Petition Launched Over Rainbow Pride Flag In Dublin

DUBLIN, CA — Following a decision May 21 by the Dublin City Council to not fly the rainbow Pride flag at city hall, a petition has been launched in response. At press time, the petition on Change.org had garnered over 400 signatures. During its May 21 meeting, city council voted 5-0 in favor of making June a designated Pride Month in Dublin, but it voted 3-2 against raising the rainbow flag over city hall for even one day next month.

"I was extremely disturbed by the insensitive comments made by Dublin City Council regarding the debate on whether to fly the rainbow flag for Pride Day over city hall," the Change.org petition reads. "Please sign this petition if you would also like to see the Pride flag fly over City Hall for Pride Day. Let the residents decide."

Mayor David Haubert, Vice Mayor Melissa Hernandez, and Councilmember Arun Goel cast the nay votes against the flag raising over concerns about the city's lack of a flag policy. Currently, the American, California, and Dublin flags fly over city hall.

Since Patch's reporting on the May 21 city council meeting, Mayor Haubert wrote a letter to Patch stating, in part:

"The decision to move toward a policy, which would allow the Pride flag, and other flags, is what I supported. To me, it makes sense to set ground rules for everyone. ... The decision to wait to put together a policy is just sound governance. This should not be interpreted as lack of support for the LGBTQ community and nobody should tell you otherwise."

In his letter, Haubert said he is "100 percent committed to formalizing our policies and I am absolutely confident we will move forward together as a community."

To watch the May 21 city council discussion on the Pride flag, click here. The Pride Month and flag hearing are listed as item 8.1 on the city council meeting agenda. You can fast forward the video to that item number.