Photo Credit: City of San Ramon Facebook
(SAN RAMON, CA.) – One of the hot topics brought up at the Apr. 14 San Ramon City Council meeting was regarding the display of the Progress Pride Flag for the month of June. Officially back on Apr. 28, 2021, the City Council approved a resolution to adopt the use of city flagpoles and the Flags Display Policy. The policy installs guidelines for the display of flags on City of San Ramon owned flagpoles and on other city-owned property. According to the City of San Ramon website, “flag display requests must come from a member of the Council as flagpoles are explicitly reserved for city speech as defined under the Government Speech Doctrine.”
As specified on the meetings agenda, “on April 3, 2026, staff received a request from Councilmember Verose to display the Progress Pride Flag for the month of June 2026. If approved, the City will fly the Progress Pride Flag on a flagpole at the corner of Alcosta Boulevard and Bollinger Canyon Road and display digitally on the marquee in front of City Hall per the flag policy.”
A few minutes into the meeting, public comment was opened up and Former Mayor Greg Carr seized the opportunity to speak out against the way the council is handling the request.
“If there’s going to be a request from a councilmember, this one especially has both pros and cons in our society concerning it. What would happen if one of you is a supporter of MAGA and somebody wants to put up a MAGA flag? I think that needs to be an open-air discussion. It should not be slipped through as it seemed to me when I saw the agenda on consent.”
Pleading for more transparency from the council, Carr finishes his talk by suggesting more discussion on the topic. “I think those things are worthy of us having a conversation so that everybody understands why, and here’s the opinions of all of you, and we go on with your decision.”
Citizens Against the Market Place Apt/Condo Development (CAMPAD) leader Susie Ferris-Inderkum stepped up to the mic and brought forward “a new State Department policy signed into law prohibits the flying of the Progress Pride Flag over US embassies and other diplomatic institutions, stating that only the US flag is authorized for display.”
According to the One Flag for All Act that was first introduced in the 119th Congress (2025-2026), the policy prohibits flying non-US flags, specifically citing Pride and Black Lives Matter Flags, arguing that only the Stars and Stripes should be flown to represent shared values and national unity. “The U.S. flag unites all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy.”
Ferris-Inderkum concludes her speech by declaring the subject “should be brought before the full voting public via a new business item on a future agenda.”
After those initial public comments, Mayor Mark Armstrong decided to pull the item to discuss it further later on in the meeting.
Once the time came again to raise the subject, another public commenter took a stand at the dais, identifying herself as Make San Ramon Great Again; although she declined to state her name, she had much to say regarding the matter.
As transcribed in the OpGov.News summary, she claimed that the “special flagpole for 'special flags' is used by councilmembers to grant favors to election contributors, specifically pointing out councilmember Verose’s recurring requests for the Pride flag. Criticized this as 'corrupt' and 'stealthy' due to its placement on the consent agenda, arguing it undermines equality and democratic voting power after district representation changes.”
Councilmember Verose defends his stance on why he requested for the flag to fly. “We should be proud that San Ramon is a hub for diversity, and we should be respectful. We should take care of our community members. That's the reason they elect us, and if we deny their privilege to be part of this community, then we are denying their basic civil rights, which is not acceptable.”
Verose closes his statement by asserting his proper course of action, “that's why I always put this request, and I'll always support it.”
Councilmember Robert Jweinat, on the other hand, has a differing view regarding the flag: “I have a long-standing belief that city facilities should only really fly three flags: the state flag, the city flag, and our country's flag.” Bringing his point to a finality, he believes “only three flags should fly on city property. And those are the only three flags.”
Councilmember Richard Adler admits how he first witnessed all the controversy surrounding the display of pride flags with our neighboring city of Dublin.
“There was a lot of controversy initially, and a lot of these issues were coming up about why we have an individual flag like that. But I really think the gay community has had a history of a lot of violence against them…I think what we are trying to do here is just say you're welcome in our community.”
Adler goes on to reiterate all the violence and heavy discrimination the LGBTQIA+ community has faced, and wants San Ramon to be more accepting of members in our community. “I don’t see anything wrong with being loving and welcoming to this group who has been persecuted…I think if you care about people, a flag like that is a good thing. It just shows that we care.”
Mayor Armstrong has the last word after hearing from the public and his fellow councilmembers.
“In past years, we've approved flying the pride flag as a statement of inclusion. That everybody in our community is seen, respected, and welcome.” Armstrong admits to recognizing the differing viewpoints and various concerns of the community. “I think that the decision we make tonight should be grounded in clarity and consistency and respect, but with the goal of bringing our community together.”
In conclusion, the council voted to approve the display of the Progress Pride Flag, with only councilman Jweinat disapproving. The council also agreed to review the flag display policy in the future due to the many concerns that were brought up at the meeting.
Photo Credit: YouTube
Despite the concerning lack of residents speaking in favor of the flag display, OpGov.News reached out to Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Danville-San Ramon Valley chapter to hear their sentiments. Per the information provided on their website, PFLAG was “founded in 1973 after the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the nation's largest family and ally organization. We support families, educate allies, and advocate for equality through our network of supporters, members, and chapters across the country.”
OpGov.News contacted the Chapter President of PFLAG Danville-San Ramon Valley Anuradha Gupta for comment, but as of the time this article was published, no further reply was received.
Photo Credit: Instagram
For those interested in learning more about PFLAG or attending the Flag Raising Ceremony, please visit their website at: https://www.srvpflag.org/
Or follow them on Instagram for more information.
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at kathleen.p@lead4earth.org or comment below.
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