HONOR PAC is calling for the removal of Downey Councilmember Claudia Frometa as President of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials or NALEO because of her recent vote to ban the gay Pride Flag from flying on city owned or operated property. Ms. Frometa was elected president of NALEO during the group’s recent national conference on June 21, 2024.
It isn’t known whether or not the board of directors of NALEO, which represents more than 6,800 Latino elected and appointed officials was aware of Frometa’s recent vote on the Pride flag before the election. NALEO was previously led by openly gay California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in 2020, so the organization has clearly demonstrated support of our community in the past.
None the less, HONOR PAC, the prominent LGBTQ group that supports Latino candidates, expressed “deep disappointment” in the election of Ms. Frometa and posted the following statement to Instagram:
“The 2024 NALEO Conference concluded with a clarion call about the importance and power of diversity, equity and inclusion. Ironically, it also just elected @claudiafrometafordowney, who recently voted to never again allow the city of Downey, (Calif.) to fly the Pride flag, as its newest president,” Mario Ceballos, President of HONORPAC in a written statement.
“NALEO is an important national leader committed to creating visibility, protecting, and defending justice and equality for all.”
“Many of us at HONOR PAC are naturalized citizens because of NALEO. Our community is better because of NALEO: For these reasons, HONOR PAC is deeply disappointed with the appointment of @claudiafrometofordowney to this important national role.”
Continuing the HONOR PAC statement, “The Pride flag, is a symbol of pride, inclusion, safety, and hope. Ms. Frometa’s vote on a motion disguised as a ‘neutral flag’ policy was nothing more than an attempt to silence and ignore the voices and lives of all LGBTQ+ Downey residents and those who love them.”
As Adelante Magazine has reported, in May 2024 the Downey City Council voted in favor (a 3-2 vote) of restricting flag flying on city property to only the U.S., California and prisoners-of-war flags. The decision reversed a 2021 policy that allowed the Pride flag to be displayed throughout June.
Mayor Mario Trujillo maintains the vote was part of an organized political attack on the LGBTQ community, lobbied for by MassResistance, an anti-LGBTQ group classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. MassResistance has allegedly played a role in opposing and, in some cases reversing LGBTQ supportive programs policies in schools across the nation.
Ms. Frometa denied anti-LGBTQ sentiment motivated her vote. At a June 11 Downey council meeting, Frometa stated “For any individual to say we are anti-LGBTQ community is incorrect,” citing continued funding for the city’s Pride festival. To be sure, the City of Downey has committed $25,000 in funding for the festival by vote of the council.
HONOR PAC’s statement denouncing Frometa’s elevation to the presidency of NALEO concluded with a forceful denouncement which it hopes resonates with the membership of NALEO: “Shame on you @claudiafrometafordowney for not upholding full and equal rights for all so each can pursue his/her/their happiness…”
According to reporting in the Los Angeles Blade, as its new president, Ms. Frometa will lead efforts in leadership development, policy research and advocacy for Latino issues. Some LGBTQ advocates worry Frometa’s election could indicate gains by anti-LGBTQ groups within Latino political leadership.
“Attending my first NALEO conference, it was disappointing to learn that the organization’s leadership selected an individual to lead the board after she publicly voted to ban a flag that symbolizes hope for our LGBTQ youth and families in a predominantly Latine/x community. NALEO needs to address this issue with its LGBTQ membership,” noted City of Huntington Park Councilmember Eddie Martinez.
“As a gay man who is also an elected official, I am keenly aware of the importance leadership makes in lifting community and family acceptance of LGBTQ members in the jurisdictions we serve,” he explained. “It is the type of visible and cultural support that can make a difference for the long-term health and mental health of the LGBTQ community and our families.”
“At a time when young Latinos are shown to be disproportionately affected with HIV due to cultural barriers to LGBTQ acceptance, it is critically important our national Latino leaders do all we can to stop homophobia instead of perpetuating it,” he added.
“NALEO has been a proven partner and ally in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt in assuming they were unaware of her anti-LGBTQ+ actions when they elected her. I urge my friends at NALEO to revisit this decision,” said Jeff Prang, Assessor, Los Angeles County.
Click here to sign the HONOR PAC Petition: Stand with the Pride Flag NALEO!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEqjhTztI_Im05AONyMGFT_IMKIKxgdFyf6xsrWu4m2TL32A/viewform