The Pride Flag was first flown at Sonoma Valley High in 2019, hoisted, as an outcome of student advocacy, at a ceremony which students heralded as marking a new inclusivity at their school. It has been proudly flying below the Stars and Stripes on the flagpole in front of the school on Broadway until January 16 of this year, when it was unceremoniously, with no public discussion or notice, removed. The effect on many in the student community was dramatic and devastating.
Letters to the editor protesting this shocking unilateral action were written by students and the Sonoma community that day, and published online by the Sun. These letters revealed the upset, fear and misgivings felt by students, occasioned by this peremptory removal. There was speculation as to who had authorized the action.
A prime target was David Bell, President of the Sonoma Valley Unified School Board of Trustees. On January 19, in a letter of apology to the whole Sonoma community, Trustee Bell acknowledged responsibility for the decision, and apologized. His letter contained, however, mitigating language. He expressed the wish for a new flag policy where the Pride flag would be just one of various flags to be flown, such as FFA (Future Farmers of America) flag, the Mexican flag “on Cinco de Mayo,”, a flag to celebrate the unbeaten football team. He outlined a plan to have the Board address this to formulate a flag policy. The inclusion of the Pride flag with all these others eclipses its significance…