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From YouTube: Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony 2023
Description
In honor of Pride Month, the City of Cupertino hosted a flag raising ceremony on Thursday, June 1 at the Civic Center Plaza. The rainbow flag will remain up for the entire month of June.
A
A
A
A
A
Let
us
take
this
moment
an
opportunity
to
rededicate
ourselves
to
this
ongoing
struggle
of
equity
and
justice
together.
Let
us
build
a
future
where
the
rainbow
flag
is
not
just
a
symbol
of
Pride,
but
a
testament
to
that.
The
strength
of
our
unity
and
our
shared
commitment
to
creating
a
better
and
more
inclusive
world
for
all
of
us.
A
I
like
to
present
the
proclamation
to
the
Santa
Clara
County
Office
of
lgbtq
Affairs,
the
lgbtq
Affairs
of
Santa
Clara
county
is
committed
to
creating
strong
Bridges
throughout
the
country.
Gold.
Their
goal
is
to
affirm
and
embrace
every
person,
especially
our
LGBT
code,
plus
friends
and
Families,
into
the
Santa
Clara
County,
and
was
we
are
the
first
in
the
U.S
to
have
a
government
office
such
as
this
I'd
like
to
welcome
Santa
Clara,
County,
Office,
lgbtq,
Affairs,
Sarah
Fernando,
come
up
to
speak,
welcome,
Sarah.
B
Thank
you
mayor
way,
thank
you,
council
members
and
thank
you
city
of
Cupertino.
What
a
lovely
day
to
celebrate.
Pride
like
this
is
just
so
beautiful
and
just
to
see
all
y'all
out
to
celebrate
Pride
the
office
of
lgbtq,
Affairs,
Embraces,
the
spirit
of
Pride
and
the
rich
diversity
that
has
brought
Pride
again
again
for
the
past
54
years.
B
B
These
are
very
much
the
Pioneers
that
I
hold
true
when
we
fight
for
diversity,
Equity,
equity
and
inclusion
for
all
when
it
comes
to
Pride
and
what
I
think
of
Pride.
Not
only
do
we
celebrate
pride
pride
is
a
great
way
to
come
through
as
Community
to
meet
every
one
of
y'all
to
be
able
to
celebrate
the
richness,
the
diversity,
the
overall
joy
that
lgbtq
folks
face
and
feel.
We
also
want
to
acknowledge
the
anti-trans
anti-lgbtq.
B
The
office
of
lgbtq
Affairs
exist
to
be
able
to
bring
light
to
these
disparities
and
make
sure
that
we
uplift
the
most
marginalized
in
our
community
as
we
celebrate
Pride
I
invite
each
and
every
one
of
you
to
not
only
celebrate
with
the
lgbtq
community,
but
also
take
the
time
out
to
take
part
in
educational
activities.
We
have
an
amazing
group
of
community
community
service
providers
right
over
here
with
Bill
Wilson
Center,
the
Q
corner
and
lgbtq
wellness.
We
also
have
Cupertino
Library.
B
These
are
opportunities
to
be
able
to
get
resources
to
get
swag
because
I
saw
their
swag.
This
is
like
a
lot
of
great
swag
that
they
have,
but
also
opportunities
get
in
touch
with
the
community.
This
year's
Pride.
Let's
make
sure
that
when
we
celebrate,
we
uplift
the
most
marginalized,
we
connect
with
each
other
and
we
make
sure
that
we
bring
diversity,
Equity
inclusion
and
we
commit
to
what
the
flag
stands
for.
Thank
you
so
much.
C
C
The
lgbtq
community
is
such
an
integral
part
of
our
community
and
it's
a
vital
part
and,
and
today's
event
celebrates
many
of
the
contributions
of
individuals
and
groups
that
have
literally
changed
the
world
for
the
better
So
yeah.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
be
part
of
this
event
and
I
now
have
the
pleasure
of
introducing
a
representative
from
Senator
Dave
Cortez's
office.
Senator,
Dave,
Cortez
himself
couldn't
be
here,
but
his
District
representative
Roy
tongue
will
speak.
Welcome.
E
D
As
as
an
openly
queer
Pacifica
indigenous
individual
myself,
it's
important
representation
matters.
You
know,
regardless
of
who
we
are
in
our
identities.
We
we
deserve
respect.
We
deserve
to
feel
protected,
we
deserve,
we
deserve
to
feel
secure
and
we
deserve
all
of
that,
regardless
of
who
we
are
and
what
we
identify
as
and
so
really
appreciate.
The
invitation
today
and,
of
course,
I
want
to
present
this
Proclamation.
D
Yes,
so
the
city
of
Cupertino,
in
honor
of
the
Annual
Pride
flag,
raising
ceremony
celebrating
pride
month,
diversity
and
lgbtq,
plus
history
in
the
city
of
Cupertino.
Thank
you
for
your
commitment
to
ensuring
equity
and
inclusion
for
all
in
support
of
the
lgbtq
plus
Community.
We
recognize
your
service
to
our
community,
which
we
are
profoundly
grateful
for.
Thank.
A
A
F
Dan
wasn't
sure
what
to
study
in
college,
so
he
enlisted
in
the
Army
in
1981
instead
and
returned
from
his
first
tour
in
Germany,
highly
motivated
to
attend
the
country's
oldest
military
college
and
become
an
army
officer.
Dan
had
truly
found
his
calling
in
the
Army
and
became
one
of
the
elite.
Special
forces
also
called
Green
Berets.
F
One
problem,
though
he
was
gay
and
gays
have
been
banned
from
the
service,
so
he
remained
closeted
paying
the
price
of
Silence
to
keep
the
job.
He
was
called
to
Dan
served
much
of
his
decorated
military
career
from
1981
to
2007
overseas
and
would
vanish
for
months.
At
a
time
on
missions,
President
Clinton
was
elected
in
1992
on
the
promise
to
allow
citizens
to
serve
regardless
of
sexual
orientation.
Unfortunately,
don't
ask
don't
tell
or
dadt
was
enacted
in
1993,
which
could
result
in
investigations
into
evidence
of
homosexual,
behavior
and
Punishment
by
way
of
discharge.
F
It's
ironic,
the
motto
of
the
U.S
army,
Special
Forces,
my
brother
served
is
deo
preso,
Lieber
or
Freer
of
the
oppressed
during
Dan's
entire
military
career.
He
worked
to
liberate
the
oppressed
across
the
globe
while
serving
in
an
organization
that
could
legally
oppress
him
during
the
dad
time.
Dadt
time
over
14
000
U.S
service
members
were
discharged
less
than
honorably,
which
removed
their
ability
to
receive
veterans
benefits
like
Medical,
Care,
disability
benefits
or
separation
pay.
F
F
Dan
did
get
better
through
the
va's
care
and
he
is
back
at
work
for
the
federal
government
and
with
changed
law
was
legally
married
in
20,
legally
married
to
his
partner
of
21
years
I'm
grateful
for
the
sacrifices
he
made
in
defense
of
our
society
and
values,
which
our
are
our
sacred
protections.
Even
while
he
was
not
treated
with
the
same
protections.
F
Dan's
story
is
a
thing
of
the
past
to
reflect
on
where
we
have
been,
and
we
have
the
brave
activists
and
the
supporters
of
the
lgbtq
plus
Community
to
thank
for
ensuring
that
we
are
all
free
from
persecution
and
share
in
our
interconnected
rights
which
I
pledge
to
support.
Thank
you
all
for
letting
me
share
this
bit
of
History.
G
Thank
you
kitty
and
please
convey
thanks
to
your
brother
for
his
service
and
and
all
he's
done.
That's
a
great
reminder
of
the
the
challenges
that
we
Face
going
forward
on
behalf
of
Congressman
rocana
I
want
to
thank
you
for
being
here
today.
I
can
assure
you
that,
on
a
national
level,
he
is
on
the
Forefront
of
the
fight
for
lgbtq
plus
rights.
G
As
we
all
know,
nationally,
these
these
battles
are
becoming
even
more
and
more
pitched,
and
therefore
we
all
need
to
be
cognizant
of
that
and
think
about
what
we
can
do
to
fight
Across
the
Nation
here
locally.
Perhaps
sometimes,
we
think
we
live
in
a
bubble,
but
we
certainly
have
homophobic,
bigots
living
among
us,
and
we
all
know
that
we
are
today
here
to
stand
in
unity.
G
Those
of
us
who
are
allies
standing
in
unity
to
recognize
those
in
the
lgbtq
community
for
for
being
an
outstanding
part
of
our
community
that
we're
very
proud
of
you.
Thank
you
for
being
an
inexorable
part
of
our
community
and
thank
you
for
the
city
of
Cupertino
for
for
standing
with
us.
Thank
you.
G
H
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity.
I
wasn't
sure
if
I
could
be
here,
because
I'm
usually
at
work
on
Thursdays,
but
today
on
I.
My
schedule
was
clear.
So
I
only
notified
the
city
staff
this
morning
that
I
will
be
able
to
attend,
and
I
am
glad
that
I
did
not
miss
this
ceremony.
I
Cupertino
started
this
back
in
2019
and
I
think
I
have
attended
every
year.
H
H
Everyone
is
proud,
proud
of
your
achievement
and
we
still
have
a
long
way
to
go,
but
we
are
proud
of
how
you
have
come
here
and
how
you
have
achieved
here
and
then
I
think
the
city
we
we
are
all
supportive
of
you
and
I
understand
that
there
are
still
some
discrimination
in
our
city,
some
because
the
ignorance,
because
there
were
stereotypes,
we
still
need
to
work
on-
have
work
to
do.
But
events
like
this
make
it
possible
I
wish
that
we
can
could
have
involved
more
people
in
this
annual
event.
Thank
you.
I
I
As
council
member
Chow
noted
today
is
the
fourth
such
event
that
has
been
hosted
in
Cupertino,
but
it
wasn't
all
that
long
ago
that
symbols
of
inclusion
like
this
one
were
Unthinkable.
Even
here,
I,
remember
growing
up
in
this
community
and
hearing
any
number
of
disparaging
remarks
about
the
lgbtq
community.
I
I,
remember
them
in
particular,
as
the
awkward
gay
skinny
kid
in
class
being
directed
at
me
and
I.
Also
remember
watching
on
television
as
a
kid.
The
angry
debates
over
the
Defense
of
Marriage
Act
in
Congress
I,
remember
the
acrimonious
campaign
over
Proposition
8
and
the
horror
of
watching
the
public
through
a
popular
vote,
take
away
the
rights
of
my
community
to
marry
the
person
of
their
choice
and
I.
I
Remember,
feeling
unsafe
walking
around
the
neighborhood
holding
my
boyfriend's
hand
in
a
few
short
years
that
has
all
changed
from
the
Perry
decision:
restoring
same-sex
marriage
in
California
to
obergefell,
which
established
it
as
a
protected
right
for
all.
We
have
moved
very
far
from
2008
to
2015.,
even
here
in
Cupertino,
we
were
able
to
raise
the
pride
flag
for
the
first
time
here
in
2019
because
of
The
Bravery
of
our
then
city
manager,
Deb
Fung,
who
responded
directly
to
Residents,
who
demanded
a
day
like
today
and
though
it
may
feel
like.
I
So
for
that
reason,
I
am
very
proud
not
only
that
we
raise
this
flag
today,
but
the
Cupertino
unanimously
passed
a
resolution
in
support
of
assembly
member
Evan
Lowe's
constitutional
amendment,
five,
which
would
reverse
proposition
8.,
and
for
that
I
would
like
to
introduce
to
you
a
representative
from
assembly
member
Evan,
Lowe's
office,
Lucy,
coo
Lucy.
Where
are
you.
J
Good
afternoon,
everyone
thank
you,
councilmember
freon,
for
the
introduction
and
to
the
city
of
Cupertino
for
the
invitation
on
behalf
of
assembly
member
Evan
Lowe,
who
was
also
the
former
chair
of
the
California
legislative
lgbtq,
plus
caucus
I'd
like
to
present
this
Commendation
to
the
city
of
Cupertino.
In
commemoration
of
your
pride
flag,
raising
ceremony.
A
A
So
we've
heard
personal
stories
and
we
heard
from
testimonials
from
our
council
members
now
I
would
like
to
I
think
we
have
another
public
office
that
we
could
introduce.
Let's
see
we'd
like
to
introduce
staff
representative
from
Santa
Clara
County,
Supervisor,
Joe,
Smith's
office.
Joe
could
not
be
here
today,
but
Julie
is
here.
Welcome,
Julie.
A
As
we
are
about
to
raise
the
flag,
I
want
to
say
one
more
thing
is
our
community
is
full
of
love.
The
love
conquers,
everything
as
I
said.
We
heard
personal
stories.
I
want
to
share
just
one
more
personal
story:
I
have
a
friend
who
is
very
conservative
and
she
would
never
even
allowed
pre-marriage
sex.
A
But
when
her
daughters
came
to
her
in
college-
and
it
says
they
try
to
be
what
she
wanted
them
to
be,
you
know
she
turned
become
a
supportive
of
lgbtq
plus
Community
because
of
her
love
for
her
children.
So
we
are
here
in
unity.
We
are
together.
We
are
stronger
today
as
we
raise
the
pride
flag
again,
we
are
saying
we
salute
We
Stand
by
our
lgbtq
communities
this
month
and
every
month
and
every
year.
So
let's
raise
the
flag.
A
K
E
A
Before
closing
I'd
like
to
introduce
the
organizations
here,
their
efforts
and
their
unwavering
support
and
their
what
they
do
is
what
we
have
today
and
we
have
more
work
to
do
so.
I'd
like
to
introduce
and
acknowledge
first
cupatino
Library.
We
have
resembly
here
rave
and
we
have
the
Q
Corner
program
for
County
of
Santa
Clara
Behavioral
Science
services.
Please
wave,
we
have
the
Bill
Wilson
Center
right
there
do.
We
have
the
lgbtq
youth
space.
Are
you
here.
A
A
E
You
know
just
going
across
the
show
for
a
few
moments
but
hello
good
afternoon
good
afternoon.
Everyone,
my
name,
is
shin
Pei
Liu
I,
go
by
any
pronouns
I'm
proud
to
be
here
as
a
gender
non-conforming
bi
person,
and
today
I
come
here
to
Annual
Pride
flag,
raising
ceremony
on
behalf
of
Cupertino
High,
School's,
GSA
or
gender
sexuality.
Alliance.
E
Unfortunately,
I
cannot
talk
here
today
as
a
queer
youth,
without
mentioning
the
increasing
amount
of
laws
and
hate
a
crazy
across
the
country
targeting
inflicting
incredible
harm.
Query
youth
on
queer
youth,
especially
trans
youth,
the
celebration
event
and
other
Pride
events
here
does
not
mean
that
we
can
allow
complacency
and
apathy
regarding
lgtbq
plus
rights
and
lgtbq
plus
rights.
E
Suppressing
our
identity,
the
discussion
of
and
taking
away
our
dignity
with,
for
which
we
have
suffered
massively
and
needlessly
from
as
queer
rights
are
being
attacked
in
eroded
way.
Jason's,
which
play
an
important
role
for
students,
are
in
data
being
made
illegal
and
shut
down,
taking
away
a
vital,
safe
space.
This
is
why
we
cannot
stop
now,
not
today,
not
tomorrow,
not
the
day
after
that,
nine
to
the
Future,
not
ever
on
pathway,
lgtbq
plus
rise.
E
We
need
to
run
support
to
fight
back
this
tide
of
hate
and
suppression
of
right
of
our
right
to
exist
and
express
that
very
core
identity.
This
event
today
is
important,
informing
our
presence
and
showing
that
we
have
all
existed
and
always
will
continue
to
exist
wherever
people
exist
to
celebrate,
lgtbq,
plus
people's
hard
work
and
accomplishment.
From
how
far
we
have
come
to
celebrate
queer
joy,
to
show
that
being
lgtbq
plus
is
identity
that
should
be
carried
with
pride,
compassion
and
with
love.
Thank
you.
Everyone.
E
A
In
closing,
I
think
everyone
can
see.
Cupertino
is
and
will
always
be
a
safe,
warm
place
for
everyone,
and
right
now,
I
want
to
invite
everyone
to
come
back
to
a
group
picture.
Everybody,
including
Bill
Wilson
and
the
library
or
our
photographer,
is
going
to
be
there.
Take
a
group
picture
come
on
up.