In an effort to move foward his position that Kissimmee should incorporate the phrase “In God We Trust” into its logo, a city commissioner leaned on an anti-LGBT argument to make his point.
According to the Orlando Sun-Sentinel, Commissioner Art Otero proposed adding the phrase because he doesn’t agree with the direction the country is going.
“This nation has been moving toward more liberal postures such as homosexuality, gay marriage, abortion and the legalization of marijuana,” Otero said. “I’m against that way of thinking. Those are not the values upon which this nation was founded. I think we need to fight for the values we are losing.”
Kissimmee mayor Jim Swan had supported the logo change, but does not agree with Otero’s comments.
“I think our community has been known for many years as inclusive, and I hope it will remain so,” said Swan. “My support for the change of logo is probably not there anymore. My support had nothing to do with lifestyles, though. It was based on matching the U.S. currency.”
Swan said he, personally, does not plan to take any action regarding Otero’s comments, but if the commission as a whole wants to address Otero’s remarks, it’s up to them.
City Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who is openly gay, said Otero apologized to her during a subsequent budget meeting.
“I told him not to apologize, because this is how he feels, and everyone has their own opinions,” she Grieb said.
Her concern is that his comments will reflect on the Commission as a whole.
“It’s unfortunate that Art said what he said. He ostracized many, not just gay people, but people who feel differently from him,” Grieb said. “He also used the word ‘values.’ Values are things like honestly, integrity, thoughtfulness. Those are values, not what Art said.”
Otero has not returned calls for comment.
The fallout from the incident may run deeper than first anticipated.
Orlando filmmaker Vicki Nantz tried to email a complaint to the city of Kissimmee, about Otero’s comments. The copy of the email read as follows:
Mr. Otero,
Your anti-gay views are regrettable and sad, and your public expression of them as an elected city commissioner is contemptible.
As a city commissioner, you surely realize that you represent many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. You owe all of them, and, in fact, the entire LGBT population of Florida, an apology.
I hope the many diverse employers of Kissimmee and Osceola County read today’s Orlando Sentinel, and I hope they are outraged at your ignorance of, and hostility toward, the very large LGBT community of Central Florida.
You have no business serving in any governmental capacity with such obvious personal contempt for the over 1 million LGBT citizens of this state. I will certainly refrain from spending my money in your very gay-hostile town, and I will encourage others to do the same.
Sincerely,
Vicki Nantz
Orlando
Nantz received the following auto-response:
The following email message was blocked due to offensive or sexual content.
After two tries, Nantz replaced the word “gay” with “LGBT” in her message, and she says that third version went through.
“Because their software seems to block all gay references, no constituent of the city who identifies themselves as gay in an email will get through, and won’t know why necessarily,” said Nantz.
Grieb said she contacted their IT department and had them check a number of words, including “gay,” “homosexual,” and “transgender,” and none of the words appear on the banned list. She said she’s trying to figure out what caused Nantz’s message to bounce.
