Gathering for start of 2018 Pride march at Smokey Bear Park in Interational Falls
International Fall City Council is giving its support to Pride Week but not how Borderland Pride would have liked.
A request for a proclamation became a resolution at Monday’s council meeting and only reached the council agenda at the request of city councillor Harley Droba.
“We are a small community in northern Minnesota and if we can’t make a stance that we want our people to feel welcome in our community,” says Droba.
Mayor Bob Anderson was the only one to vote against the resolution.
He says he supports his community being inclusive and will defend anyone who is being discriminated against but questions whether the city should be involving itself in social issues.
“I, at the same time, don’t see that we need to be adopting resolutions or going out with proclamations on lifestyle,” says Anderson. “We can we can get into every social issue that there is, and that they’re being debated around the country right now. I don’t know that our five opinions are going to matter a great deal.”
Borderland Pride expressed surprised by the Mayor’s position, noting a proclamation approved by Falls City Council last year was passed unanimously.
Borderland Pride is also disappointed with the wording of the resolution saying it strips down language reflecting equality of LGBTQ2 people.
“With LGBTQ2 people under threat by hostile government policy across the United States, it is incumbent on the level of government closest to the people to show support and care for those in its charge,” it said in a statement.
For immediate release:
Posted by Borderland Pride on Monday, May 20, 2019
The resolution sent to Falls Council received unanimously support by Fort Frances town council last week.
