A local nonprofit’s request to repaint crosswalks at two intersections in Solvang with a temporary rainbow pattern during Pride Month recently divided city officials.
The application—submitted by The Rainbow House Inc.—also included a request to install Pride-themed streetlight banners in town during June. It was denied with a 3-2 vote during the Solvang City Council’s Feb. 27 meeting.
Rainbow House Executive Director Matthew Cavalli said the nonprofit was taken aback by what happened at the meeting.
“We did not think it was going to be denied, nor did we expect any sort of public comment like that,” Cavalli told the Sun. “We came unprepared.”
He described comments from some of the attendees as “shocking” and “jarring,” adding that the organization plans to draft a new application with revisions to the crosswalk design—as some safety concerns regarding how horses would react to the proposed pattern were called into question.
Cavalli’s husband and Rainbow House co-founder, Kiel Cavalli, spoke briefly about the proposal at the start of the public comment and was immediately followed by Jessie Condit Bengoa, a local brand marketing executive and commercial property owner.
“My Danish family has resided in this valley since 1936. … My young children are sixth generation residents of Solvang. We’ve served this town for 90 years,” Bengoa said. “I am not here in any capacity whatsoever to judge or to admonish the LGBTQ-plus community. With that said, our town has a culture, we have a heritage, and we have a brand that’s unique and it’s differentiating. We’re a charming, welcoming, beautiful Danish American community.
“It’s the first rule of branding to know who you are and to unwaveringly stick to it,” Bengoa continued. “You don’t confuse, you don’t divide, you don’t alienate visitors or potential visitors by suddenly waging a woke campaign—and I think that word is appropriate here, a woke campaign—that is not inclusive, it’s divisive.
“This isn’t about gay or straight, this is about a public campaign that would push this ideology in front of our already established and welcoming brand of the city of Solvang,” Bengoa added. “If you want this city to carry forward with a strong brand in the future, stay true to who and what we are.”
As Bengoa left the podium, a round of applause erupted from attendees.
“Please hold your applause,” Mayor Mark Infanti said. “If you can’t hold your applause, I will clear the audience.”
Santa Ynez Valley resident David Silva addressed Bengoa’s remarks later during public comment, while speaking in support of the banner and crosswalk proposal.
“Your Danish heritage is rooted in a country that has led the way in LGBTQ rights, that is Danish heritage—legalizing gay marriage faster than most of the world,” Silva said. “If we’re going to say that we need to honor our Danish heritage, don’t pick and choose what Danish heritage you want to celebrate, because they’ve been leading the way, and we’re asking you to keep up with them.”
Silva also criticized the notion that Solvang is already established as a welcoming and accepting community, which Bengoa suggested and some other speakers echoed during the meeting.
“I’ve been called a fag in this community in the last two years more than I can count, and it’s uncomfortable to be told that homophobia doesn’t exist in this area,” Silva added.
After public comment, Infanti said that he’s never seen “the prejudice that seems to be being expressed.”
“This city is pretty much accepting of all people, in my opinion, in my experience around this town,” Infanti said.
Before seconding Councilmember David Brown’s motion to deny the banner and crosswalk proposal, Councilmember Robert Clarke said he was offended by comments that “disparage anything about this damn town.”
“I’ve been here 17 years. This is the friendliest, goddamned town I’ve ever been in, and people here are welcoming, they’re warm, they embrace everybody,” said Clarke, who added that although he opposes the proposal, he supports and previously voted in favor of the SYV Pride Parade and Festival—scheduled for June 24 this year.
“I voted for the parade. Of course I’m a redneck Republican and I took a lot of heat for that. But they followed the rules and did a good job, and it was a nice event,” Clarke said. “But banners for a whole month? I don’t get that, that to me is political.”
“I’m going to get called a bigot tomorrow. I’ve been called a bigot before, I don’t care,” Clarke added, shortly before the proposal was denied in a 3-2 vote, with Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona dissenting.
