By rssfeeds-admin This precedent came after District 2 Supervisor Gary Bredefeld spoke out against the Department of Public Health and Behavioral Services for spending money on resources at Fresno’s Pride Parade in early June.
“The Department of Public Health and the taxpayer doesn’t have to fund your condoms and your lube—doesn’t have to do it. It’s wrong, it’s inappropriate, I have no idea why they think that’s okay because it becomes advocacy as far as I’m concerned,” Bredefeld said Tuesday.
Many took the floor during the public comment period to express their frustrations with the proposal, despite Chairman Buddy Mendes’ effort to keep it short.
“HIV for example, it’s very difficult in Fresno County to get help. If you’re not familiar with the system it’s very difficult to get help and its institutionalized stigma from the top down, and this is how it starts,” one resident expressed.
“You are elected to represent all of the people of Fresno County, and you certainly were not elected to do harm or to declare invaluable or less than any segment of the community you represent,” another resident said.
The item that was passed three to two now requires Fresno County agencies to receive approval from the board of supervisors before they spend money on or sponsor community events.
Fresno residents like Bee Grealy believe this precedent enables elected officials to enact their political beliefs through community outreach and how it is conducted.
“Our health organization has to ask politicians if they can go and do their job when it comes to community outreach— which is one of the most impactful aspects of a lot of these departments. And now they have to go through politicians like Gary Bredefeld and we’re supposed to trust that they’re going to remain unbiased in making those decisions?” Grealy expressed.
District 3 Supervisor Luis Chavez, who voted no with District 1 Supervisor Brian Pacheco, expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community and reassured that individual bias has no place in a governing body.
“I’ve gone to the prayer breakfast, which we sponsor and support, I’ve gone to faith-based food drives, organizations, and I don’t want to be in the space where we’re singling out one group of folks and not another one. I think we need to be equitable. To me, at least, that’s the role of government,” Chavez said.
The recognition of Pride Month in Fresno County will be up for debate in the next Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 5.
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