Posted on 02/17/2006 7:25:42 AM PST by NormsRevenge
After two years of uncomfortable debate about declaring a ``Gay Pride Day'' in Los Altos, the city council changed its rules this week to ban proclamations about sexual orientation altogether.
Mayor Ron Packard said the change spares the city council from ``issuing proclamations on issues I consider divisive and not appropriate for our community.''
The debate has grown bitter since high school students first requested the council declare a citywide Gay Pride Day in 2004. Charges of homophobia are flying -- as well as eggs at a council member's home.
Yet this is the same city whose Rotary Club spearheaded an AIDS project in 1989 -- groundbreaking for its time -- and produced an award-winning documentary on the issue.
This week, residents were reconciling the contradictory sides of their town.
``I think I know the community,'' said Mary Prochnow, who has lived in Los Altos for 25 years and served as president of the Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors' association. ``And on this issue I don't know the community. I'm at a loss.''
The Bay Area is widely thought of as gay-friendly, but attitudes vary greatly across cities, and even streets. San Francisco and San Jose host parades, Oakland changes Lake Merritt's lights from white to pink every summer, and Mountain View declares a gay pride month.
A decade ago, Palo Alto became the first city in Silicon Valley to offer registration for domestic partners.
Yet officials in Menlo Park, Santa Clara and Cupertino say they can't recall a gay pride day in their cities' history.
The divided attitudes in Los Altos aren't unusual in a nation conflicted over whether gays should be able to marry, join the military or become priests.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
People have a right in a free society to hold differing moral views on homosexuality, and the government should not be in the business of promoting it.
They still fail to declare what they have to be proud of.
Los Altos is indeed populated by relatively conservative residents. Very nice area, practically non-existent crime, and they've got a great gun range.
They're proud that they have sex. You know. Like oysters and single celled organisms do.
The debate has grown bitter since high school students first requested the council declare a citywide Gay Pride Day in 2004. Charges of homophobia are flying -- as well as eggs at a council member's home.
Mayor Packard has his head on straight, but the students at the high school are way off base.
I went to that high school, and this most assuredly would not have happened with the student body I was part of.
I wonder if this high school has a Gay-Straight Alliance? They're probably the instigators here.
Looks like one for the list.
Wonder why so many pictures of these events show homosexuals wearing costumes that hide their faces?
Go to he Article8alliance web-site and scroll down to the pictures of last year's Gay Pride parade in Boston. Pay special attention to the scars on the chests of the marchers that called themselves the Tranny Boys.
Are you referring to the Los Altos Rod and Gun Club range?
It's in Los Gatos.
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