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High schools in the Dublin Unified School District may fly the Progress Pride flag for the remainder of the current school year as well as several times throughout future school years, following the Board of Trustees’ recent approval of a resolution authorizing display of the symbol.
The board’s April 29 decision expands the length of time and locations that the flag can be flown, up from its sole display at the district office for a time “not exceeding 30 days” via “formal resolution”, according to the district’s previous regulation.
Per the new policy, the Progress Pride flag will be on display at the district office and DUSD’s secondary schools (high schools) Sept. 16-23 for Bisexual Awareness Week, Oct. 1-31 for LGBTQIA+ History Month, Nov. 1-30 for Transgender Awareness Month, Dec. 8 for Pansexual Pride Day, variable timing in April for the Day of Silence, May 17 for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia as well as June 1-30 for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
As part of the board’s 3-1 decision, DUSD recognized June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual Pride Month and is set to implement programs at all secondary schools to address and counter homophobia, transphobia and other forms of identity-based bias beginning the 2026-27 school year at the latest, according to the approved resolution. Guiding these programs will be a new bi-monthly, district-level Gender and Sexuality Diversity Committee composed of secondary students, staff and administrators.
The approved policy is a reworked version of one presented at the board’s April 15 meeting. At that meeting, approximately 30 public commenters criticized the recent lowering of the Progress Pride flag from Dublin High School’s flagpole. In turn, many requested its year-round display as well as the board support for an alternative, student-led resolution.
Superintendent Chris Funk then postponed a vote on the flag policy. Officials then redrafted the resolution after reviewing the students’ proposal and meeting with representatives from local Gender Sexuality Alliances.
As the sole dissenter, Vice President Gabi Blackman expressed concern for the district’s potential vulnerability to other flag-flying requests. Absent from the decision was Trustee Dan Cherrier, who stated his support for the resolution but left the meeting before casting his vote.
“This is a day for us to be leaders in the state, in this nation to support our students,” Board President Kristin Speck said before voting to approve the resolution.
The district also plans to implement “educational initiatives, spirit days, required district-wide trainings, and other programs designed to foster belonging, safety, and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ students and staff,” according to the resolution.
As Funk reviewed the item before the board, he gave a shoutout to students who proposed a resolution of their own. “They took our resolution and enhanced it,” Funk said.
The revised resolution received endorsement from the majority of the district’s legal advisors, Funk added.
Blackman argued that the resolution didn’t align with board policy. Also the government’s free speech would not be protected if it is affected by external influences, she added later. In effect, passage of the resolution would mean the district and secondary site flag poles would become open forums.
Funk later explained that any request to raise a flag — other than the American, state, or distinguished school flags – would require board approval.
To DHS teacher Catie Tombs, the resolution and Funk’s incorporation of the student voices was commendable.
“The flag says to every child and adult that you can’t use homophobia to harm anyone on this campus,” Tombs said. “Student-centered policy creation is amazing.”
Charlie Jones, a Pleasanton Unified School District trustee and a teacher in Hayward, thanked the board for advocating “more inclusive” policy changes.
Following public comment, Blackman said that she supports the LGBTQIA+ community but wants to avoid lawsuits.
“I know you believe your flag provides some sort of protection for everybody and it’s a symbol for your group. But there are many in our community that don’t feel the same way,” Blackman said. “When you don’t see them, you marginalize them as well.”
Later, Speck said she took all public comments into consideration when reaching a decision and claimed a “proud day” for the district.
You put the “flag” up, WE THE PEOPLE will tear it down.