Roseville's LGBTQ+ community clash with Roseville City Council

Roseville's LGBTQ+ community is frustrated with the Roseville City Council after the council's Wednesday meeting, following the council's approval of a new flag policy. The vote was 4-1 in favor of the selected policy, with Councilman Scott Alvord being the only no vote. At least 20 members of the LGBTQ+ community attended Wednesday's City Council meeting to ask the City Council to approve a flag policy that would honor the American and state flag while also offering the opportunity for the PRIDE flag to be flown. During the May 6 Roseville City Council meeting, LGBTQ+ community members asked for the city to consider flying the rainbow flag during June to honor PRIDE Month. As the city had no official policy for any of the city's flag poles, Roseville City Council asked city staff to create a flag policy for the City Council to review and approve in a future meeting. City staff presented two possible policies during Wednesday's meeting. Policy one follows the historical uses of the city's flag poles for just the American, state , POW-MIA and city flag to be flown. Policy two would follow the same guidance of policy one but also add that, at the City Council's discretion, a commemorative flag can be flown on the Civic Center flag pole at the bottom of the flag order. A commemorative flag is a flag that is not formally recognized by the federal, state or local government. A commemorative flag could only be flown if a member of the City Council put a flag forward to be flown and a majority of the council approved that flag. Flags representing religious movements or creeds of a particular political party or that advocate a certain outcome in an election were prohibited from being recommended by council. The Civic Center flag pole is located near the intersection of Vernon Street and South Grant Street. The present LGBTQ+ community members were looking for the City Council to approve the second policy in hopes that the rainbow flag could be flown during future PRIDE months. About six audience members spoke in favor of policy two and about three members spoke in favor of policy one. "This is our opportunity to show what it means to be an ally," Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ Pastor Casey Tinin said. "I understand where we live, I understand at times the decisions you must make might require that your constituents be a little upset but that is what being an ally is all about. It's about putting a little skin in the game." Those in favor of policy one said the American flag represented all Americans and there was no need to add a flag to represent an individual group. "The American flag represents absolutely every single one of us", Roseville resident Jeff Harper said. "I think 'We are Roseville' as our motto is absolutely inclusive and I can't say it better than that myself. A flag is not going to stop one suicide or one death tonight." A clear council majority also indicated that the American flag included all Americans and that Roseville is already an inclusive community. "I believe a commemorative flag may be visible but is it really meaningful and some would say 'yes it is,'" Roseville Mayor Krista Bernasconi said. "Our city does have a non-discrimination policy, we have an inclusion-diversity committee, we have created 'We are Roseville' rainbow banners. I think a commemorative flag itself creates unintended consequences." This topic hit a bit closer to home for Alvord as his son has come out as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and expressed to Alvord what flying the flag at the Civic Center would mean. "We (Alvord and his son) had a conversation about the rainbow flag and he explained to me very clearly how a flag or the lack of a flag is going to send a message," Alvord said. "If a flag flies, it sends a very clear message to the community, to bullies, to employers, to families and to our neighbors that we are inclusive, accepting and tolerant. He explained to me that the flag will save lives, it will change some attitudes and it will be common thought in the community." Alvord was the lone voice in support of the second flag policy as his fellow four council members voted in favor of policy one. Following the vote, the chamber was filled with shouts of "shame" toward the council members from those in favor of the second policy. The next Roseville City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on July 7 and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofRosevilleCa/videos.