Voters in conservative Huntington Beach, California, approved a measure that would restrict the display of non-government flags on city property, sparking a backlash from LGBTQ advocacy groups.
Measure B, authored by Huntington Beach City Councilman Pat Burns, passed with more than half of the city’s votes, according to the latest tally on the county registrar’s website.
The measure, which voters will vote on on Super Tuesday, would ban Breast Cancer Awareness, Pride, Confederate and all other non-U.S. flags from flying on city property. Burns said in an interview with Fox News Digital that the measure is not intended to discriminate against any group, but rather to encourage residents to come together around a common American identity. . Most of the backlash Burns has received has come from LGBTQ advocates.
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Voters in Huntington Beach, California, approved a measure that would ban the display of Breast Cancer Awareness, Pride flags, Confederate flags, and all other nongovernmental flags on city property.
“I’m against identity politics. I think it’s divisive,” Burns said Friday. “Honestly, I think it’s humiliating to think that that flag is so insulting to LGBTQ people. And I know they support it, but in my heart, It’s humiliating that they need some kind of special recognition to feel like they’re LGBTQ’ part of our community. People are equal, but things like that cause division. ”
Burns said the city has flown rainbow flags during Pride Month for the past two years. He added that before this measure was taken, it was not a major part of the city’s aesthetics.
Only the United States flag, California state flag, Orange County flag, Huntington Beach city flag, POW-MIA flag, Sixth Army flag, and Olympic flag during the Summer Olympics may be placed on city property. Under new measures.
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Progressive groups in Huntington Beach fought back against the bill’s passage. (Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
“I love different opinions. I love checks and balances. That’s what’s great about us being able to have different voices in society. But as a city government, I don’t want to play identity politics like that.” I don’t think it’s our position,”’ Burns said.
Progressive community groups opposed the bill’s passage. Peg Corey, executive director of the Orange County LGBTQ Center, said in a statement to the media that the Huntington Beach City Council is “a hateful organization whose sole interest is advancing an agenda of intolerance against minority communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals. It is run by a strong majority.” ”
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“The pendulum always swings back and history is our harshest judge, but an informed vote is the best prevention,” the statement said.
However, Congress can vote to approve the display of a particular flag through a unanimous vote.
A city in Michigan also banned the display of Pride flags on city property last year. Several other cities in New York and Connecticut have enacted similar policies in 2022.
