GUEST OPINION
San Gabriel City Council Meeting, Feb. 20, 2024 (Photo – Video screengrab)
Council member Denise Menchaca called for the termination of the city’s Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR) Commission after she was criticized for her lack of support for a LGBTQ+ public safety and inclusion program, “All Are Welcome”.
By Chasity Jennings-Nuñez
At the March 5th San Gabriel City Council meeting, Council member Denise Menchaca left many reeling when she called for the termination of the HEAR Commission. Many see this call for termination as a response to pointed criticism of the City Council in general, and Menchaca in particular, over the Commission’s recommendations to approve a LGBTQ+ inclusion program.
On February 20, the “All Are Welcome” program, previously approved as part of the 2023 Commission workplan, was presented by San Gabriel city staff. The program was developed by the HEAR Commission as “a safe zone/space campaign geared toward identifying offices, business, and public areas as safe spaces for minority populations, specifically the LGBQT+ population.” The presentation was met with disapproval by the Council, which returned it to the Commission with the direction to make the program “more inclusive” and not focus solely on the LGBTQ+ community.
At the February 27 HEAR Commission meeting, Menchaca was singled out by many of the HEAR Commissioners for misrepresenting the program, invoking her Catholic religion in her arguments against the program and broadly discounting the program as not necessary.
In October 2023, Menchaca (who frequently states she is the founder of the HEAR Commission), recommended to the City Council that the HEAR Commission be provided with a budget of $10,000 to support the 3rd annual Mental Wellness Expo developed and executed by the Commission. In January, the City Council held interviews for new Commissioners, praising the commission for its work and approving the 2024 work plan that included the All Are Welcome program. Menchaca’s March 5th call to place the termination of the HEAR Commission on a future City Council agenda came without any prior indication from City Council members, the City manager or City staff.
Menchaca’s request for an agenda item required two additional City Council members to agree. Republican Mayor John Harrington and Councilmember Eric Chan added their support, with Harrington responding, “I never voted for it anyway.”
At the March 19 City Council meeting, members of the public have vowed to express their outrage at the action by Menchaca, Harrington and Chan to place termination of the HEAR Commission on the Agenda and their support for the Commission.
Dr. Chasity Jennings-Nuñez is a San Gabriel resident, Harvard trained, Board-certified Ob/Gyn in Los Angeles and HEAR Commissioner.
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