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8 DATE: May 20, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
FROM: Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
SUBJECT: DIRECTING THAT THE LGBTQIA+ PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG BE FLOWN FROM JUNE 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024 IN
RECOGNITION OF PRIDE MONTH PURSUANT TO THE CITY
HALL FLAG DISPLAY POLICY
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution directing that the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag be flown in recognition of Pride Month pursuant to the City Hall Flag Display Policy beginning June 1, 2024 and continuing through June 30, 2024.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 3, 2014, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution to establish the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Commission as the State of California’s first county or city commission focused on the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. The San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission’s mission is cultivating San Mateo County as a welcoming and safe environment where its LGBTQIA+ community members can thrive.
In 2020, the San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission initiated its Pride Month Visibility Campaign and invited all cities and communities in San Mateo County to support the LGBTQIA+ community by recognizing Pride Month (June of each year).
Starting in 2021, all 20 cities in San Mateo County, including the City of Foster City,
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8 have continued to issue a Proclamation and raise the Pride Flag in the month of June.
Due to the success of the countywide campaign and increased participation of cities and communities to achieve the goal of supporting LGBTQIA+ visibility and inclusion, the LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Visibility Campaign continues to be held on an annual basis. To ensure Foster City’s participation in this campaign that seeks to promote diversity and inclusivity throughout the community, it is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution directing that the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag be flown in recognition of Pride Month pursuant to the City Hall Flag Display Policy.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
On May 6, 2024, the City received a request from the San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission to recognize June 2024 as “LGBTQIA+ Pride Month” (Attachment 2).
Similar to last year, the request for support includes issuance of a Pride Month Proclamation and raising of the LGBTQIA+ Flag during the month of June 2024. For the third year, the LGBTQIA+ Commission request specified that the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag be flown during Pride Month (rather than the traditional Pride Flag).
The traditional Pride Flag (Rainbow Flag) has been part of the LGBTQIA+ movement since 1978, designed by Gilbert Baker at the request of Supervisor Harvey Milk (the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States, specifically on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors). The LGBTQIA+ community and allies use the traditional Pride Flag as an outward symbol of their identity or to support the LGBTQIA+ community.
In 2018, Daniel Quasar, a non-binary artist and graphic designer, created the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag (Attachment 3) as a variation of the rainbow pride flag.
Specifically, the Progress Pride Flag incorporates additional colors on the flag to expand the representation of the LGBTQIA+ community, including the transgender community as well as LGBTQIA+ communities of color. Raising the Progress Pride Flag would highlight that Foster City is a leader in the fight for equal rights and strives to protect the rights of all Foster City community members, including the LGBTQIA+ community.
The City Council had previously adopted a City Hall Flag Display Policy on June 15, 2020. The policy states the City Council may, by resolution, direct that commemorative flags be flown in addition to flags of the United States of America, California State Flag, and City Flag. The flying of the flags serves as an expression of the City Council’s official sentiments, and the flags may only be flown on the outdoor flagpole at City Hall.
In response to this request, the City Council can determine if it wishes to express its message of support for the LGBTQIA+ community by displaying the LGBTQIA+ 5 4
8 Progress Pride Flag in addition to the United States of America Flag, California State Flag, and Foster City Flag in commemoration of the LGBTQIA+ Pride Month beginning June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. If approved, as set forth in the policy, the State Flag would be displayed below the United States of America Flag, the Foster City Flag would be moved to where the State Flag otherwise would have flown (left mast), and the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag would be flown where the Foster City Flag otherwise would have flown (right mast).
California Environmental Quality Act
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the attached resolution.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
City Council Operations and Improved Community Engagement Public Safety and Social Equity
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission Request Attachment 3 – LGBTQIA+ Pride Progress Flag