After moving its meeting to the Eastmont Junior High School auditorium to accommodate the crowd last night, East Wenatchee City Council voted to table further discussion of the city’s banner policy.
For the past few years rainbow banners with the phrase “Celebration of Diversity” have been hung on city light poles during the month of June, which is also Pride month.
And for some folks, like Laura Watkins, the sight of them is so intolerable it disrupts her day.
“A lot of people find those banners offensive to the point where they take a different route so that they don’t drive down looking at the banners,” Watkins said.
They’re “divisive” said Marie Anderson and others, and they elevate the LGBTQ+ community over others that are more deserving.
“Why do we not have a flag to represent our military, our fire department, or our police? We’re sitting here arguing over rainbows,” Gary Hegstrom said.
The city features veterans banners during the month of May, according to City Councilman Matt Hepner.
The diversity banners are a “desecration” of God’s intended purpose for the rainbow, Grace City Church member Sandra Morrison said.
Evergreen Baptist Pastor John Smith reminded the council members that “the reality is Christ is lord and king and he has delegated that authority to you,” and that means the stakes are high here.
“Because you have delegated authority you will indeed be answerable to Jesus,” he said. “Therefore in regards to this banner policy you must judge rightly.”
Judging rightly, according to him, means doing away with the rainbow banners.
But there was Christian clergy on both sides of the issue.
Pastor Dane Breslin, pastor of The Sunnyslope Church in Sunnyslope, called out his Christian brethren in the room and reminded them what Jesus was about.
“Since I’m aware that some of my Christian siblings will bring their religious perspective into this, I will proudly offer my own,” he said. “Jesus Christ was inclusive. He spoke with and loved and healed people who were generally despised and seen as unclean. He defended people who were being outcast and bullied. He did not side with those causing harm. He did not give them what they wanted.”
The youngest person to speak was Paelyn Lueondee, a middler schooler from Cashmere, who asked why some are trying to remove something that makes marginalized young people feel safe and valued. Why is a symbol of love, equality and peace seen as a threat, she asked.
“According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQ youth who feel supported and accepted by their community are significantly less likely to experience depression or suicide,” she said. “Something as small as a visible Pride flag can send a powerful message.”
Others, including former East Wenatchee City Councilor Sasha Sleiman, warned the council about the legal exposure the city could be opening itself up to if they changed the policy, especially if they do so in a way that makes it looks like they’re doing so because they have animus toward a marginalized group.
“Some of us up here helped craft this banner policy. We didn’t write it to push a singular ideology and it is about more than the specific words some of you are fiercely advocating to strike,” she said. “It was written to ensure equal access and transparency – it sets a process for how the city fairly approves and displays themed banners of all interests and subjects important to the community. Which leads me to a very honest and respectful question for each of you. What exactly are you afraid of?”
In all, 12 people spoke against the diversity banners and 30 spoke in favor.
You can watch all the public speakers in these videos, which had to be split up due to video length limitations.
Part I is above, and the rest are below.
Part II:
Part III:
Part IV:
Part V:
East Wenatchee City Council tabled the conversation until next meeting, when they will find a time to put a work session on the books to discuss the proposed policy changes in detail and at length.
I will continue to follow this story and provide updates as new developments transpire.
