Solvang gay pride
Solvang Reverses Course, Approves Celebration Banners
In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the Solvang City Council on Monday approved a proposal to fly rainbow banners to celebrate Pride Month, reversing a previous vote that sparked public outcry and an international flap. Cheers and applause rang out as members of the audience shook posters reading: “We see you. We hear you. We encourage you.”
The approval represented a compromise between the applicant, the Rainbow House Inc., an LGBTQ resource center, and the council, who heard from critics that the banners were “political” and “agenda-driven,” and therefore not appropriate for the public right of way.
The eight downtown banners will fly for two weeks in June, but not for the full month, and they will no longer be accompanied by rainbow crosswalks. Mayor Highlight Infanti cast the deciding vote, switching sides to join Councilmembers Elizabeth Orona and Claudia Orona (no relation) in support.
“I need to acknowledge this is probably very uncomfortable for many people who don’t understand [the LGBTQ] community,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Orona. “But that is the point. We need to move forward and agree some change and embrace some
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a two-part series on the conversation surrounding a suggestion to hang Pride banners and paint crosswalks with rainbow colors in Solvang during Pride Month in June. The first part, “Solvang's denial of Self-acceptance banners goes against Denmark's progressive LGBTQ-plus policies, advocates say,” published on Rally
Pride flags were a source of comfort for Addisyn before she came out to her parents as bisexual about four months ago.
“Now that I’m out and seeing more flags, I feel represented, loved, and safe,” she said. “Seeing queer inclusion is a calming and reassuring aspect a town should have.”
The year-old Santa Ynez resident shared this with Solvang City Council members during a recent hearing about hanging Pride-themed banners from city beam poles during Pride Month in June. She told the Sun that she feels supported by her family, but didn’t notice that support mirrored by members of the group and its elected officials. She called the Urban area Council’s decision to decline the proposal “heartbreaking.”
“It was upsetting, tears were shed,
California&#;s &#;most charming town&#; reluctantly dragged into customs war over LGBTQ self-acceptance flags
The &#;most charming town in California&#; has been dragged into the nation&#;s culture war over LGBTQ pride flags, frustrating residents and business owners who want to stay out of the political brouhaha.
Danish-themed town Solvang — known for its charming windmills and picturesque 18th century Danish-inspired architecture — has been reluctantly embroiled in controversy after the urban area council voted against a proposal to hang Lgbtq+ fest banners in the downtown area for an entire month.
Some council members even said they have received death threats.
&#;We&#;ve been a Danish destination for decades and that&#;s why tourists love coming here because it&#;s fun,&#; Solvang council member Robert Clarke told The Post.
&#;But now, this issue has grow polarizing and some of the residents wish it never came up.&#;
&#;They don&#;t want any flags — not MAGA, not &#;Right to Life,&#; and not anything to do with Proud Boys.
&#;How complete we say no to the next group that wants to put their flags up? Right now, I don&#;t know.
&#;I think if somebody were to try and sue us, they would h
Fourth annual Pride Parade takes place June 14 in Solvang
Santa Barbara County ngo, Santa Ynez Valley Event (), is planning for the fourth annual Lgbtq+ fest celebration to take place in the region’s various wine country towns, a multifaceted lineup of events spanning June ,
“This year’s Pride theme, ‘Lead with Love,’ is about a bold and brave kind of admire that requires action. It will ask us to stand up for all members of our collective, especially our trans and immigrant neighbors,&#; said Lauren Lastra, president of SYV Pride. &#;It will require that we act with kindness in the face of adversity and that we garner strength and hope through community. It will empower us to create safe spaces throughout the Valley where folks can unapologetically be themselves and know that they belong here.”
Formed in , SYV Pride’s mission is to create a trustworthy, supportive, and empowering residence for the local Gay community in the Santa Ynez Valley through the education and celebration of LGBTQ+ culture. In June , SYV Pride organized and successfully completed its inaugural Identity festival cel
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