To the editor: I don't know what's more depressing: the fact that Huntington Beach passed the hateful measure banning the display of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag on city property, or that only 23% of the city's registered voters cared enough to vote.
This says a lot about our city and it is not good. What's so horrible about flying a rainbow flag on city property to show support for a marginalized group?
Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns is quoted as saying, “To me, it's demeaning to the LGBQ community to fly that flag.” Using his reasoning, wouldn't it also be degrading to soldiers and their families to fly the POW-MIA flag? Of course it isn't.
The POW-MIA flag flies at City Hall year-round; The LGBTQ+ flag flew only during Pride Month. Now he may never fly again.
First, there were libraries' restrictions on books that dealt with homosexuality and puberty. We now have a flag ban. What's next, Huntington Beach? Whatever happened to teaching children about compassion for those who are different from you?
Barbara Richardson, Huntington Beach
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To the editor: While I do not, in any way, support bigoted or anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, I am opposed to flying any flag, other than our state or national flag, on a public building.
If we are all equal before the law, then the only two flags that should represent us according to the laws of the country are the state flag and the national flag.
Denis Montenaro, Laguna Niguel
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To the editor: Supporters of Huntington Beach's ban on flying certain flags on city property are clearly political and dishonest in their advocacy.
The initiative, which supposedly limits flags to those of government entities, allows the POW-MIA flag to be displayed. That flag is the symbol of a nonprofit that voters apparently support, unlike others that don't.
This is not to criticize either organization, but simply to point out that the reasoning for the ban is inconsistent. What a shame for Huntington Beach.
Lon M. Burns, Manhattan Beach
