HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 18 2026 - Item 11.1 - Terry Hernandez1
Stefan Mercer
From:Terry Hernandez <terry@pridesocialsouthcounty.com>
Sent:Sunday, May 17, 2026 6:23 AM
To:Mayor Greg Bozzo; All Council Members
Cc:Terry Hernandez; Bertha@pridesocialsouthcounty.com; Trinidad Sanchez; Paul Rousseve
Subject:EXTERNAL - Commemorative Flag policy/Progress Pride Flag
To: The Honorable Mayor Bozzo and The Honorable Gilroy Council members,
Earlier this year, Councilmember Ramirez proposed having a separate pole for commemorative flags
including the Progress Pride flag.
At one point, it was suggested to have the commemorative flag stand separately on a different site away
from the United States and California flags. This means that the Progress Pride flag would stand alone
and placed far away from the United States and California flags.
Pride Social South County’s Mission is to create equality and respect for all of our
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in all of South County
including Gilroy.
We believe that the United States flag, the California flag and the Progress
Pride flag during Pride month should all stand together.
This symbolic gesture would show that the city of Gilroy values and
welcomes its LGBTQ members of the community.
Separating the Progress Pride flag from the United States & California
flags, would be a return to Jim Crow’s separate but equal laws.
It would be detrimental to our LGBTQ community by creating a divide. It
would send the message that they are not welcome in Gilroy.
In addition to keeping all of the flags together we ask that the strict
requirements for commemorative flags please be removed.
In order for the Progress Pride flag to be raised in the month of June, we
must obtain 150 signatures and now pay over $600 to the City of Gilroy.
Meeting these 2 requirements does not guarantee that the Progress Pride
flag will be raised. The City Council must approve by majority vote if they
will allow the Progress Pride flag to be raised.
We respectfully ask that you please keep Gilroy strong by uniting and not
dividing our community.
Sincerely,
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2
Terry Hernandez, MSW
Pride Social South County President
Santa Clara Family Health Plan Resident Advisory Member
Bertha Escalera, CNA
Board Assistant Treasurer
Gilroy resident
Trinidad Sanchez, MBA
Pride Social South County Volunteer
Gilroy resident
Paul Rousseve, AMFT
Pride Social South County Volunteer
Gilroy resident
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