Mayor criticized over gay parade
She shouldn't have taken part in event, petitioners say
10:32 AM CDT on Friday, April 27, 2007
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
eaasen@dallasnews.com
Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller wanted to support gays and lesbians in her city, so she rode in a Mustang in Dallas' annual gay pride parade last fall.
Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller wanted to support gays and lesbians in her city, so she rode in a Mustang in Dallas' annual gay pride parade last fall.
But that has generated criticism from some Carrollton residents, who submitted a petition this month that opposes city officials' involvement in the parade.
The petitioners said it wasn't appropriate or "in the best interests of all the citizens of Carrollton." They asked that participation in the parade "and other such events like it be discontinued."
Ms. Miller and Pat Malone, a Carrollton City Council member, rode in September's annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, which has attracted elected officials from various cities.
Petitioners are concerned that the parade doesn't "fit with the values of our community," said Paul Kramer, who circulated the petition. About 75 people signed it. | Becky Miller |
"This particular activity didn't represent their values or the community standards," he said.
Ms. Miller said that while some people might be upset, most residents she's talked with aren't fazed by the parade. She said they "believe in inclusion and believe in diversity."
"I really embrace diversity," Ms. Miller said. "Everyone is here and they're all taxpayers and they live in my community. When I was elected, I was elected to serve all of them, and I will continue to do that.
"People know who I am, and I have a good heart." |  Pat Malone |
This isn't the first time in Carrollton that there's been a brouhaha about homosexuality. Last year, a City Council candidate sent an e-mail to his opponent, criticizing him for using a gay man as a campaign volunteer, whom he called a "big sissy."
Mr. Kramer, who ran for the Carrollton council last year, said some residents are concerned about the gay pride parade in part because they were under the impression that the mayor and Ms. Malone were acting in an "official capacity" and representing the city. That stems from coverage in the Dallas Voice, a publication that covers the gay and lesbian community, which reported on Ms. Miller's involvement.
The issue came up after a copy of the Dallas Voice article was mailed anonymously last fall to some Carrollton residents, including Mr. Kramer.
Ms. Miller, who was asked by friends to be in the parade, said she was there "as an individual -- but people knew I was the mayor." She said she was in the parade on her own time.
Council member Matthew Marchant had little to say about the matter: "I think it was an unwise decision to ride in the parade." He said he hadn't talked to other council members about the petition and doesn't know whether the council will take action.
Ms. Miller and Ms. Malone said they don't expect the council to act on the petition.
The petition has stirred discussion among residents and observers during recent Carrollton council meetings. Both supporters and opponents of the petition mentioned God and religion. Some speakers, their voices quivering, talked about being gay and mentioned their partners and children.
Todd Cormier, a Carrollton resident, said homosexuality is "an abomination to God," according to a recording of a recent meeting.
"These kinds of efforts, parades ... I believe is an affront to God," Mr. Cormier told the council. "It's an affront to our Creator, who designed traditional marriage between one man and one woman. ... It tears down the moral fibers of this country."
Several people spoke in support of elected officials participating in the parade. They say the petition is discriminatory and doesn't demonstrate tolerance of others.
James Dillman, a Carrollton resident, told the council that the petition would "basically condemn me to a second-class status."
"I'm at a loss to understand this, the reasoning behind this petition," he said. "For you to consider this petition is an affront to me and to others. ... There's enough hate in the world. We don't need to foster that in our own communities."
Parade participants have included several elected officials from Dallas, including the mayor and City Council members, said Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, which produces the parade. Other Dallas city leaders have joined the parade, Mr. Doughman said, as have officials from Arlington and Fort Worth.
Ms. Malone said she joined Ms. Miller in the parade after the mayor mentioned she was attending and didn't have anyone to join her.
"I've been in lots of parades representing a lot of different people," Ms. Malone said. "We have to be for our entire community."
Carrollton petitioners were also concerned that residents didn't have input on whether elected officials should take part in the parade, Mr. Kramer said.
He said he'd like residents to be able to vote on whether elected officials can participate in future gay pride parades or have the city issue a public notice to let residents provide input at a council meeting. The petition calls for "this issue to be put to the voters of Carrollton through a referendum" if the council doesn't agree with the request. |