By postponing the show, they argued, “These institutions thus publicly acknowledge their longstanding failure to have educated, integrated, and prepared themselves to meet the challenge of the renewed pressure for racial justice.” Critics called the decision patronizing, and an influential group of artists signed an open letter in The Brooklyn Rail calling for the show to be reinstated. The backlash was immediate, igniting one of the biggest art-world controversies in recent memory. The deflection - and all the hypotheticals it’s based on - fails the common sense smell test.A conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts inspected Philip Guston’s “City Limits” (1969) during installation last week. In other words, it’s a convoluted conversation that allows Dammeier and his fellow Republicans to discuss the matter as though it’s somehow separate from the issue of supporting Pierce County’s LGBTQ community, which it’s not. They then took steps to fix that injustice - and crafted a reasonable policy that would make it possible - only to now find themselves locked in a wonky squabble about the powers of different branches of government, who gets to create policy and how many votes it should take. Just think about it: Last year, Democrats on the County Council were told that flying the Pride flag could be divisive.
![gay flag aesthetic gay flag aesthetic](https://data.whicdn.com/images/337906413/original.jpg)
It’s one of the underhanded way the status quo is maintained. But it’s also helpful to remember how we arrived at this point, because it provides a case study in how overdue calls for equity and inclusion get muted and neutered by “process,” even if that’s not the explicit motivation. We take Dammeier at his word when he says he supports Pierce County’s LGBTQ community. On Tuesday, discussing his veto decision with The News Tribune, Dammeier said that he owes the people of Pierce County a uniform flag policy “that they can apply - and apply to their situation fairly.” It’s one reason The News Tribune Editorial Board continues to be dismayed by Dammeier’s refusal to treat the unnecessary debate over flying the Pride flag at county buildings with the thoughtfulness and distinction it deserves. “To read that celebrating who they are is divisive sends a very clear message that they are not valued,” Christensen said.Ĭhristensen is exactly right about the power and importance of Pride celebrations.
![gay flag aesthetic gay flag aesthetic](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.357399637.0731/papergc,500x,w,f8f8f8-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.jpg)
In light of anti-LGBTQ legislation being considered and passed by state legislatures across the country, Christensen said that local LGBTQ youth are watching to see what happens at home. “Instead we are showing up as fully who we are, and raising our heads high for people to see who we are and what we contribute to our community.” “Pride, for us, is to say we are no longer acting in shame and secrecy,” Christensen said. On Monday, Dammeier vetoed the council Democrats’ simple-majority flag policy, insisting that the county already has a much more stringent one. Because there was no explicit policy on the books, the executive had one drawn up - apparently unbeknownst to Democrats - requiring all seven votes on the council to hoist a flag on county property other than the four allowed under county rules. Before council voted on the proclamation, Dammeier declined to be a part of it.ĭammeier also attempted to make sure that flying any special flag – including the Pride flag - at Pierce County buildings would depend on unanimous council support in the future. Then, not a single Republican supported the county’s historic Pride Month proclamation, with Amy Cruver voting against it and Hans Zeiger and Dave Morrell abstaining. But even that description risks dancing around the issue: Democrats on the council passed a flag policy because, last year, efforts to fly the Pride flag in conjunction with Pierce County’s first-ever Pride Month proclamation were thwarted and eventually abandoned.Īt the time, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier pushed back on attempts to fly the Pride flag during the annual celebration of Pierce County’s LGBTQ community, leading Democrats on the council to drop the issue.