Stronger Together Now Faces Ongoing Criticism Over Inclusion Events in Redlands

Gail Fry

Stronger Together Now (STN), a nonprofit that hosts community events in the Inland Empire, is suddenly faced criticism and questions about the future of its events held in the City of Redlands as expressed at the Redlands City Council Meetings on December 19, 2023, and January 16, 2024.  

“In short, we are here because some people are hellbent to uproot STN events and the organization’s presence in Redlands,” Stronger Together Now chief operating officer, Janelle Martin Guerrero, told the city council at its January 16, meeting, “Why? Because of one word—inclusion.” 

“This word triggers fear in those who believe supporting all communities and cultures threatens their individual existence,” Guerrero opined while explaining how the organization is creating space and collective care where everyone belongs, and it is  not threatening anything. 

Guerrero stated the city council had couched their criticism as more about business and commercialization to avoid the inclusion issue and keep their voters.  

Public speakers at the December 19, 2023, and January 16, 2024, city council meetings raised objections to the fact that Stronger Together Now has featured a drag queen as a singer at one of their events.  

Guerrero understood critics considered the event a public display and were concerned it would indoctrinate students.  The drag performer is part of STN’s  Lumos Festival, a Latina, Hispanic, Mexican, Marikana, and Indigenous Celebration, and drag is part of their history, Guerrero explained while acknowledging that not everybody is comfortable with that history.  

Many at the city council meetings questioned STN’s ties to the City of Redlands to which Guerrero responded that six of its board members live in the City of Redlands, however, they do not have a “brick and mortar” place of business in the city.  STN used a Rialto address, as their physical address. A physical address is required for a business license in the state of California.   

Others at the meetings questioned why STN held events in the City of Redlands. According to Guerrero, it is due to the strong community support and donations they receive, which STN uses to distribute to other nonprofits serving the Inland Empire, and at free giving markets every single month in Redlands, as well as disenfranchised communities throughout parts of San Bernardino County.

Public speakers as well as city council members at the city council meetings, questioned STN’s nonprofit status, which Guerrero said can be easily verified here.  At both the December 19, 2023, and January 16, 2024, Redlands City Council Meetings, STN had an event included in the consent calendar, which was removed for discussion and a separate vote.  

STN was asking the Redlands City Council for approval for a street closure and a waiver of its $1,969 cost for two different events being held in the city.  

At its December 19, meeting, Public speaker Dale Broome raised the issue of fairness of waiving STN’s fees as compared to other organizations based in the city that are having to pay increased fees for the use of space in the city.   

Additionally, Broome objected to having his tax dollars support an organization like STN, that had a drag queen at an event in downtown Redlands, and that parents, who may not want their kids to be exposed to drag queens, were not notified of the drag queen’s participation. 

“I don’t think the city should waive fees for STN, a group based in Rialto, while they are raising fees for residents,” public speaker Joshua Hall expressed at the  December 19, meeting, while also objecting to having drag queens in a public park describing it as social engineering and indoctrinating children into the LGBTQ+ lifestyle.  

During public comments at the council’s December meeting, Michael Paisner, Chris Bishop, Janelle Guerrero, and Pollyanna Flores expressed their appreciation of STN, whose work provides important value to the community and attempts to break down barriers to assist marginalized people and bring communities together

During this meeting,  Mayor Eddie Tejeda, Mayor Pro Tem Paul Barich, and City Council Members Denise Davis, and Jenna Guzman-Lowery, all voted in favor of waiving the fees, with Mario Saucedo voting no, thus waiving the fees for STN’s Giving Sunday Event which was held on January 28, 2024, within Ed Hales Park.   

During public comments at the council’s December meeting, Tyler Smith voiced his support of the group’s efforts to be a positive force, adding how the Giving Sundays events promote peace, unity, and inclusion within the community.

Saucedo objected to approving the waiver of fees for STN based on the number of events STN was requesting and what he viewed as the events becoming more of a commercial endeavor.  

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Barich expressed concerns about whether STN has business licenses and health certificates, however, expressed his intent to attend the event.  Also, during the  January meeting, Mayor Eddie Tejeda, Mayor Pro Tem Paul Barich, and City Council Members Denise Davis, Jenna Guzman-Lowery, and Mario Saucedo all voted in favor of waiving the fees for STN’s Giving Sunday Event to be held on February 25, 2024 at  Ed Hales Park.