In a statement condemning the incident and demanding a new manager for the market, Livermore Pride says that Floyd had not been given that regulation outline, but even if he had, “Pride flags, as an item, are neither a petition nor a flyer.” And in other news. Information dissemination must occur outside the market or in the ‘free speech zone.’” Hayden tells NBC Bay Area that “we apologize that he feels singled out,” but notes that the 30 page regulation outline the California Farmers Markets Association (which, according to KRON 4, just took over management of the market this year) gave to participants says that “petitions and flyer distributions are prohibited inside the market. My job is to run the market, not to satisfy your political point of view,” Hayden appears to tell Floyd in a video of the confrontation. “I’ve been in places for 40 years where they bring out fetuses and put them on ironing boards. According to Floyd, Gail Hayden, the head of the California Farmers Markets Association (which oversees the Livermore market as well as several others across SF, the South Bay, and the East Bay) told him that he could not pass the flags out to “satisfy his political agenda.” The organization that oversees over a dozen farmers markets across the Bay Area is under scrutiny this week, after a confrontation between a vendor and its director over Pride flags gained viral attention.ĪBC 7 reports that Dan Floyd, who for the past four years has been a vendor at the Livermore farmers market, was admonished for passing free, rainbow-emblazoned Pride flags out to customers at his booth. The city will now pay KCSO $4.2 million for services.A vendor at a Bay Area farmers market was harshly scolded by the event’s manager after he passed Pride flags out to passers-by 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. 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. 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. 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.