No Chula Vista City Proclamation for South Bay Pride

Mayor Cheryl Cox declined South Bay Alliance’s request to make a city proclamation for South Bay Pride and declaring August 24, 2008 Chula Vista’s Pride day. She also declined to provide a letter of support. Mayor Cox explained that she has limited the number of City Proclamations and Letters of Support for events to those more directly related to Chula Vista city governance such as Arbor Day, Relay for Life, etc. Her intent is not to make proclamations that could be seen as taking sides on contested issues beyond the city's purview which could then impact her ability to serve the interests of the city of Chula Vista as a whole. While she will not issue a proclamation or letter of support, Mayor Cox stated she believes that the “values of inclusion and acceptance bind us together [and] this event, like the Lemon Festival, Cinco de Mayo celebration, Bonitafest, and the Starlight Parade creates a sense of community.”
As with many of the local and national politicians, Mayor Cox hopes to avoid the mire in the divisive fray over California’s Proposition 8 Amendment that would eliminate the recently recognized right of the LGBT community to marry their same-sex partners by the California Supreme Court. Mayor Cox stated she is staying officially neutral on this issue. Dae Elliott (President of South Bay Alliance) commented “We would have preferred a city proclamation from the Mayor affirming the many contributions of LGBT community to the city of Chula Vista, but barring that, Mayor Cox’s careful statements of friendly neutrality are certainly welcomed over the alternative.” Elliott later commented, “We hope that the visible support of the LGBT community, their friends and families at South Bay Pride will help make the struggle for equal treatment and respect of the LGBT community and their families as much an uncontested issue as the Relay for Life. It would be great if South Bay Pride was merely another community event, but Prop 8 confirms that there are people fighting to keep the LGBT community from having the equal right to civil marriage, much less social parity.”
South Bay Alliance (SBA) did receive a letter of support from Councilman Rudy Ramirez who wished SBA and the LGBT community “success in supporting, encouraging, and celebrating diversity, freedom, and equality.”
South Bay Pride is being held on August 24, 2008 from 1-5 p.m. in Chula Vista’s Memorial Park (between 3rd and 4th Avenue adjacent to historic downtown Chula Vista). This year’s South Bay Pride will be emceed by Nicole Murray-Ramirez, long time LGBT community activist and includes entertainment by the Latin Rhythm Creations, Roxy Blue and Band, Rhythm and the Method, and dance by the Alondras Dancers. South Bay Pride will also be honoring four LGBT couples whose love and commitment to each other and their community is commendable. South Bay Pride is a family friendly event with entertainment for the kids, food, vendors/exhibitors and great fun. Show your pride and support for the South Bay LGBT community. For more information, visit www.SouthBayAlliance.net.