Editor’s Note: A majority of the Huntington Beach City Council, during it’s meeting on Feb. 7, directed staff to draft a proposed ordinance that would only allow certain flags, such as military flags and the U.S. flag, to be flown on city-owned property. The council is expected to take up this ordinance on Feb. 21. Because of a reporting error, the stage in the process of the new law was incorrectly stated.
Emotions ran high in City Hall this week as the Huntington Beach City Council considered discontinuing the flying of the pride flag on city-owned property.
Proposed by Councilmember Pat Burns, the council asked staff to draft an ordinance that only allows the American, California, Orange County, Huntington Beach and various military flags to be flown on city facilities. The ordinance would reverse a previous council decision to fly the rainbow flag at City Hall for six weeks in the spring.
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The council requested an ordinance to consider in a split 4-3 vote on Tuesday, Feb. 7, with the new conservative majority — made up of Mayor Tony Strickland as well as Councilmembers Gracey Van Der Mark, Casey McKeon and Burns — backing it. It’s on the council’s agenda for the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Councilmembers Natalie Moser, Rhonda Bolton and Dan Kalmick, who authored the 2021 agenda item to fly the pride flag, voiced disagreement.
“The new majority of folks created a wedge issue and then cowardly brought this forward as trying to simplify government,” Kalmick said. “It is very disappointing, a step back and a black eye to the city.”
“A flag functions as a message, and so does its removal,” Moser said.
The rainbow-striped banner, which made its debut in 1978, is a symbol of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.
Burns said the proposed change is not about removing the pride flag but instead, in his view, promoting unity.
“I have a nephew and a niece that are both gay, and I love them dearly. The flags that we have that represent our governments is what is important to unify us,” he said. “It has nothing to do with segregating. It’s recognizing that we are one.”
“By definition, inclusion represents everyone, equally,” McKeon said, arguing that flags other than those representative of the country, state, city or military, such as the pride flag, do “not represent every resident equally.”
Kalmick said the council’s decision could cost the city its ability to host certain events during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Huntington Beach, dubbed Surf City USA, is planning a bid to host surfing, skate and BMX competitions during the Olympics.
“The fact that we’re going to have to change the city ordinance to fly the Olympic flag is not going to be good in our talks with the (International Olympic Committee) and the U.S. Olympic Committee,” Kalmick said.
By mid-day Tuesday, ahead of the council’s discussion, the city clerk said she received about 275 emails regarding the item, 228 of which were in opposition to Burns’ proposal and 46 in support.
Most of the chamber broke out in boos after the vote was announced. Earlier in the meeting, several dozen members of the community came forward to share their thoughts on the ordinance.
“At a time when hate and discrimination against the LGBT community and other marginalized groups is at alarming levels, it is more important than ever that our elected officials make clear that all are welcomed and cherished,” Kelly Jones, a spokesperson for Sen. Dave Min, said at Tuesday’s meeting.
But one resident, who supported Burns’ proposal, said: “Huntington Beach is inclusive, and the notion we need a flag to say that it is, is absurd.”
