Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa
A decision by the Oceanside City Council to reverse its prior approval for flying the Pride flag during June has drawn strong condemnation from the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, who called the move a “profound setback” and a “betrayal.”
The vote, which came after 17 years of advocacy for the symbol of LGBTQ+ inclusion, was reportedly swayed by a change of vote from Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa.
The reversal, occurring shortly after Harvey Milk Day, a day dedicated to honoring courage and visibility in the face of injustice, has left the local LGBTQ+ community deeply disappointed. Max Disposti, Founder and Executive Director of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, expressed profound dismay in a statement, highlighting the years of coalition-building and community work that led to the initial decision.
Disposti specifically criticized Councilmember Figueroa’s change of vote, framing it as a “betrayal of the very coalition that supported his rise to leadership.” The Resource Center, along with numerous allies, had consistently backed Figueroa’s efforts in areas such as housing justice, equity, and community advancement.
The statement from the North County LGBTQ Resource Center warned that citing political pressure or religious belief as justification for withdrawing support from a symbol of inclusion sends a “dangerous message: that hate, when loud enough, will prevail.” Disposti asserted that “homophobia, transphobia, and rhetoric that equates queer lives with criminality have no place in our city’s governance,” and that the vote undermines decades of coalition-building and ignores the most vulnerable in the community.
Mayor Esther Sanchez and Councilmember Eric Joyce were thanked by the Resource Center for their “integrity and allyship in this difficult moment.” Appreciation was also extended to the many local organizations, advocacy groups, and individuals who continue to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite the setback, Disposti affirmed the Resource Center’s commitment to continued advocacy.
“Pride is not a banner for comfort, it is a statement of survival, visibility, and resistance,” Disposti said, adding that the North County LGBTQ Resource Center “will continue to rise, organize, and advocate for an Oceanside where all people—especially the most marginalized—are seen, valued, and protected.”
