Cathedral City LGBTQ Veterans Memorial Made Official in 2019
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D- Coachella) adamantly opposes the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the implementation of discriminatory policies against transgender individuals in the military. Garcia notes the stark contrast between the regressive direction of the Federal Government and California’s inclusive values.
“Discrimination in any form is intolerable; it is most especially unconscionable when directed toward our U.S. military, our heroic service members, or prospective service members. This unjust Supreme Court ruling follows in stark contrast to California, where we just celebrated our newly designated LGBTQ Veterans Memorial; a historic milestone for inclusion,” said Garcia.
“All veterans must be honored. All who bravely answered the call of duty are true American patriots that deserve our utmost respect, not censure. Our local memorial, first of its kind in the entire nation, stands as a testament to the military contributions of our LGBTQ community.”
AB 2439, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s legislation designating Desert Memorial Park’s LGBTQ Veterans Memorial as the state’s official LGBTQ Veteran Memorial went into effect on the first of this year. AMVETS Post 66 Commander Tom Swann, The Palm Springs Cemetery District and the City of Cathedral City were instrumental to the bill’s success.
“I commend all our local leaders and organizers who rallied to achieve this feat and would like to offer a special reflection in memory of the late Cathedral City Mayor Greg Pettis. Mayor Pettis, the Coachella Valley’s first openly gay elected official, was one the memorial’s fiercest advocates. He is revered as a champion for inclusion and will be remembered for his vast legacy of public service,” reflected Garcia.
Mayor Pettis had previously stated that the memorial, “recognizes thousands of people that have served honorably and need to be recognized.”
Garcia will present an Adjournment in Memory honoring the life of Mayor Pettis during Thursday’s Assembly floor session.
