Frustrated by what she saw as rising anti-LGBTQ division in Cypress, Maria Campos-Krekos turned to a familiar face she knew could help.
That was Chase McCants Farrell, founder of the Evolved-Residents for Equality in Seal Beach — a coalition of nearby community members who organized their city’s first LGBTQ Pride march in 2021.
And in a little more than a year, Campos-Krekos helped arrange Cypress’ own inaugural Pride and Diversity picnic, which drew more than 500 people on June 26.
Campos-Krekos said Cypress leaders have had a “conservative” relationship with previous efforts to support diversity. In a May 2021 meeting, the council approved a motion marking the month as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month after an intense debate but declined to consider celebrating June as LGBTQ Appreciation Month and flying the Pride flag.
If Cypress were to allow the Pride flag to be flown, the city may have to allow more “divisive” groups to fly their flags as well, Fred Galante, the city attorney, said at the time. Echoing those concerns, Mayor Paulo Morales said the city would need to develop a formal policy for flying flags or white supremacist groups, for example, could argue that their pennants should fly at City Hall, too.
“We need to remain politically neutral and tackle issues that bring us together,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Stacy Berry. “We are a diverse and welcome community … and we can become stronger and more inclusive by focusing on all residents in the city of Cypress.”
Campos-Krekos also said she was disappointed in the support she saw in the community for two booths championing former President Donald Trump that popped up in town after the 2020 election, alleging their patrons “harassed” passersby, including her friend Carolyn Balagot and her child, who is transgender. Similar pop-ups were seen in several cities in the region, and Alicia Velasco, the Cypress planning director, noted cities can only ensure sidewalk vendors meet accessibility requirements, have a business license, and obtain clearance from the Orange County health department if food is sold.
Feeling upset with her town, Campos-Krekos formed her own Evolved Residents group in Cypress with the help of Farrell and Balagot.
“I just saw that she was very much like me,” Farrell said. “She saw that there was a need for more love in the community.”
Balagot and Campos-Krekos took to the streets in October, organizing a “love booth” filled with Pride flags and other inclusive merchandise. Though some people passing by “threw things” or “cussed” at them, Campos-Krekos said the overall reaction to their efforts was positive.
But the booth was just the beginning for the new Evolved Residents of Cypress. Recently, they’ve been watchdogging the Cypress City Council, Campos-Krekos and Balagot said.
On May 9, the City Council approved a motion to support diversity and inclusion, celebrating “all people, of all races, colors, religions, national origins, sexes, genders, ages, abilities, neurodiversities or cultures.”
That motion gave the group an opportunity to hold the city to that new, inclusive standard, Balagot said. “I just wanted it to be more than a list of words that someone wouldn’t be held accountable to.”
With the support of Councilman Scott Minikus, who put forth the diversity and inclusion motion for a vote, Balagot and Campos-Krekos created Cypress’ first Pride and Diversity Picnic. And they hope it will become an annual staple for the city.
“It all just kept getting bigger and bigger, and it was celebrated,” Balagot said.
The picnic hosted community-building events, bouncy houses, and a speech from one of the first LGBTQ couples in California to get married — all in a “family-friendly” style, Balagot said. And although it was not an official city event, some council members attended.
But the fight to bring diverse and inclusive events, programming, and community-building to Cypress is not over for the duo.
Campos-Krekos said she plans to organize a nonprofit in the fall while convening a committee for diversity and inclusion to continue events like the picnic in the future, honoring various movements such as Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and LGBTQ Pride. Balagot plans to join her.
“We’re looking forward to more events that celebrate the diversity of our city,” Balagot said. “The Pride picnic’s atmosphere was just something I haven’t felt in our town; that’s the open, caring, judgment-free zone I want in our city.”
Neither Minikus nor Mayor Paulo Morales responded to a request for comment.
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