2 Tulare County supervisors walk out on LGBTQ proclamation
Tulare County Supervisors Pete Vander Poel and Dennis Townsend walked out of the board’s meeting this week during a proclamation recognizing three LGBTQ organizations for their contributions to Tulare County. The supervisors objected to at least one of the groups.
The proclamation in Tuesday’s agenda recognized The Source LGBT+ Center, PFLAG Tulare & Kings Counties, and the Visalia Pride Lions Club for their “leadership and commitment to ensuring that all residents are treated with dignity and respect.”
Vander Poel and Townsend walked off the dais and out of the chambers while representatives of the organizations spoke about the work they do in the community.
Chair Amy Shuklian, who presented and read the proclamation, said the “Oh, I didn’t know we recused ourselves during proclamations” when she noticed the missing supervisors. The proclamation was signed by three of the five board members. Supervisors Larry Micari, Eddie Valero and Shuklian signed, while Vander Poel and Townsend did not.
Shuklian said the work of the three LGBTQ organizations “have definitely saved lives of our youth and young adults in Tulare County.”
“And anybody that can go against the fact that you work to save the lives of our young people is a shame,” she added.
After Shuklian, Valero and Micari presented the proclamation and took pictures with the representatives, Shuklian told Vander Poel and Townsend that they “can come out now.”
“I want to be clear that I work hard to represent all constituencies in Tulare County and have throughout my career,” Vander Poel told The Bee in an email.
He said he has signed proclamations for The Source LGBT+ Center in the past and has never voted against a contract with the organization for services provided to the LGBTQ residents of Tulare County. He said he supported a proclamation for Visalia Pride Lions Club as a service organization that works to improve the community.
Vander Poel said he did not sign the proclamation because he was unfamiliar with PFLAG and its website homepage has a photo of people holding signs that read “Trump Treason = Lock Him Up,” “Fight Ignorance Not Immigrants” and “Affordable Health Care for All.”
Vander Poel said the photo highlights protesting. The photo has been altered by PFLAG and now shows an orange covering the Trump treason sign.
“I have never embraced activism and did not want to recognize an organization that focuses on that,” Vander Poel told The Bee. He said he left the dais so that he would not be in the photo for a proclamation he didn’t sign.
“I did not explain myself or make any comments at the meeting because I did not want to take anything away from the recognition being bestowed upon the organizations,” Vander Poel said.
Townsend did not respond when The Bee reached out for comment Thursday morning.
The Sun-Gazette reported Townsend did not support the proclamation as presented because he was initially told it would celebrate The Source’s 10th anniversary. “Instead, Townsend said it ended up being an affirmation of the LGBTQ lifestyle and a hidden proclamation of Pride Month,” the article says.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Shuklian said the proclamation was not a Pride Month proclamation.
“A lot of people say, well, you know, why do we have Pride month? To me, the opposite of pride is shamed, and I will never be ashamed of who I am or who I love,” Shuklian said.
Shuklian told The Bee while it was disappointing to see her colleagues’ actions, she felt it was important to recognize other organizations that serve the LGBTQ community.
“What’s done is done. We can’t reverse it. It’s unfortunate,” she said about Tuesday’s incident.
Shuklian said she worked on the wording of the proclamation so it “wouldn’t be offensive to anybody and just talk about the work they do.”
In the 10 years she has been a supervisor, Shuklian said, the whole board has yet to recognize Pride Month with a proclamation. “It has been requested from outside, but nothing has been done,” she said.
Visalia resident Jim Reeves said he was “a little bit emotional” after seeing the action of both supervisors at Tuesday meeting.
“I find it very disturbing that Mr. Vander Poel and Mr. Townsend left the room during this presentation,” said Reeves, a founding board member of The Source and a member of PFLAG since 2008. “The disrespect that shows is just stunning to me that you would be leaders of the entire county and walk out of this room when the LGBT community is recognized.”
Brian Poth, founder and CEO of The Source, said organizations like Visalia Pride Lions and PFLAG pave the way. The Source is the largest LGBTQ care center between Sacramento and Los Angeles, serving more than 8,000 people every year with more than 30 programs and services that provide peer support, education, advocacy, HIV prevention and services, mental health care, transgender resources and youth leadership programs.
“They are an amazing partner with the county of Tulare, and we truly appreciate it,” Micari said. “That’s why I signed today.”
Valero said the organizations recognized “fill the gap” and provide a safe and welcoming place for all individuals and families in the county.
This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:13 PM with the headline "2 Tulare County supervisors walk out on LGBTQ proclamation."
