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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2021)
JUNE 11, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Honoring differences with flags makes for a thorny issue, city council talk By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The, at times, confusing protections of the First Amendment entangled dis- cussion of the city flying a LGBTQ+ Pride flag during a Keizer City Council meeting Monday, June, 7. While it is unlikely to happen this year, the city may still pursue a rotating display inside the Keizer Civic Center or other options in the future. June is National LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Councilor Roland Herrera requested information on the process by which the city could fly a Pride Flag outside city hall on existing flag poles. It led to a momentarily heated dis- cussion regarding what is permitted and what would be permitted if the city begins hanging flags representing people and/or causes. City Manager Pro Temp Tim Wood said hanging such flags came down to a policy decision for the council and the city staff was willing to draft a policy that could include outdoor flags, a display inside the Keizer Civic Center or other options. Councilor Ross Day noted that if the city flew a flag outdoors, it would make the immediate vicinity around the space a “public forum.” In practical terms, it means that if the city chose one cause to support, such as Pride Month, it would be legally required to allow all others access to the same space. Day used the Confederate Flag as one example of an image that would need to be allowed if the Pride Flag were to be approved. That provoked an exchange between Herrera and Day that grew heated as both became entrenched. Herrera suggested limiting the groups permitted to those that represent some- thing that is inherent to who they are as people, Black, Asian, LGBTQ+, etc. Day said it couldn’t be lim- ited in that way. It’s not the first time the city has had to tackle such ques- tions. During discussions that took place more than a decade ago, city officials were wrestling with whether to allow city residents to broad- cast their own shows on Keizer 23, the city’s local broadcast station. The issue that scuttled the conversa- tion was essentially the same. If Keizer let anyone broadcast on the channel other than city-sponsored events, they had to let everyone broadcast and could not cen- sor specific shows or points of view. At the time, the joking-not-joking fear was that someone would approach the city with a show featuring naked bowling and the city would have no choice but to air it. “My concern is that once we open the door, it doesn’t get closed,” Day said regarding the flags. Mayor Cathy Clark stepped in to try and cool the situation between Herrera and Day and suggested the council’s out- reach committee consider the issue and bring options back to the entire council. “I appreciate the heart and the mes- sage, but we have to run it through legal and make sure that we won’t turn public spaces into spaces that are detrimental to the community,” Clark said. Clark suggested aligning the causes the city selects with those recognized throughout Oregon. Councilor Elizabeth Smith added, “I still think the display case is a great idea.” Classified Marketplace MISCELLANEOUS DONATE YOUR CAR TO UNITED BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION! Your donation helps education, prevention & support programs. FAST FREE PICKUP - 24 HR RESPONSE - TAX DEDUCTION. 1-855-252-2579. ONAC DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-844-533-9173. ONAC EVENTS Rickreall Gun Show. 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