Los Gatos council directs staff to draft commemorative flag policy and return with Pride-flag resolution for June 2026

Los Gatos’ Town Council voted 4–1 on Dec. 16 to direct staff to prepare a commemorative-flag policy and return with a resolution authorizing the Progress Pride flag to be raised in June 2026.

Town Manager Chris Constantine told the council that staff had researched approaches used elsewhere and laid out five options ranging from a strict “government flags only” rule to a council-authorized commemorative program. Constantine said the town’s current policy is limited and staff sought direction about whether to expand it, noting case law and the U.S. flag code and California regulations that guide display order and content limits.

The measure followed a marathon public-comment period in which dozens of residents spoke for and against raising a Pride flag. Supporters — including many high-school students and nonprofit leaders — said a public flag would signal safety and visibility for LGBTQ+ youth who face elevated risks of harassment and self-harm. "Raising the flag tells them you are seen, you are heard, you are valued," said John Shepard, a longtime advocate, citing national and local data about violence against LGBTQ+ youth. Several speakers, including mental-health and education professionals, said visible government affirmations have measurable protective effects for vulnerable teens.

Opponents argued that municipal flag poles should remain reserved for official government symbols and warned of legal risk or a slippery slope of competing requests. "If you open the door to one commemorative flag, you will have many," said Dr. Franklin, who cited recent court rulings about forum analysis. Several speakers framed the debate in religious and philosophical terms and asked that the council avoid endorsing any private viewpoint.

Council members debated legal risk, process design and fairness. Vice Mayor Risto, who moved the staff-direction motion, said staff can prepare a government-speech policy and still preserve council discretion. Council members asked staff to research how neighboring cities have implemented similar policies and to present options for whether a simple majority or a supermajority should be required for future commemorative-flag approvals.

The council’s direction: staff will draft a commemorative-flag policy that treats town flagpoles as government speech, prepare a resolution authorizing the Progress Pride flag for June 2026, and return with comparables and a recommendation on council thresholds; councilors asked staff to aim to return by April so a June raising remains feasible.

What’s next: staff will compare local policies, prepare proposed ordinance or policy language, and present a Pride-flag resolution for council vote. The council did not adopt a final policy or raise a flag at the Dec. 16 meeting.

Sources: Town staff presentation and council discussion; public-record comments at the Dec. 16 council meeting.