By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
As expected, a large crowd of people filled council chambers in Decatur City Hall Tuesday to speak both for and against a Pride festival scheduled for June 28 on the Madison St. Plaza.
In all, 28 people addressed city council in its regularly scheduled meeting.
In an unofficial count, 16 spoke in opposition, with 10 supportive and two not offering a recognizable opinion.
Anyone who signed a sheet before the meeting, giving their name and address, was allowed two minutes to speak. Eight of the speakers were not residents of Decatur, although several live on the outskirts.
Nearly everyone was respectful. Every speaker received a round of applause.
When some asked for council replies to questions, it was pointed out that the meeting was for comments, not discussion.
The comments period lasted 53 minutes.
Prior to the comments, City Attorney Anna Razo explained how council oversees the plaza, with those wishing to hold an event having to ask council’s permission since it oversees matters such as the applicant’s security, use of alcohol, etc.
However, “in no way shape or form does council decide who or what is being done” so long as the applicant checks all the boxes on the event form, she noted.
The council’s decisions on the use of the plaza “are based in safety, not content,” Mayor Dan Rickord said at one point.
At another point he said, city council has to “follow state law, not God’s law.”
Winding up the comments portion of the meeting, veteran councilman Matt Dyer – who made clear at one point that he would not attend the Pride festival nor take his children “because I do not believe in it” – told the crowd of how the city had to go to great expense due to a lawsuit brought 15 years ago by someone who was given permission to set up at the monthly flea market here, then removed.
“We have to follow state law,” he said. “The city is not promoting this, we are following state law.”
COMMENTS: One of the best-known speakers was Pastor Dan York, who has been ministering in Decatur for nearly 50 years. He said he is not a bigot, but is opposed to the Pride festival and asked if it could be taken indoors.
Gina Melcher, a Republican who was unsuccessful in seeking a city council seat in the 2022 general election, said she and her husband own an entertainment center (the Mirage Event Center) and they would donate its use for the festival in order to get it indoors.
When Melcher asked if the council’s vote could be revoked, Mayor Rickord said, “It has been tried across the state and could never be stopped.”
Sara Baker asked if the festival could be moved to an indoor site.
Sebastian Hathaway, who is gay, told of how he grew up struggling with his sexuality and how he was shunned and mistreated when he came out. “Thank you for putting politics aside,” he told council. “We are not bad people.”
Chris Vergara said, “The bigotry and homophobia here in Decatur is absolutely disgusting. Shame on all of you for allowing bigotry in this community.”
Raising his voice, Eric Whalen, who was unsuccessful in a bid for United States Congress last May in the republican primary, said, “Shame on you three Republicans (on council); you ought to be ashamed of yourselves for voting for this. Call me a bigot, I’ll wear that badge!”
“This is not a political issue; don’t let politics into this. You Republicans do not need to be shamed,” said Bill Miller.
Shawn Meyer, who lives in Rockford, Ohio, but formerly resided in Decatur, talked about going to a Pride festival in Celina, Ohio, and what he saw was shameful. He displayed a group of photos, apparently from that festival, “of strippers and other lewd stuff.”
Deana Blakey called the idea of a Pride festival “a disgrace to our community” and she read a Bible verse.
Another speaker who read a Bible verse was Candy Johnson.
Nikki Augland, president of the local Pride committee, said, “You will not kick us out of our community.”
Merek Kizer, a Fort Wayne resident who said he is a traveling evangelist, said, “The sin of sodomy is growing. Your duty is to prevent this.”
Chris Hakes told of a shameful event in his life and “how Christ came to me” afterward. He spoke of how a brother who was gay committed suicide and how a son who is gay “has been shunned by the church. Why are we doing this; do we think it is okay to shun these people?”
When Marilyn Nelson asked how the city “can promote this,” the mayor replied that the city is not promoting the event. “I’m embarrassed to live here,” Nelson added.
Jennifer Mendez said, “I am a Christian and I try to live my life as God has taught us, to love everyone. I feel ashamed at how these adults are treating each other.”
Her husband, Tim said of the Pride festival, “This is the world we live in.”
“If you don’t believe in it, don’t go; stop the hate,” said Alex Mendez. “Kids are seeing this and they’re not feeling safe.”
NOTE 1: Mo Hodge, who helped found The Bridge church in Decatur and now resides in Anderson, did not appear at the meeting. He has made, on social media, several widely-shared comments about the event and the permission it received.
NOTE 2: Razo said local officials are working with Police Chief Kevin Gerber on providing security for the Pride festival.
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