THE RAINBOW flag (Wikipedia).

A proposal to begin flying the “rainbow” flag of the LGBTQ community on city property during the “Pride Month” of June was voted down at Wednesday’s meeting of the Westminster City Council.

The vote was 3-1 against with Councilmember Tao Do abstaining. The only vote in favor was from Councilmember Carlos Manzo, who made the proposal. Opposed were Mayor Tri Ta, Vice Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen and Councilmember Kimberly Ho.

“It’s long overdue,” said Manzo. “We have a lot of need for unity in the city. “It’s a powerful statement … there is no place for discrimination in Westminster.”

Ho said she supported the LGBTQ community but, “We have to think of the city as a whole.” She added, “We cannot fly a flag for every group. If we approve this, we’ll have to approve other flags.”

If the proposal had been approved, it would have taken effect in 2022.

Three other West Orange County cities – Garden Grove, Stanton and Huntington Beach – have approved the display of the flag on city property.