Mayor Brad Parton’s Remarks on Gays

Mayor (soon-to-be-gone) Brad Parton owes Redondo Beach residents, city employees and officials and the gay and lesbian community an apology for his anti-civil rights comments during the City Council meeting of May 5 (Times, May 10).

He owes an apology to the residents of the city for tarnishing its international image as a modern, tolerant and open community; he owes the city employees and city officials an apology for using his office to promote personal religious views, which are a reflection on them; and he owes the gay and lesbians in this city an apology for his blatant discrimination toward them, and his personal judgments that they are not “families” and implying they are not part of “the community.” (He should check the statistics on the percentage of the population that is homosexual--he could be missing out on a lot of votes.)

At a time when our “great experiment” of a multicultural society is facing its greatest challenges, and especially in the wake of the astounding bigotry exposed during the Rodney King affair, Mayor Parton’s comments are totally inappropriate, insensitive and immature. He sets a very poor example.

Private citizens are free to verbally express their bigotry and hatred (albeit unkind and un-Christlike), but public officials owe it to their office and the multicultural public at-large to set a good example, and if they are inclined to be bigots, they should keep it to themselves and should reflect on their ability to govern fairly, and possibly reconsider public office.

I have heard Mayor Parton call himself the “Christian candidate”; does this mean he is “Christ-like”? I do not recall that Christ spread hate and oppression and supported the use of public office to promote religious organizations’ dogma. In fact, I thought Christ did the opposite. He taught us to “love others as I have loved you.” He promoted teaching by example and scorned those who set bad examples for children. I think that spreading hate, oppression and failing to support all people fairly would be considered to be setting a “bad example” in Christ’s eyes. Most of all, (Christians, correct me if I am wrong) judgment is reserved for the almighty God--alone.

As a Christian myself, I am disgusted by this nasty erosion of personal civil rights, which is taking place at the hands of irresponsible individuals like Mr. Parton. Maybe candidates for all public offices should be be made to declare their religious prejudices when running for a position to govern many who may not share their beliefs? Maybe we should create some kind of tally to monitor any unfair “crossover” or conflicts.

To those of you who think this is just a “gay and lesbian” thing, think again. People like Mayor Parton may use their office to promote discrimination against gays and lesbians today, but tomorrow it could be you: blacks, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, singles, mixed-marriage couples, welfare moms--you name it. Discrimination and oppression at any level must not be tolerated if our country is to mature into its full and highest potential.

Remember, our governing document, the Constitution, says it all: “. . . all men (and women) are created equal . . .,” all citizens are obligated to follow the Constitution. Religious beliefs are voluntary, the Constitution is not.

BILL SULLIVAN

Redondo Beach