A MAGA mayor just tried to ban LGBTQ+ Pride in Palm Desert. He failed spectacularly

MAGA Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem, Joe Pradetto, has suffered a humiliating defeat after trying to ban the hanging of pride banners in the city, LGBTQ Nation reports.

Pradetto first raised the proposal to halt the California city’s recognition of its LGBTQ+ Pride celebration at a meeting on 11 December. 

In response, the council called a special meeting to discuss the proposal to rescind the city’s 2024 resolution and discontinue the city’s practice of hanging banners for Greater Palm Springs Pride each November. 

Pradetto further requested to amend language in a 2018 city resolution related to diversity and inclusion.

However, during a vote held on Tuesday (16 December), the city council rejected Pradetto’s suggestions amid pushback from attendees who described the proposed changes as “harmful”.

The council instead advanced a motion to maintain its current policies, which passed by a 4-1 vote, with Pradetto opposed. 

‘Significant damage has already been done’

As per the Desert Sun, the city had received more than 60 written comments ahead of the meeting behind held. 

Many who spoke at the meeting expressed that they had felt welcome in Palm Desert as part of the LGBTQ+ community, up until Pradetto’s proposal. Attendees were asked to raise their hands in agreement with public comments. 

Jacob Frick, who had lived with his husband in the city for 11 years, said the proposal “implies you’re not welcome in Palm Desert”. 

He added: “Even if this proposal doesn’t pass today, significant damage has already been done.”

In a statement that received dozens of raised hands in agreements, Frick  called the proposal “a colossal waste of time and money”. 

Eugene Williams, a therapist focused on LGBTQ+ youth, linked the censoring of such celebratory signs to higher rates of mental health among LGBTQ+ youth. 

“You say Palm Desert is welcoming to everyone, but your actions suggest otherwise,” Williams said, as per the Desert Sun. 

Many who spoke also called on Pradetto to apologise for bringing forward the proposal, with one attendee even calling for him to resign. He has said he has no plans to resign.  

Pradetto said he has since learned how scared and unsafe LGBTQ+ residents feel. Despite this, he said he continued to stand by his proposal. 

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