Pride proclamations draw ire, support

City councils and county commissions routinely sign proclamations noting monthlong observances, which this month in the United States include African-American Music Appreciation Month, Caribbean-American Heritage Month and National Safety Month. The proclamations are usually noted briefly at a meeting and signed by council and commission members without a vote or comment.

But when the Mason County Board of Commissioners and Shelton City Council both signed national LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamations June 6, they were greeted with calls of support and opposition. Shelton City Council members James Boad and Kathy McDowell said they opposed the proclamation.

Mason County commissioners signed the National LGBTQ+ Pride month proclamation the morning of June 6.

According to the proclamation, the county has a diverse LGBTQ+ population and is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, equality and freedom from discrimination for all people in the community. The commissioners observe June as a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, raise awareness of quality services, and foster a dialogue to promote quality services, and foster a dialogue to promote healthy, safe and prosperous communities for all.

“The Mason County Board of County Commissioners fully supports the rights, freedoms and equal treatment of LGBTQ+; and to show this support,” the proclamation states.

Jim Morrell, president and CEO of Peninsula Community Credit Union in Shelton, thanked the commissioners for reading the Pride Month proclamation.

“As a community leader and a resident here, my appreciation about the Pride proclamation, I feel sends a positive message from the commission and the board and the county that you’re opening an inclusive environment for everybody to live here in Mason County,” Morrell said during public comment. “Especially youth, who struggle, especially adults, who struggle, you will not know the difference it makes in their lives by what you just read. Your commitment to the promotion of inclusion and commitment to eliminating discriminatory policies is enormously positive. It demonstrates a positive, caring vision for the county.”

Gina Finley, executive director of Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center, said she is thankful the proclamation acknowledges that LGBTQ+ people are welcome and safe in the community.

“Coming from a place of privilege and power as a white, heterosexual woman, it’s my duty to stand and support people who have been historically marginalized,” Finley said. “As an employer, neighbor and friend of individuals who are lesbian and gay, I am expressing gratitude for your public stance proclaiming safety and acceptance for all people.”

Tamra Ingwaldson, community support specialist at Quixote Communities, said she was talking to her oldest daughter and she sent her a message she did not expect, which she read to commissioners.

“I was married to a man for a long time, then I got divorced, and was able to fully understand that I was attracted to women. I never told my family. One day, I simply told my mom that I was going on a date,” Ingwaldson said. “She asked me their name and I told her a woman’s name. My mom never hesitated, she simply asked if they were nice. That is being an ally. No judgment, no need to make any assumptions or comments, just a simple question she would have asked me if I said a man’s name. This is how all humans should be treated, with compassion and acceptance first.”

Phillip Wilson told the commissioners he opposed the Pride Month proclamation. Wilson said there is a new religious orthodoxy going around “like a virus” and he wanted to register his disagreement.

Billy Thomas, marketing director at Peninsula Credit Union, spoke during the public comment period at the commissioners meeting and talked about his April 12 op-ed column in the Journal. He wrote about adopting a more inclusive and welcoming society and he applauded the commissioners for taking a step to put the proclamation forward.

“Not a resolution, not a law, a very nice letter to our community that says, ‘We see that you exist and we appreciate that you’re here,’ ” Thomas said. “Personally, I appreciate that as a member of our LGBTQ+ community, but I also appreciate that as part of the Mason County community so thank you for your work.”

Rebecca Bechtolt, who is running unopposed for a director position on the Pioneer School District school board this fall, said that while she appreciates the commissioners recognizing people in the community with the proclamation, she would love to see a proclamation that “uplifts the entire community as a whole when we have so many wonderful groups of people.”

“I would love to see a proclamation that uplifts all of us and not just specific groups of people above others and fostering a dialogue that is now being promoted to young children, especially in our library, where they’re planning to show films that have graphic nudity, profanities and sexual dialogues to the children,” Bechtolt said during public comment. “It’s being promoted in an idea of Pride plus awareness, which is Pride plus awareness, OK, but to promote it to young kids is not OK and unfortunately, I feel like this dialogue is being directed to young children when it shouldn’t be. This is an adult topic.”

Shelton Timberland/William G. Reed Library Manager Erin Stumpf told the Journal the screening for the movie had an internal misunderstanding at first and the movie “Front Cover” was not shown. The movie that was shown was “Ballerina Boys,” the story of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

“While we understand that we might have programs or materials that aren’t relevant to every patron, our hope is that we are always offering a diverse range of views that will meet the public’s interest,” Stumpf wrote to the Journal in an email. “We respect the rights of parents and guardians in their responsibility to determine what programs and materials are appropriate for their children and families. As a library district we proudly support the LGBTQIA+ community as well as our staff and some of the programs we do and materials we highlight during the month of June is intended to reflect that support.”

Kyle Cronk, president of the South Sound YMCA which operates the YMCA in Shelton, told the commissioners he is excited the proclamation was put forward.

On the evening of June 6, the Shelton City Council signed the proclamation, which was read aloud by council member Joe Schmit. He added, “We want to shine a light on the struggles of the LTBQ population that they face on a day-to-day basis, but supporting their rights doesn’t mean we’re ignoring other people’s rights. We want to create a safe and accepting environment for all people, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Fellow council member Boad disagreed.

“I actually was not for this proclamation, but it’s not because I don’t believe in the things,” he said. “I don’t like the fact that I have to step outside my political ideology to get into sexual or into gender ideology. So I don’t agree with us doing this as a city, but it doesn’t mean I don’t agree with what it says.”

McDowell agreed. “I don’t think we as a city should be brought into this issue,” she said. “It has no place in government.”

Council member Miguel Gutierrez immediately countered, “I disagree. I think this is exactly what government needs to do, recognizing everyone and their uniqueness and what they contribute to the community.”

“What this is saying is people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said Mayor Eric Onisko.

During the public comments, eight people said they opposed the proclamation, and three said they support it.

Bill Wells, youth pastor of the The Beginnings Christian Church, spoke against the proclamation at both the commission and council meetings. His wife, Alice, said of LBGTQ+ people, “What part of that is not a sin?”

Ginny Beech also said she opposes it.

“I don’t care if you’re gay or lesbian, that’s your belief, but I don’t agree with the proclamation, Pride month. We don’t have a Christian month, a Mother’s month.”