The Palm Desert City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to consider a request from Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto that would roll back the city’s formal recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month and revisit its broader diversity policy, following widespread public backlash to the proposal.
The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at City Hall and will include a single action item: whether to rescind Resolution 2024-038, which established the city’s Pride Month commemorations, and whether to discuss potential amendments to Resolution 2018-09, the city’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
City officials said the special meeting was called in response to heightened public interest after Pradetto raised the request during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 11.
“Acknowledging the public interest surrounding this request, the City Council is convening this special meeting to ensure the item is considered transparently and in full view of the community,” the city said in a notice announcing the meeting Monday afternoon.
As previously reported, Pradetto asked city staff to bring forward the two related items after arguing that the city should maintain what he described as “government neutrality,” relying on its existing diversity policy rather than symbolic recognition tied to specific groups.
Resolution 2024-038, adopted in June 2024, formalized how Palm Desert recognizes LGBTQ Pride Month, including issuing an annual proclamation, participating in local Pride events, promoting Pride through city communications, and displaying a commemorative banner at City Hall during local Pride celebrations. Rescinding the resolution would undo those practices as official city policy.
The second item involves Resolution 2018-09, adopted six years earlier, which affirms the city’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination, including protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Pradetto has said that resolution already reflects the city’s support for LGBTQ residents and that additional recognitions are unnecessary. Critics, including LGBTQ advocates and state Assemblymember Greg Wallis, have argued that rescinding the Pride resolution would represent a step backward and send a harmful message to the community
Public participation is expected to be high. Residents may attend in person at City Hall or participate remotely via the city’s livestream and public comment portal. City officials confirmed that remote access has been expanded in anticipation of heavy turnout.
No recommendation has yet been released on whether staff supports rescinding or amending either resolution. Any action taken Tuesday would require a majority vote of the City Council.