Published
12 months agoon
In the heat of June, hundreds of community members gathered at Fresno City Hall for the second annual raising of the Pride Flag.
“You are loved,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer told the crowd members, who were waving their own flags late Friday morning.
The ceremony included rainbow balloons — some popping because of the heat — award presentations, and speeches.
Happy to join my friend @FresnoFire Chief Kerri Donis, @MayorJerryDyer and many others for the PRIDE flag raising ceremony @CityofFresno. pic.twitter.com/gFhMnhOVrz
— Chief Paco Balderrama (@BalderramaPaco) June 10, 2022
Kathleen Arambula-Reyna was recognized for her work with Fresno Reel Pride, an annual LGBT film festival.
“Become the change that you want to see in our community that does not exist,” she said from the podium.
While the crowd was not as large at the inaugural event last year, hundreds still gathered. A shade tent and ample water bottles were provided to keep people cool.
The event was also without the political drama of last year’s flag-raising. The city council and Dyer had clashed over whether to use a City Hall flagpole for the ceremony. After balking, Dyer signed off on the idea, saying “I don’t want people to feel excluded from the community.”
The Pride Flag is raised at #Fresno City Hall. pic.twitter.com/Ck4r9UDAR5
— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) June 10, 2022
The event included a moment of silence for Jeffery Robinson, the Fresno gay rights pioneer who passed away earlier this year.
“He helped trailblaze LGBT progress in Fresno,” Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria said.
Several in the crowd wore shirts with a tribute caricature of Robinson’s visage.
Related Story: Saturday’s Rainbow Pride Parade Honors the Late Jeffery Robinson
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email
Here’s Why Downtown Fresno Has a $250 Million Earmark in Newsom’s Budget
Lien Documents Against Bitwise Paint Desperate Financial Picture
Pence Opens Presidential Bid With Denunciation of Trump Over Jan. 6 Insurrection and Abortion
GOP Conservatives Shutter House to Protest McCarthy-Biden Debt Deal, Setting up Next Budget Brawl
City, County Team up to Finally Repair Forkner Avenue
The Iron Sheik, Charismatic Former Pro Wrestling Villain and Twitter Personality, Dies at 81