‘Was it all just for money?’: Why this popular Pride event is leaving a Downtown Fresno venue

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The founders of a monthly party at Fresno’s Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden have now split from the downtown venue, asking if the business really believed in their cause or “was it all just for money?”

On Tuesday, Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden confirmed that the business’ Pride flag had been removed the previous week and in a statement on social media apologized for doing so , adding that staff “feel remorse for this egregious misunderstanding.”

But that apology was not enough for the organizers of Queers and Beers , which has now decided to remove themselves from the venue entirely. The group’s founders felt it best to find a new host for their event after nearly two years with the venue.

Founding members Lo Contreras, Kenny Garcia, and Crystal Green decided two years ago they wanted to bring positivity through music to LGBTQ+ and other audiences in Fresno.

“There’s nothing but love and support for the beer garden employees in Tioga because they’ve been so supportive and amazing to us,” Green said. “It’s just it’s really disheartening hearing, that there can be a a shift in what they want to do because one person feels it’s not financially beneficial for them.”

Green says it’s especially disheartening after she and her fellow Queers and Beers DJs had spent so much time making memories at the brewery and recognizing it as a safe space.

“It’s really unfortunate, especially when a business has been standing with the community for so long,” Green said. “Was it performative? Like, were they really an ally, or was it all just for money or for clientele?”

Green says allyship is all about action and solidarity. When a business decides to stand in solidarity with a community, she says they should stand with their community no matter what.

“Because the LGBTQ community has always been so severely targeted,” Green said. “It’s so important when a business says, ‘Hey, this is a safe space for you, you can come here and be yourself fully and we support you and we’ve got your back’.”

Contreras says Queers for Beers is now looking at a future with new venue DulceUpFront . The venue has already posted to its social media that it is “thrilled to welcome Queers and Beers” on July 27 .

In response to the controversy, Tioga Sequoia has offered an apology and hopes they can earn the LGBTQ+ community’s trust back.

To the community of customers, employees, family, and friends within the LGBQT+ communities, we are deeply sorry for actions regarding the removal of the Inclusion Pride Flag at our Beer Garden last week. There was never any intention of removing the flag to harm, disrespect, or change our stance on that. Nor is there any truth to the idea that we removed the flag just to attract a new group of customers who disagree with the flag. We recognize and feel remorse for this egregious misunderstanding.

Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden

In response to the statement, Christiansen says her intention was to inform the public of Tioga management’s actions, and shine light on the fact that the manager responsible for taking the flag down dismissed the concerns of his staff.

Green, Contreras, and Garcia say they are excited to see what’s to come and bear no personal hard feelings towards the business.

They wish them the best in the future and hope for a chance to mend the relationship that was built.

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