A clout-hungry MAGA city council member in Californias Coachella Valley is using his position as Palm Deserts mayor pro tem to try and divide whats long been a close-knit community of desert cities over the issue of LGBTQ+ rights.Young Republican Joe Pradetto introduced a resolution last week to rewrite the citys Pride resolution to strip it of references to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to bar the city from hanging the Pride banner from City Hall under the guise of government neutrality. Related Ron DeSantis forced this city to remove Pride crosswalks. So it put up Pride bike racks instead. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The proposal rocked the community of cities around Palm Springs, a longtime bastion for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.Initially slated for review at the councils next meeting in January, the uproar prompted officials to call an emergency session yesterday to debate it.Asked about the urgency, a city spokesperson told the Desert Sun, Scheduling the meeting immediately is how we ensure that transparent consideration happens promptly, rather than leaving the matter unresolved.Longtime councilmember Jan Harnik was more blunt, calling the proposal destructive, and adding We had to act on it immediately.The meeting attracted hundreds from across the Coachella Valley. Nearly everyone who spoke in three and a half hours of public comment denounced Pradettos resolution, saying the proposed change would be harmful to both LGBTQ+ populations in the valley and to the economy of Palm Desert.For queer residents and tourists, this proposal implies youre not welcome in Palm Desert, said Jacob Frick, whos lived with his husband in Palm Desert for 11 years and grew up in a generation filled with homophobia.Even if this proposal doesnt pass today, significant damage has already been done, Frick said.You say Palm Desert is welcoming to everyone, but your actions suggest otherwise, Eugene Williams told Pradetto, after the mayor pro tem spent 15 minutes defending his resolution.The blowback wasnt limited to Democrats. Over the weekend, Republican California Assemblymember Greg Wallis said Pradettos call to ban the Pride banner was a slap in the face to LGBTQ+ residents.One speaker called that description right on the money. Read my statement below on the proposal to cancel Pride Month in Palm Desert. At a time when LGBTQ+ Americans face increasing attacks on their rights and dignity across the nation, our local leaders should stand for inclusion. pic.twitter.com/0YmPhNH3Gl Assemblymember Greg Wallis (@AsmWallis) December 13, 2025Pradettos losing opponent for his council seat, Kathleen Kelly, spoke about the importance of visibility for the community, and the banners place on City Hall during Pride month in November.What does it mean that some of your constituents have pushed back about Pride? he asked, rhetorically. Maybe it means that current policy is important and is working, because that pushback reveals how important it is to celebrate the occasion visibly as a prompt to learn about other peoples experience.A city staff member added to that argument. Stripping the Pride resolution of inclusive language sends a message that visibility itself is something to be withdrawn, said Bobby Keatinge.But Pradetto stood by his proposal, maintaining the citys current policy gets it wrong. The governments role should be as neutral referee, he said.When the government uses public facilities to elevate one group, even with the best of intentions, it creates an implicit priority, Pradetto claimed.The council disagreed, voting down his proposal 4-1. Pradetto was the lone vote in favor.Veteran local news anchor Fred Roggin interviewed Pradetto prior to the meeting, with the MAGA mayor pro tem trying to sell his neutrality argument to one of the gayest populations in the country.Read the room, Roggin said in the intro. A lesson in how media should hold elected officials responsible for bad positions based on fear, hate & creating an "other." @FredRoggin is on @NBCPalmSprings. He confronted the new Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem about stopping recognition of #PrideMonth.https://t.co/suqNYprSFN Tim Massie (@tcmassie) December 17, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.