Dublin council won’t let city display Pride flag.
After a debate that some found disturbing, the East Bay city of Dublin voted down a request Tuesday night to raise the rainbow flag over City Hall for this year’s Pride celebration.
“I’m disappointed, but not completely surprised. It’s just part of the ongoing battle for acceptance and public education,” said Dublin City Councilman Shawn Kumagai, who initiated the request.
Kumagai, the first openly gay person to serve on the Dublin City Council, had asked the council for a proclamation in
support of the Pride celebration and that the multicolored LGBTQ flag be flown over City Hall, along with the American and California flags, for the entire month of June.
The five-member council supported the proclamation unanimously, but when it came to the flag, a debate ensued among the public and the council members.
Some audience members spoke during public comment in favor of the flag going up. Others wondered if the gesture was appropriate.
Two speakers who opposed raising the flag said they had heard of plans to add a “P” — for “pedophile” — to the LGBTQ acronym, and that raising the flag might be seen as supporting pedophiles.
One of the speakers also objected because LGBTQ lacks an “S” for “straight” in the LGBTQ title.
“There were some comments from the public that were a bit misguided,” Kumagai said, diplomatically.
Added LGBTQ community member and 20-year Dublin resident Jeannine Sullivan, “It was ridiculous and unfounded, but it still shows what is being perpetuated by some people in our community.”
Another issue raised: Should any flag other than the American, the California or city of Dublin flag fly above City Hall?
One speaker, who identified himself as a member of the National Rifle Association, said he too is a minority, so why not fly the NRA flag above city hall?
“He even brought a banner and unfurled it,” Sullivan said.
In an email Wednesday, Dublin Mayor David Haubert said: “Many of our residents expressed the feeling that the City Hall general flagpole area should be reserved for the federal, state and city flags only. They also expressed anxiety about favoring one group over all others.”
“There was a slipperyslope argument, that we may be opening a Pandora’s box,” Kumagai said.
As the discussion continued Tuesday, Kumagai realized he lacked the votes to fly the flag for the whole month, so he asked for it to be flown for one day — June 1 — to kick off Pride month.
But even that idea was voted down 3-2.
Haubert, who was one of the no votes, said the city has a record of support for gay causes
“Dublin is a diverse, welcoming and inclusive city,” he said. “We oppose all forms of bigotry and prejudice. I support a deeper conversation to ensure a welcoming and inclusive community instead of focusing on things which divide our community, which using the municipal flagpoles seems to do.
“I am open to the conversation and confident we will find ways to do this,” Haubert said.
“Of course I find it disappointing,” Kumagai said. “but I think it is a testament that, even in the Bay Area, we still need to have this conservation.”
Meanwhile, social media is alive with calls for Dublin residents to buy and display Pride flags on their own.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phillip Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier