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may 21.1999 »
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to death his live-in lover John Stagno in their
Crown Heights apartment. T he deadly fight
came after Pickett told Stagno he was leaving
rather than taking any more abuse. Aidala stat
ed that Stagno charged at Pickett with either a
bottle or a knife, and that Pickett stabbed Stag
no in the chest in self-defense.
The fight and subsequent death were the
result of a 10-month abusive relationship that
saw Stagno take over every aspect of Pickett’s
life, Aidala said.
TE X A S
s part of a custody ruling in a divorce case,
a lesbian m other in W ichita Falls was told
by a judge that the local M etropolitan Com m u
nity C hurch is not an acceptable church for her
and her daughter to attend.
The mother is fighting the ruling with the
backing of Universal Fellowship of Metropolit-
ian Community Churches and the National
C enter for Lesbian Rights. According to a May
6 UFM CC press release, a notice of intent to
appeal has been filed in the Texas court system.
T he conflict stems from a legal opinion
w ritten by Judge Keith N elson of the 78th
Judicial District. Nelson wrote: “T h e primary
issue is where the child would attend Sunday
school and ch u rch .... T he in ten t was for
m ainline churches to be utilized in the reli
gious training of the daughter.... T h e M etro
politan C om m unity C hurch does not fall
w ithin this category.”
Said the Rev. Troy D. Perry, m oderator of
the more than 300 M C C congregations: “First,
the governm ent has no legal right telling any
family which churches are acceptable and
which are not. Moreover, the U.S. C onstitu
tion, the Internal Revenue Service, and the
Yearbook o f American and Canadian Churches
com piled and published by th e N ational
C ouncil of C hurches all recognize M etropoli
tan Com m unity C hurch as a church.”
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T he m other said she tried to comply with
the judge’s ruling.
“We never felt comfortable in those places.
My heart almost broke when my daughter
begged me to take her back to the M CC
church,” she added.
Marvin Salles
A s s o c ia te B r o k e r
tel. 320-1271
■ Compiled by K r ist in e C h a t w o o d
3ohn4L£coti
“These flags have been the people’s voice,
announcing presence, pride, love for families
and neighbors, and the history of their her
itage and culture. T he rainbow flag is no dif
inda Robertson wants to show the citizens
ferent.”
of Myrtle Beach, S.C., her true colors, but
T he council took no action.
the city says the rainbow flag flying outside her
C ity spokesperson Mark Kruea, m ean
restaurant and bar violates a recently changed
while, defends the measure, arguing Myrtle
city ordinance.
Beach is a tourism-driven community that
Robertson was cited in April for flying a
restricts signage, flags and banners in order to
rainbow flag in an area where many flags, ban
keep the community from looking cluttered.
ners and “wind-activated devices” are prohib
He says the city does not find the meaning of
ited. U.S. flags; flags of other nations; state,
city and county flags; church flags; and regis the rainbow flag objectionable.
If Robertson works with city code enforce
tered corporate flags are allowed, however.
m ent officials, he suggests, she might be able to
T he rainbow flag has flown since Rainbow
find an acceptable way to show her pride.
House Bistro, which caters to a mostly lesbian
‘In all likelihood she could find
and gay clientele, opened in March
some other way she could make
1998.
Rainbow
flags,
the same statement,” Kruea
In September, a city ordi
says.
nance was changed. Now, in
first flown in 1978
Two other gay-owned
the zoning area where
and
now
recognized
by
the
establishm
ents in the
R obertson’s business is
city were also notified in
located, only amusement
International Congress
writing that they are in
parks with more than five
violation
of the city’s
o f Flag Makers,
acres of property are
ordinance, according to
allowed to display flags
are
an
important
part
a
report in The Sun News,
and banners.
a Myrtle Beach newspaper.
R obertson says she is
o f gay and lesbian
Sim ilar incidents have
about two blocks away from
happened elsewhere. Several
history.
an amusement park that displays
years
ago, an Arlington, Texas, pet
more banners than she can count.
store owner was cited for flying a rainbow
Rainbow flags, first flown in 1978 and
flag,
even though a nearby car dealer flew a
now recognized by the International Congress
number of flags and banners. The flag no
of Flag Makers, are an important part of gay
longer flies, but rainbow patterns wrap poles
and lesbian history, Robertson says.
“It speaks just like the American flag or a outside the store and the rainbow colors are
more visible than ever.
state or international flag,” she explains. “Yes,
But Robertson still flies her flag. She could
I own a business, but this is not a business
be sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $500
issue. This is a personal issue.”
for every day she violates the ordinance. She
Robertson recently appeared before the
City Council to ask for a change in the ordi says she believes there will be a huge outcry in
the community if officials try to take action
nance. She told councilors she believes the
measure is an unconstitutional restriction of against her.
Yet she adds: “1 guess if they come to get
her First A m endm ent right to free speech.
me, I have no choice.”
“Since the beginning of time, groups have
identified themselves by the colors and marks
■ Reported by GlP PIASTER
of their flags,” she told council members.
E-mail: marvin@spiritone.com
www.johnlscott.com/home/marvins/mdex2.htm
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