MassResistance rallies local groups to halt “Pride Month” resolution in Los Angeles suburb, angering LGBT activists.

Resolution passed last year – but not this June!

Activism made the difference.

June 22, 2025

MassResistance's Arthur Schaper (fourth from right) with local Muslims who came and pressured liberal Muslim councilman to vote the right way.

When a city passes a “Pride Month” resolution, and subsequently adorns public buildings and social media with LGBT symbols, it has an (intended) chilling effect on conservatives and religious believers. Their tax money is promoting a virulent anti-Christian political movement that endorses dangerous sexual perversions.

If good people don’t push back and fervently seek to stop that, the proponents become even more antagonistic and aggressive.

Los Angeles County is one of the most liberal counties in one of the most liberal states. Pride parades are commonplace, and many cities scramble to show how “LGBT friendly” they are. Some city council members are die-hard leftists who will appease the homosexual-transgender lobby at all costs. Other elected officials believe the absurd threats that if their city does not pass a “Pride Month” resolution every year and put LGBT graphics on the city’s social media, major businesses and future investment will leave. Others just go with the flow.

Arthur Schaper, our national Field Director, lives in Torrance in Los Angeles County. Although we don’t have a MassResistance chapter in Torrance, Arthur is very skilled at mobilizing local conservative groups. Here is a summary of what they accomplished.

“Pride Month” resolution passed last year in Torrance – after a battle

In 2024, the “Pride Month” resolution was brought up with a passionate speech by one of the council members. LGBT activists came and angrily demanded that the city celebrate its “inclusivity” and “recognition of the LGBTQ+ community.” It was supported by the Downtown Torrance Association of (mostly left-leaning) businesses.

Local LGBT activists angrily testified that the "Pride Month" resolution must be approved.

It could have passed easily. But Arthur had already gotten to work. He coordinated with various local conservative groups, and got them involved both directly and on social media. As a result, although the LGBT activists had an aggressive contingent at the City Council meeting, the vast majority of the residents who showed up that evening spoke against it.

One of the council members, Asam Sheikh, is a Muslim and registered Democrat who’s received support from numerous Democrat policy makers and politicians in Los Angeles County. It was evident  that he was going to support the resolution. But Arthur met with the local Imam, and came to the council meeting with quite a few Muslims who were Sheikh’s constituents. Many of them had contacted Sheikh and made it clear how strongly they opposed the resolution.

Councilman Asam Sheikh wasn't looking very comfortable during that meeting.

The appearance of local conservatives gave strength to the council members who did not support the resolution. Councilman Aurelio Mattucci gave a booming speech against it, loudly saying, “Don’t shove your LGBT movement down my throat!” In particular, he said, “it’s being shoved into our youth.” He described how his 10-year-old son, who is in elementary school, was receiving questionnaires at the school asking about his sexual orientation and gender identity. It outraged him! He received broad applause and support from the public for speaking out.

But Councilman Jon Kaji, a Japanese American, gave a speech describing his longstanding support for the LGBT movement. He then compared the LGBT “civil rights” struggle to the internment of Japanese during World War II (which Kaji said included his own relatives). The comparison was shocking.

Councilman Kaji during his speech comparing the Japanese internment to the LGBT "civil rights" struggle.

When the vote came, Arthur’s efforts almost paid off. The resolution passed by a slim 4-3. Councilman Sheikh got the message – and voted “no.” But Jon Kaji’s passionate “yes” was the deciding vote.

This year – the resolution fails!

At the May 20, 2025 meeting, the leftists on the Torrance City Council and the local LGBT activists were back for another “Pride Month” resolution for June. The same council member who gave the passionate introductory speech last year, Sharon Kalani, repeated her performance.

After the 2024 City Council meeting and vote, Arthur helped inform and mobilize members of the public about Kaji’s shocking speech. A large number of people – including Japanese Americans in Torrance – blasted Councilman Kaji for equating the internment of Japanese Americans and the civil rights movement to the promotions of homosexuality and transgenderism. The backlash was considerable. And it gave momentum to the numbers of outraged conservatives who came back for this year’s meeting.

Outraged conservatives came and were very clear about how they felt.

Councilman Sheikh announced right away that he would abstain from the vote (which amounts to a “no” vote). The other two “no” votes from last year held firm. Three of the leftist City Councilmen who supported it last time announced they would support it again, which they did. And again, the tie-breaker would be Kaji.

But this time, after feeling the heat, Kaji — the vocal LGBT supporter — voted “no”!

So the “Pride Month” resolution did not pass! The LGBT activists couldn’t believe it.

Final thoughts

This year, some cities across the country are going even further with their radicalism. They are adopting the “pride” flag as an official city flag – for all government spaces.

But these local fights are winnable. A big reason why cowardly politicians support these LGBT promotions should be obvious: Most of the time there is no political downside for doing it – and there’s no strong community support for opposing it.

MassResistance helped change that in Torrance – and it will definitely have a lasting impact there. It needs to happen everywhere, and we will help you do it!