FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno County’s Board of Supervisors approved an item on Tuesday that residents believe censors county agencies.

Tuesday morning’s meeting proposed policy AP 81, which requires county agencies to receive a majority of approval from the board before they are allowed to celebrate or recognize a holiday.

“Employee birthdays, retirements, employee milestones are accepted; there’s no problem with that. But if you have ’employee-organized holiday festivities,’ I think it creates some confusion, and so I would suggest that we approve this without that phrase,” said District 2 Supervisor Garry Bredefeld.

This policy stems from a previously approved motion in July, which requires county agencies to receive approval before spending money on or sponsoring community events. That item passed after Supervisor Bredefeld spoke out against the Department of Public Health and Behavioral Services for spending money on resources at Fresno’s Pride Parade in early June.

“I’m just not comfortable censoring folks, even on their own free time,” said District 3 Supervisor Luis Chavez.

“I did not support this when it came before us. I appreciate the clarification, but I think it just creates more problems,” District 1 Supervisor Brian Pacheco said.

Everyone who spoke up during public comment on Tuesday was against the board approving what residents believe is censorship, specifically targeting LGBTQ+ Pride.

“We have a very diverse population in Fresno County, and it would be inappropriate to allow the political and personal ideologies of board members dictate what can and cannot be recognized and celebrated,” one resident said.

“Policies like AP 81 send a message that some communities, like our LGBTQ+ neighbors, do not deserve to be celebrated or recognized unless politicians say so. That’s not what I was told Fresno County was about. I came here because I was told this was probably one of the most diverse counties in California,” one resident who moved from the East Coast said.

District 5 Supervisor Nathan Magsig told residents the goal of the policy is to align the county with its mission statement, only celebrating “things which are as inclusive as possible.”

“All of [the Board of Supervisors] are very diverse, we have different backgrounds, and I respect all of that. But the best services that we can provide as a body are those when people come and interface with us. They don’t know my politics, they don’t know my sexual preferences, they just know that I work for the county and I’m here to serve them,” said Magsig, who is also publicly campaigning for Republican State Senate 2026.

Despite public comments, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to pass AP 81 at a 3-2 vote, with Chavez and Pacheco voting against. AP 81 is effective as of Sept. 9.