Texas Mayor’s Pride Parade Ride Sparks Controversy
Becky Miller, the mayor of Carrollton, Texas, came under fire for her presence at Pride parade last fall, the Dallas Morning News reported April 27.
Miller's participation took the form of riding in a Mustang as part of last September's annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, but that was enough to launch a petition by Carrollton residents seeking to end any presence at the Pride parade "and other such events like it," either through action by Carrollton's city council or, failing that, through a referendum vote. Mayor Miller was joined in the Mustang by Carrollton City Council member Pat Malone.
According to Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, the parade--which the Guild produces--has included elected officials from other Texas municiplities in past years, including the Dallas mayor and members of the Dallas City Council, and has also attracted officials from Fort Worth and Arlington.
The petition came about after an anonymous sender mailed a clipping about the parade from the gay publication Dallas Voice to various Carollton residents, among them Paul Kramer, who had run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Carlloton City Council in last year's election. Kramer then circulated the petition, which was signed by about 75 people.
Kramer and the petitioners expressed concern that Miller and Malone had attended the parade in an "official capacity" as representatives of Carrollton, and questioned whether their appearance in the parade was "in the best interests of all the citizens of Carrollton," and whether their participation "fit with the values of our community."
The petition includes language to go directly to city voters, requiring "this issue to be put to the voters of Carrollton through a referendum" in the event that the City Council declines to take the matter up.
"This particular activity didn't represent their values or the community standards," Kramer said.
Miller disagress, saying that she has spoken with Carrollton residents, and found that in general they have no problem with the parade. "[Carrollton residents] belive in inclusion and believe in diversity," Miller said.
Miller added that she had been invited to ride in the parade by friends and said that she was there "as an individual" on her own time, although "people knew I was the mayor."
"I really embrace diversity," Miller stated. "When I was elected, I was elected to serve all of [Carrollton's residents], and I will continue to do that...People know who I am, and I have a good heart."
City Councilwoman Malone said, "I've been in lots of parades representing a lot of different people," and added, "We have to [represent] our entire community."
The controversy follows an episode during last year's City Council campaign in which one candidate emailed another and referred to a gay volunteer working for the email's recipient as a "big sissy."
Matthew Marchant, a Carrollton City Councilman, said, "I think it was an unwise decision to ride in the parade," but he did not know whether the City Council was likely to take up the issue. Miller and Malone doubted that the City Council would act on the petition.
But the issue has been addressed by Carrollton residents at council meetings of late, with speakers on both sides of the controversy citing religious beliefs and gay residents speaking about their domestic lives.
Carrollton resident James Dillman expressed concern that acceding to the petition's demands would "condemn me to a second-class status," adding, "For you to consider this petition is an affront to me and to others." Continued Dillman, "There's enough hate in the world. We don't need to foster that in our own communities."
But another town resident, Todd Cormier, is on record as referring to scriptural commentary that homosexuality is "an abomination to God," saying that "These kinds of efforts, parades" are "an affront to God...It's an affront to our Creator, who designed traditional marriage between one man and one woman." Said Cormier, "It tears down the moral fibers of this country."
Others were in favor of the mayor and other city officials joining in the parade, saying that the petition is intolerant and discriminatory.