Q: Can I put rainbow yard signs on public property during pride month in Temecula CA?
Temecula is very anti-LGBTQ, so I worry about the mental health of queer youth, especially since I know there are council members who are trying to (or already succeeded in, not sure) outlaw celebrating minorities (black history month, pride month, etc.). From being a resident for 20 years, I know the city culture is aggressive towards LGBTQ, so I would like to put up pride signs to at least tell people who need it that, "I see them and value them." Last year, I saw no rainbows anywhere all June, and this year, I at least want to see a few, but I worry about the legal consequences, especially since the Temecula council has an extreme right-wing majority, which may lead to disproportionate punishments for me.
A: You can post your signs on private property, but not public property without their consent. You may want to enlist as many private property owners as you can to allow you to post your signs on their properties, including vacant lots if you can get the property owner's permission. You can't be punished for exercising your First Amendment right to free speech. At worst, a private property owner could catch you trespassing if you enter property without the owner's permission, but that would most likely be a trivial matter.
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