Pittsburg to draft flag policy before deciding on Gay Pride flag

Pittsburg has joined more a dozen cities in the East Bay to declare June LGBTQ+ Pride Month, but whether it will raise the rainbow pride flag remains to be seen.

Mayor Juan Banales read a proclamation in support of Gay Pride Month at the City Council meeting this week, noting that it was important for cities like Pittsburg to show support for its residents who are affected by “opposition to people of this group and (others) around the world.”

Like Antioch a week earlier, however, Banales asked city staff to return to the next council meeting, which will be June 17, after drafting a flag policy council members can consider.

“Return with a policy that will allow us to further show our support for organizations and for reasons such as Pride Month,” he said.

City Manager Garrett Evans agreed to do that, but also added, “We also be looking at ways to show and support Pride Month around City Hall as appropriate.”

However, others expressed caution over drafting such a policy even if it is for any third-party request.

“I would just caution us as a council in terms of opening it up to all third-party requests,” Vice Mayor Jelani Killings said. “Flag poles are generally as what we see in the state of California, the national flag. I would be kinda skeptical to open this up to all third parties.”

Councilwoman Merl Craft, meanwhile, suggested City Hall’s balcony might be a better area for flags and banners.

“We do have our second-floor balcony where we put a lot of our information out and we have different banners, posters and flags, and I would think would be an appropriate place if we are going to entertain something like this,” she said. “Because, again as you are saying, our flag poles should be reserved for federal or state (flags), but our building, our City Hall, this is a symbol of Pittsburg and so … I feel that this would be appropriate.”

City Attorney Donna Mooney, however, said whatever flag policy staff comes up with will be “a reflection that there is a best practice that seems to be emerging among cities.”

“In terms of a flag pole, it is reserved for the City Council to make a decision,” she said. “It is not a public forum for third parties and that’s what will come back on the 17th, and we can separately address banners (at City Hall) and so forth.”

In Dublin, however, the council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a flag policy, reversing its earlier 3-2 decision against raising the rainbow flag during a special meeting called to reconsider the matter. Last week, after some had raised concerns that the city would set a precedent for allowing all types of flags to be flown, the council voted against it while unanimously approving a proclamation in support of gay pride.

Other East Bay cities that have decided to fly the pride flag include Lafayette, Emeryville, Oakland, Richmond, El Cerrito, Concord, Emeryville, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek. Last week, the Hayward City Council supported Gay Pride Month and recognized its longstanding Gay Pride Prom for youth while both Brentwood and Oakley approved June LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamations only.