Orange County Supervisors Reject Pride Flags Outside County Buildings

Orange County has become the latest jurisdiction to reject the display of LGBTQ flags during Pride Month.

In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors limited flags outside county offices to county, state, and U.S. flags. 

The vote follows similar actions in Huntington Beach and Redlands.

Supervisor Andrew Do, who introduced the item, insisted it wasn’t aimed at the LGBTQ community or Pride Month. But Don Wagner let the cat out of the bag.

“It is not a coincidence that this policy is in front of us right now. It is not a coincidence that we’re considering it today for the first time in the more than 100 years of this County’s existence,” Wagner acknowledged. 

“We’re considering it today, in response to the divisive effort to fly one particular flag. So yes, there absolutely is a connection.”

Supervisor Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento opposed the policy. They wore pins to show their support for the LGBTQ community.

“Pride represents diversity, an inclusive community, a community that provides a space where people are safe to be who they are & love who they want,” Foley said in a statement. “By taking this rash decision of banning the Pride flag from all County property and our County parks and facilities undermines the work we’ve done as a Board to ensure Orange County is a fair, inclusive, and welcoming place to live, work, and visit for every member of our community.”