Oceanside’s resolution to fly the rainbow flag in June for Pride Month did an about-face Wednesday, when the council member who cast the deciding vote changed his mind.
Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa said the past two weeks have been very difficult for him because of conversations about the City Council’s 3-2 decision, with Council Rick Robinson and Peter Wiess opposed, to display the banner at the Civic Center. As a result, he reconsidered his .
“As a man of faith, I’m embarrassed by the people who come to the council and use scripture to speak on behalf of hate,” Figueroa said in brief remarks. “It’s been hurtful. My whole thing in running for office has been unity. I have been wrestling with this.”
Figueroa said the pressure he felt after the May 7 vote was like nothing he had experienced before and that to him the issue seemed more divisive than ever.
The resolution was back on the council’s agenda Wednesday as part of the consent calendar for what is usually a routine second and final vote.
Normally, a dozen or more items on the consent calendar are approved on a single motion without discussion. Not this time, when the council pulled the flag item for comments and a separate vote.
The resolution failed 2-3 Wednesday with Robinson, Weiss and Figueroa opposed. Weiss and Robinson said it’s unfair to fly just one commemorative flag and not others, and that the federal, state and city flags should suffice.
“If we are going to fly one (other) flag, we have to fly them all,” Weiss said.
More than 20 people in the audience addressed the five elected , speaking emotionally for or against the proposal. Many were the same ones who spoke two weeks ago.
An anonymous flier circulated before Wednesday’s meeting accused the Oceanside City Council of “promoting, glorifying and ing child rape” and condoning pedophilia by flying the flag, echoing comments heard at the earlier meeting.
Rosie Higuera, who ran unsuccessfully for the Oceanside Unified School District board in 2024, said the LGBTQ movement harms school children.
“Jimmy … you are held able to God for your actions,” Higuera said.
Others praised the council for ing the flag and said it is the one banner that symbolizes true unity and represents all people, whatever their race, religion or gender.
Councilmember Eric Joyce and Mayor Esther Sanchez proposed the resolution. Joyce said Wednesday it’s dangerous for people to fight the issue by making baseless allegations about pedophilia.
“No one can feel secure when they accuse you of the most despicable things,” Joyce said, adding that’s why it’s more important than ever to display the flag as a symbol of love and safety.
As before with the issue, the discussions became heated. At one point the mayor declared a five-minute recess when a woman refused to stop shouting.
In 2023, Council Robinson and Weiss proposed a policy to allow only the city, state and national flags and the POW/MIA flag on city properties. At the time, the council included Ryan Keim from the District 3 now represented by Figueroa. After three votes on various versions of the policy, it failed to get a majority in .
The Oceanside Unified School District has displayed the rainbow flag for Pride Month each June since 2021 outside its headquarters on Mission Avenue.
Encinitas became the first city in San Diego County to display the LGBTQ flag for Pride Month in June 2019. The city of San Diego has been hoisting the banner since June 2021.
Carlsbad, Vista and other local agencies also have approved the display of the flag during Pride Month.
