“So ‘yes’ to doing outreach at the Gay Pride Parade, ‘no’ to the lube and condoms?” Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez asked of his colleague, Garry Bredefeld, at the Tuesday board meeting.

And with that, the board voted 3-2 to develop a new ordinance requiring departments to get approval before spending money to participate in community events and non-federally recognized holidays.

The ordinance would not stop supervisors or county staff from going to community events, but it would require approval for any additional spending. The new rules would also cover displaying LGBT books in county libraries during Pride month.

“Department heads are free to celebrate what we acknowledge, but if this board does not approve Gay Pride month, it’s not going to happen in the libraries,” Bredefeld said.

Supervisors Nathan Magsig and Buddy Mendes supported Bredefeld’s policy. Chavez and Supervisor Brian Pacheco opposed it.

Magsig said he supported the ordinance because under the existing rules nothing would have stopped county employees from participating in events such as “porn week.”

The County Administrative Office will now develop language for the policy.

Opponents Say Department Heads Should Make Decisions

The decision comes after Bredefeld objected to county employees handing out sexual lubricants and condoms at the Pride Parade this past June — something he said cost thousands of dollars.

He also said some county activities promote “divisive and radical ideologies,” referencing LGBT books displayed during Pride month.

“County public health has a role and a responsibility to be at the Gay Pride Parade,” Bredefeld said. “What they’re not responsible for is handing out condoms and lube to people.”

Chavez and Pacheco countered that the supervisors should leave decisions to county department heads.

“We represent all the people and we should be neutral up here and not be political,” Pacheco said. “This tends to be political.”

Supervisors Want Precise Language on New Rule

Supervisors had trouble figuring out how the policy would work. Previously, department heads were given discretion so long as participation was “consistent with mission, vision, and values,” said County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland.

The new policy would have department heads likely present a list of what they want to participate in every six months or every year, Nerland said.

“We represent all the people and we should be neutral up here and not be political. This tends to be political.” — Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco

Chavez called the measure “counterproductive to a representative democracy.”

“This is something very eerie to me to try and censor,” Chavez said.

Speakers Say Policy Discourages Diversity

Residents at the meeting opposed the ordinance, saying it discourages health and diversity.

“I think it’s really important that we maintain the mission of the county of being open and diverse and accepting of everything and that includes various celebrations,” said Russ Zokaites, a Fresno State lecturer.