Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, LGBTQ+

City of Benicia kicks off Pride month with flag-raising

Elected officials, city staff, community members and local organizations celebrate start of Pride Month in Benicia

Amidst a flurry of legislative attacks, hateful rhetoric and violent threats targeting the LGBTQ+ community, Benicia City leaders raised the Pride flag over City Hall and showed us that bigotry has no home in our Be-Kind City. Attendees included Mayor Steve Young, Vice-Mayor Terry Scott, Council Members Tom Campbell and Trevor Macenski and Interim City Manager Mario Giuliani. | Image shared from the City of Benicia Facebook post.

From the City of Benicia Facebook Account, June 2, 2023:

Today, City of Benicia elected officials, staff, community members, representatives from local organizations, and a new friend Benji, participated in raising the Pride Flag in front of City Hall for Pride Month!

[Note from BenIndy Contributor Nathalie Christian: You can click through to the Facebook post to learn who Benji is, but read this first: according to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the country in 2023 alone, with 29 bills targeting transgender rights passing in 14 states and more on the way. While many of us probably believe that these challenges are a ‘Red State problem,’ Solano County is not immune – LGBTQ activists recently alleged that Vacaville’s mayor has refused to recognize Pride Month. With corporations like Target and cities as close as Vacaville apparently caving to far-right backlash, NOW is the time to stand up for our LGBTQ+ friends and family. A City flag-raising for Pride Month shouldn’t be a radical act of defiance, but it is swiftly becoming exactly that.]