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual local LGBTQ+ Pride event no long occurs consistently on the 3rd weekend in May. Instead, this action declares June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, along with acknowledging Harvey Milk on May 22nd. To show continued support for Long Beach’s local Pride event, hosted by Long Beach Pride™, this action also requires that the week of the annual Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride event, be proclaimed, “Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Week” and the Progress Pride Flag is flown, and City assets are lit with rainbow colors.
Progress Pride Flag
The first known Pride flag debuted at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. Gilbert Baker, a friend gay activist and City Supervisor Harvey Milk, sewed the flag to symbolize the value and dignity of the gay community.
The original Pride flag contained eight stripes, each a separate color of the rainbow plus hot pink. They colored represented sex, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic and art, serenity, and spirit. While there have been several variations of the Pride flag. In 2019, a version was debuted that included the iconic six rainbow stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, as well as the colors from the Transgender Pride Flag, light blue, pink and white stripes, to embrace the transgender community.
Most recently, the Progress Pride Flag was created by artist Daniel Quasar as a combination and reimaging of the original Pride Flag. The Progress Pride Flag’s black and brown stripes represent marginalized LBGTQ+ communities of color, community members lost to HIV/AIDS, and those currently living with HIV/AIDS. The new flag colors are in a chevron shape to represent a need for forward movement. The Progress Pride Flag celebrates the diversity of the LBGTQ+ community and calls for a more inclusive society.
Current Administrative Regulation 8-18 (“Display of National, State, and Other Flags”) (AR8-18) reflects the original Pride flag. Changes to the list of Special Flags in Attachment “A” of AR-18 requires City Council approval. Updating AR8-18 with the Progress Pride Flag shows the City’s support of all members of the LBGTQ+ community, including those members who are transgender, nonbinary, marginalized communities of color, members lost to HIV/AIDS, and those currently living with HIV/AIDS.
EQUITY LENS:
This proclamation alliance with the City's equity goals of celebrating a representing significant and historic contributions of people from all backgrounds. Moreover, through an equity lens the City must also recognize and acknowledge the complex and often overlooked relation with the LGBTQ+ community. As we recognize the leadership and advocacy of Harvey Milk, we also affirm the respect and pride for our LGBTQ+ community.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
This item is a supplemental addition to the June 6th agenda to ensure the resolution is processed in a timely manner.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
No Financial Management review was able to be conducted due to the time sensitivity of this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,