The city will now pay KCSO $4.2 million for services. Happy Pride Month Wasco!Īlso at the meeting - Council Members increased funding for the Kern County Sheriff's Department by $1 million over the previous five-year agreement. The residents of Wasco elected me to be a bold leader and stand up for those underrepresented within our community, and that’s exactly what I promise to continue doing.
Although we may not have won this vote, the fight for equality, inclusion, and recognition marches on. We are a city of inclusion and love that embraces our diversity and thrives because of it.Īs the first openly LGBT Mayor in the County of Kern, I know first-hand the significance that flying the Pride Flag over city hall would have not just for the LGBTQ community but for all residents of Wasco. Although the council may have heard some discouraging remarks, I know this doesn’t reflect the true values the community of Wasco represents. Unfortunately, my colleagues did not agree with this motion, and we did not move forward with the recommendation. WASCO, CA - This evening, I made a historic motion on behalf of all of my constituents to proudly fly the Pride Flag over Wasco City Hall to commemorate Pride Month in solidarity with the local LGBT community. AZ FLAG California Rainbow Flag 3 x 5 - Gay Californian Flags 90 x 150 cm - Banner 3x5 ft. Garcia says council members weren't opposed to another display of support for the LGBTQ+ community, including an inclusion march or rally.Ī press release from Garcia is attached below: With that being said - we're not going to skip a beat, sure the vote failed, but we still have alot left to be done," he said. And that's my mission as Mayor here and that is to serve as an example of kindness, understanding and leadership. "It's not important that I'm the first LGBTQ+ elected official, what's important is that I'm not the last. Vikki Vargas reports for NBC4 News at 5 p.m. He says even though the vote was not in favor of the flag raising, he's proud to have spurred an important community conversation that will continue past pride month. An online video by an OC teacher suggesting her students say the pledge of allegiance to a gay pride flag went viral. The Mayor of Wasco tells 23 ABC he's a part of the LGBTQ+ community and decided to introduce the idea after being inspired by other young leaders around the nation recently and local youth in the community. Council Members voted on whether or not to fly a Pride Flag outside Wasco City Hall as a way of recognizing inclusivity.Īfter a number of public comments for and against the move, council members eventually voted down the motion three to one. (KERO) - The Wasco City Council met earlier Tuesday to make an important decision around Pride Month. The Democratic governor tweeted out the news with a photo showing the pride. "So my class decided to stand, but not say the words. Gavin Newsom on Monday had the rainbow pride flag raised at the state Capitol for the second time in state history, sending a message of resistance against the Trump administration’s policy forbidding the LGBTQ banner at other government buildings.
"I always tell my class, stand if you feel like it, don't stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don't have to say the words," Pitzen said in the viral video.
In a video shared to Twitter on Friday, Pitzen described how her students have the option to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in her English class. We follow due process and our investigation continues."Īlthough the district has refrained from identifying the teacher, reports have named her as Kristin Pitzen. She continued, "The teacher is no longer in the classroom. Showing respect for our nation's flag is an important value that we instill in our students and an expectation of our employees," district spokeswoman Annette Franco wrote in an email. "We are aware that one of our teachers posted a video on their personal social media that caused alarm and concern related to saluting the American flag. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District confirmed to Newsweek the teacher is no longer instructing classes while the district continues to investigate the incident. flag, which had been missing from the classroom. A California teacher has been "removed from the classroom" after posts on social media showed she encouraged students to pledge allegiance to a gay pride banner instead of a U.S.