Small California town takes back it’s gay pride proclamation

The city council of Porterville, California, voted to rescind a gay pride proclamation which led to a protest ending with three arrests:

Police quickly detained three gay rights activists who, holding up signs, protested in Porterville’s City Council Chambers after the council voted 3-2 to take back a gay pride proclamation made by the mayor in June.

“What Porterville folks in city hall both staff and city council need to learn is city hall is not a church,” said Barry Caplan with Gay Porterville.

City Councilmember Pete McCracken voted down taking back the proclamation because in the city’s history. The mayor has always had a right to issue a proclamation without the council’s approval.

Three other councilmembers disagreed, voting to rescind the proclamation and instead issue a more broad resolution that did not specify the gay community. The outbursts by both sides even sent the mayor out of the room in tears.