Palm Desert Will Not Halt Pride Month

PALM DESERT, CA — The Palm Desert City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to reject Councilman Joe Pradetto's proposal for the city to stop recognizing Pride Month.

Mayor Evan Trubee and Councilmembers Karina Quintanilla, Gina Nestande and Jan Harnik voted against Pradetto's proposal Tuesday at City Hall.

Pradetto's proposal would also have the city no longer display a Pride banner at City Hall.

The decision comes after council members listened to more than three hours of public comments, most of which opposed the proposal.

"I brought this forward to solve a problem. It stems from the love I have for my community. It isn't about the LGBTQ community, but how we get along and move toward our goal of greater unity and acceptance," Pradetto said during Tuesday's meeting. "However, regarding the banner on City Hall, I still believe the principled, smart strategy is neutrality. No banners recognizing individual groups should adorn City Hall. This is about stability and social cohesion."

Many in the city's gay community took a different view.

The proposal by Pradetto "to eliminate the city's official recognition of Pride Month and remove the city's Pride banner is not an effort toward 'neutrality;' it is a shortsighted political maneuver that prioritized grandstanding over local representation," a spokesperson for Palm Springs Pride said in a statement Monday.

"The effect of this proposal is clear: it intentionally creates 'us and them.' It sends an unequivocal message of rejection to visitors, tourists and residents: You are not welcome in Palm Desert," PS Pride said.

Assemblyman Greg Wallis, R-Rancho Mirage, shared a similar sentiment on Facebook.

"This proposal is a slap in the face to LGBTQ+ residents of Palm Desert and the entire Coachella Valley," he said. "At a time when LGBTQ+ Americans face increasing attacks on their rights and dignity across the nation, our local leaders should be standing up for inclusion, not tearing down symbols of acceptance and equality."