Cathedral City resident urges council to act on anti-LGBTQ harassment, says safety at risk

Alan Carvallo, a Cathedral City resident, told the City Council during the Feb. 12 study session that members of the LGBTQ community have faced months of harassment from a person using a bullhorn and urged the council to increase its public presence and action.

Carvallo thanked the police chief and city staff for a recent event he described as important and said that after months of complaints the “bullhorn bully” issue was addressed only after media attention. He criticized council members’ absence from a recent rally in front of City Hall and said elected officials must be visibly present for the community. "Our safety's at risk," Carvallo said during his remarks.

Carvallo also told the council he believed political developments outside the city would worsen local conditions and said he expected "a bigger crowd at 05:30." He stated there have been "a couple of deaths in Cathedral City" and linked the risk to targeted harassment of gay men; his remarks did not provide independent confirmation of those deaths. He asked council members, particularly those he identified as part of or allied with the LGBTQ community, to be more active and present.

The mayor thanked Carvallo for his comments. No formal council action or staff directive was recorded in response during the public-comment segment.

Public comment is limited to matters within the council’s jurisdiction that are not on the agenda; staff advised that the council may briefly respond or request the matter be placed on a future agenda.