🚨 LGBTQ+ Community Again Under Attack in Fresno County 🚨

Supervisor Garry Bredefeld has sponsored a dangerous effort to erase LGBTQ+ visibility and public health outreach—calling Pride participation “unacceptable”, demanding inclusive library book removal and demanding the removal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) from county services.

Now, he’s pushing a new policy to block any county department from distributing needed resources (such as health materials) —unless politicians approve it first. That vote is happening Tuesday, July 8 at 9:30 a.m.
📍 Hall of Records – 2281 Tulare Street, 3rd Floor, Fresno

This is more than just policy—it’s a direct attack on our community.

Write the Board

Read or Edit the Petition

Dear Members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors,

I am writing to strongly oppose the proposed policy that would require Board approval for county departments to participate in community events or observances, including Pride Month and related public health outreach. This policy is a clear step backward for our county. It would give political gatekeepers the power to suppress visibility, outreach, and education efforts that are essential to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ residents and other marginalized communities. As a Fresno County resident, I believe in a government that serves all its people, not one that picks and chooses whose identities are deemed acceptable for public support. Supervisor Bredefeld’s comments about safer sex materials being distributed at Pride are not only misinformed—they are dangerous. Condoms and lube are not political tools; they are proven public health resources that prevent the spread of HIV and other STDs. This outreach is particularly critical for the LGBTQ+ community, which continues to be disproportionately impacted by health disparities. Undermining that work jeopardizes lives and increases long-term costs for our healthcare system. Equally concerning is the effort to censor LGBTQ+ displays in libraries and other public spaces. Pride is not political ideology—it is visibility, inclusion, and representation. To silence these expressions while continuing to celebrate other cultural events sends a chilling message that LGBTQ+ people are not welcome or valued. The job of our public institutions is to serve, educate, and protect. This policy does none of those things. It opens the door to selective censorship, political micromanagement, and discrimination. I urge you to reject this policy and stand up for the health, dignity, and inclusion of all Fresno County residents. Sincerely,

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📣 Take action now, use the form above. Chooser “Read or Edit the Petition” and make it your own. Include your address, if you feel comfortable.

✅ Show up July 8. Pack the room. Be visible. Let them know we’re watching.

Don’t let silence become policy. Email. Call. Show up.
Use your voice to speak out against this LGBTQ+ targeted resolution.

1. Join us in attending the board meeting on July 8th at 9:30am at: Fresno County Hall of Records, 2281 Tulare Street, Room 301, Fresno, CA 93721 (arrive early and sit up front, to join the speakers line)

2. Contact the Supervisors. (use the form mailer above) OR even better, write your own, personal message, letting them know why you oppose this policy.

3. Get your friends, family, and community members involved. Share this page and encourage them to join our advocacy text alerts by texting “advocate” to 559-862-1040.

Talking Points

1. Creates Bureaucratic Red Tape

• Requires departments to seek Board approval for every small expenditure for public outreach—even when directly tied to their mission.
• Delays programs, burdens staff, and adds unnecessary paperwork.
• Creates barriers that get in the way of meeting deadlines and funding requirements.

2. Increases County Costs

• The County is facing serious budget challenges—yet this policy adds more workload for county staff and More staff time means more public money spent, without any added value.
• This would also increase the workload for the Board of Supervisors who might not find this to be the best use of their focus.

3. Overly Broad and Vague

• Vague terms like “non-County event” and “not related to County services” are subject to political or personal bias.
• What is considered a “public purpose”? Nearly everything county departments do is for the public.
• Could prevent staff from attending a conference or other public event that would help in providing county services, even if the department determines it to be beneficial or necessary if the supervisors think that they should not be involved.

4. Undermines Public Health and Outreach

• This policy directly threatens essential community health services such as:
  • Distributing condoms, vaccines, and health education materials
  • Attending large public events (e.g., Fresno Pride, Black Maternal Health events, or vaccine clinics)
  • The Department of social services doing outreach for Medi-cal, Calfresh, employment assistance, etc.
• These efforts are required by program mandates and improve public health outcomes.
• Every $1 spent on condoms saves $7 in healthcare and social service costs.

5. Disproportionately Harms Marginalized Communities

• LGBTQ+ youth, communities of color, and low-income residents rely on free health outreach from county agencies.
• Limiting department participation in community events limits access to lifesaving information and resources.

6. Politicizes Basic Government Function

• Public health and outreach are core government responsibilities—not “outside causes.”
• Using policy to block certain events (like Pride) is a misuse of power and creates dangerous precedent.
• Policies should be based on science, efficiency, and service delivery—not ideology.

7. Lack of Transparency

• Implementation details will be hidden in an internal “Management Directive” not available to the public.
• The Administrative directive won’t be public.

8. Negatively Affects Other Critical Departments

• The impact extends well beyond Public Health. Departments like Behavioral Health, Elections, Social Services and Libraries all rely on public outreach and event participation to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Behavioral Health provides mental health resources and education at public events—this policy adds barriers to that critical work.
• Elections staff often table at community events to increase voter registration and civic participation—this could now require formal Board approval for each engagement.
• Libraries engage the public through outreach at community fairs, literacy programs, and educational events. This policy creates administrative hurdles for those efforts too.
• These departments are fulfilling essential, nonpartisan services, and should not be burdened with unnecessary red tape or political gatekeeping.

Additional information from our friends at Central Valley Community Action.