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Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis
The economy has not been kind to the city, and with economic hardship comes increased tension between the town's Christian mayor and the gay citizens who are now locked into mortgages there. "I don’t know what the fear is about considering Vallejo as a city of God," Mayor Davis says. Well, first of all, Vallejo was the first California city to file for bankruptcy last year, and Vallejo's only gay bar, the R Bar, closed not long after. An openly gay student sued the impoverished Vallejo School District for discrimination and won a $25,000 settlement earlier this year.
But the increasing closeness of church and state in Vallejo is making the town's gay population nervous. The particular quote they take issue with in the NY Times piece is where Mayor Davis says of homosexuals, "They're committing sin and that sin will keep them out of heaven, but you don't hate the person. You hate the sin that they commit."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have one of those scary cities you see in documentaries in our backyard. And while we do not assume that Mayor Davis' comments reflect the opinions of all the citizens of Vallejo, we agree with Vallejo citizen and former Human Relations Commissioner Sherrie Connelly, who says "As elected officials, we have a responsibility to serve the entire community, not just the ones who believe as we do." City Council member Stephanie Gomes notes that the Christian segment in Vallejo obviously felt invaded by the gays and are now battling back.
Those who aren't on Mayor's Davis' side are calling for both his censure, and in at least one case, his resignation. A rally is planned at Vallejo City Hall on December 1st at 6:15 p.m., before the next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting. Seriously, people, you don't run a city with a Bible, for god's sake.
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Yet another reason we should never have let Marine World move to Vallejo.
Perhaps if folk like Davis stopped taking the Bible out of context then they'd have grounds to bitch and moan when newspaper reporters take their quotes out of context.
Vallejo has always invited submarines to come up the channel and disgorge seamen in the Naval area.
Excuse me if I'm using too many homonyms.
I appreciate being quoted in your article. There is a lot of uproar going on in Vallejo now in response to the Mayor's statements of personal theology that came across as public pronouncements. He has issued a passionless obligatory apology, and with a gay city councilman has offered a "Unity Statement" as a better focus of people's attention.
In the days to come, especially on December 1st when a protest rally is scheduled, I hope citizens of a wide range of views will understand that when a group of people feel wounded, as gay and lesbian Vallejoans were by the mayor's comments, they need to say "Ouch!" and "Hey, wait a minute." The language of the event protests homophobic prejudice, hatred and violence. I pray that those protesting don't meet anger with anger. Say what you need to and take the high road.
As a pragmatic idealist I like to imagine "Vallejo at its Best." We also need to understand the complexities of a community rich in diversity and conflicting cultures, values, and beliefs. I believe there is a broader issue that needs serious attention that incorporates all of the many sub-topics. Excusing the jargon please, please consider this:
I've come to this formulation. Please consider this.
I believe that "Vallejo's Mayoral Crisis is about Effective Public Leadership Respecting Diverse Community. We must learn to transcend arguments, debates, taking sides and defending positions on race, gender, free speech, faith, religion, culture, politics, sexuality, ethics, prejudice, discrimination, personal values, and hate speech, which are important sub-topics of a higher order wisdom that is loving respect for the whole and the entire community."
Come to the protest to express what you need to. Stay at the rally to affirm a hospitable Vallejo that in time we will commit to building together.
Regards and blessings,
Sherrie Connelly
stillpt@sbcglobal.net
¡TODOS SOMOS OSCAR GRANT!
Besides the fact that Vallejo is an ugly city, Mayor Davis provides another reason to avoid that disgusting hell hole.