Oh sure, there’s no discrimination here!
by Matt | May 24th, 2006 |So a bunch of anti-gay folk up in Port Townsend, Washington, are saying there is no anti-gay prejudice or discrimination in their town.
Oh sure… That’s why they are protesting a the county’s proclamation for Pride month.
According to an article in the Port Townsend Leader, a recent proclamation from the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for Pride month has sparked a lot of controversy. Mainly just the usual… people saying it isn’t needed, promotes “deviant sexual behavior,” and, oh yeah I like this one… There should be a “Straight People Who Have Been Married 45 Years Month.”
Here is some of the best of the article (emphasis added):
A cheer went up Monday when a proclamation declaring June as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Month was read aloud during the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meeting.
The proclamation was a historic event for Jefferson County, said Kellie Ragan, who had asked the commissioners to sign the document.
“This is a first for this county,” she said. “It’s really about increasing the visibility of our community and letting folks know it’s not just about having a proclamation but it’s about having a celebration.”
…
Democratic Commissioners David Sullivan and Phil Johnson both signed the proclamation, but Republican Pat Rodgers did not.
Rodgers said he did not believe the proclamation was necessary.
“While I do agree we don’t want discrimination, I don’t believe it exists in the county,” he said, pausing as a handful of people present who opposed the proclamation applauded.
“I don’t believe government should be taking a position on any lifestyle,” Rodgers said.
Commissioner Sullivan said the proclamation is a way to show that Jefferson County is welcoming to everyone. “It’s about tolerance and acceptance,” he said.
The proclamation recognizes the contributions of “the North Olympic Peninsula’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning community” and asserts that Jefferson County believes in equal rights for all people and in speaking out against intolerance and discrimination.
The document encourages all county residents to take part in the Pride Month celebration.
…
Cape George resident Connie Rosenquist said she isn’t in favor of discrimination but believes the proclamation is a way to promote what she describes as deviant sexual behavior.
“I appreciate people as individuals,” she said. “But let’s talk about the contributions of individuals. What’s sexual preference got to do with it?”
Port Townsend resident Bonita Flagg, who was one of about a dozen people who attended to show their support for the proclamation, said fear of discrimination continues to be a problem in Jefferson County.
“For every one of us here today, there are 10 more who won’t show their faces,” she said. “I wonder why.”
…
The three men who have declared candidacy for the District 3 commissioner seat to be vacated by Rodgers later this year were in the audience as the proclamation was read. Afterward, during a public comment period during which people bring a wide range of issues to the attention of the commissioners, Republican candidate Ian McFall spoke up.
“I think we should have “Straight People Who Have Been Married for 45 Years Month,” he said with a laugh.
Neither of the other candidates spoke in public about the controversy, but Republican candidate Robert Pontius later told The Leader he thought the proclamation was unnecessary and “divisive.”
Under the U.S. Constitution, Pontius said, “we already have civil rights for everybody.”
Democrat John Austin said he is in favor of recognizing the contributions to the community made by local residents who happen to be gay.
“That group has been subject to some prejudice, and I see nothing wrong with celebrating the contributions made by them,” he said, adding that he didn’t see why the document had become a source of controversy.
“It seems to be a pretty benign proclamation, for heaven’s sakes.”
6 Responses to “Oh sure, there’s no discrimination here!”
I have to agree with them… if we can’t put a nativity scene in front of town hall for fear of not being inclusive, why is it OK to have a “Pride Month” that celebrates a small percentage of the town’s population.
This is going to be a bad example, but follow me: it’s no better than when Kemp stood up and said, “I hang out with a lot of african-american people… your name’s Larry, right?” If you have to designate a month to devote to a particular group of people just to prove that you’re being inclusive, you’re probably not in the first place.
Beyond that, how can you say that the commissioners who refused to sign were being discriminatory? They’re elected officials, perhaps they were simply following the views of their constituents.
By Ryan on May 24, 2006
I didn’t say anything about the elected officials Ryan… I was talking about the towns people.
Now here is a question for you… Should governing bodies issue proclamations celebrating African-American History Month… or Native American History Month… or what about Women’s History Month?
FYI, and a history lesson - June is not just Pride Month… is has been referred to in many names including LGBT Awareness Month, LGBT History Month, etc. Although I know think October has been made LGBT History Month. June also celebrates the historic moment of the Stonewall Riots, on June 27-28, 1969, which was the first major resistance to the prevailing LGBT oppression of American government and anti-LGBT harassment, prejudice and discrimination. And… I have to say… It was mainly transgender folk who fought back (the first physical action of the night was when a drag queen hit a cop with her purse, lol). I even think some accounts say that the gay men ran away from the fight, how ironic, lol.
By Matt on May 24, 2006
How about simply, “American History Month”… hell, why not celebrate it all year?
I’m always amused at UNCG to see the banners in front of the EUC singling out a particular group in celebration of their history. I think they’re all stupid, to be perfectly honest. Why should we constrain any segment of society into only sharing their story with the rest of us in one particular month? Why not look at the big picture instead? That’s my problem with this whole “multiculturalism” movement. I like American culture, all aspects of it, and I don’t think we need to “celebrate” any groups to emphasize their significance.
By Ryan on May 24, 2006
Alright then Ryan… I’m sure you would be in total support of placing LGBT people and their contributions to humanity in school history lessons then too, right? Like… you know maybe we won’t ignore the same-sex, life partners of so many people in history and actually mention them like we sometimes do when mentioning the spouses of straight, historical figures? That would be really awesome. It would have been cool to see some people like me when I was learning.
By Matt on May 24, 2006
You and every other minority… and that’s the problem, as I see it. Why do we need to talk about gay people, we do that in June? Why do we need to talk about blacks, we do that in February? Why do we need to talk about women, we do that in March?
The other problem is that those months offer such a limited view, it’s impossible to actually get in all the contributions of the entire population. What’s discussed during Black History Month? Slavery, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King. Women’s History Month? Amelia Earhart, Sally Ride, Hillary Clinton. LGBT History Month? Ehh, I grew up in Mecklenburg County, the Republicans there make sure that’s not mentioned. You get the point though.
By Ryan on May 25, 2006
Well… you say we shouldn’t have all these months (which I kinda agree with you on)… but if we aren’t going to have them then we need make damn sure that what is usually being taught is inclusive. My example of that being LGBT people of history… I know damn well the school lessons aren’t inclusive there. And I’m not talking about delving into sexy details here. All I’m saying is let’s not ignore something that is a HUGE part of a person’s life. Alexander the Great didn’t do all of his stuff by himself… his lover (which was with him until death) was there right by his side the whole time. Another example, of the top of my head that is, is if Elton John ever makes it into history books, it would be great to include his life partner David Furnish, just like we might include straight people’s life partners/spouses.
By Matt on May 25, 2006