Fresno City College held Pride Flag Raising ceremony June 4 2021

Jun 7, 2021 —

Fresno City College held a Pride Flag Raising ceremony June 4, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at the flag pole in front of Building A, off of the Maroa and McKinley Avenue entrance. At the State Center Community College Board of Trustees meeting held on Tuesday, June 1, Resolution 2021.23 was passed unanimously and formally recognizes that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) people come from all walks of life including race, ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, economic status, physical or mental ability, medical condition, sex, or gender identity or expression.

June was declared “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” by President Bill Clinton, on June 2, 2000, with President Barack Obama expanding the commemoration by declaring June as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month” in 2011. “It will be my honor and privilege to share this moment with the college and the community,” said Dr. Carole Goldsmith, college president.

“Our students and community members deserve a safe, inclusive and caring school environment. All of these are hallmarks of Fresno City College. This resolution would not have happened if it were not for the work of individuals like communication arts instructor Jerry Thurston, who started the FCC Safe Space Ally Program more than a decade ago; engineering instructor, Dr. Liz Adams, who is the current Safe Space Ally Program Coordinator; Dr. Ray Ramirez, Director, Student Equity & Success; Cyndie Luna, Dean of the Fine, Performing & Communication Arts Division; and to the countless faculty, staff and administrators who work to make our community and college a better place for everyone,” said Goldsmith.

Featured program guests and speakers included:

Dr. Carole Goldsmith, FCC President
Annalisa Perea, SCCCD Board President
Pastor Raygan Baker, Big Red Church ( First Congregational Church of Fresno, United Church of Christ)
Arien Reed, FCC President of the Allied Staff & Faculty Association
Jewel Hurtado, FCC student and Kingsburg Council Member
Jeff Robinson, Fresno Rainbow Pride CEO and Co-chair
Keith Ford, President of State Center Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1533