HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-24-25 Public Comment - J. Finley - Oppose Pride FlagFrom:City of Bozeman, MT
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]*NEW SUBMISSION* Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Date:Tuesday, June 24, 2025 10:09:26 AM
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Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Submission #:4139832
IP Address:198.60.110.177
Submission Date:06/24/2025 10:09
Survey Time:7 minutes, 53 seconds
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Full Name
Joe Finley
Email
jooeschmoe777@gmail.com
Phone
(406) 201-7301
Comments
I respectfully ask that Pride flags not be flown at our children's schools. While we understand the importance of
fostering inclusivity and belonging, displaying a flag associated with a specific social or political movement sets a
precedent that could lead to the endorsement of many other potentially polarizing symbols. Most of us parents feel
strongly that topics related to sexuality and gender identity are not appropriate for children and should be
addressed at home, at the discretion of the family. Introducing such symbols in elementary schools can undermine
parental authority over when and how these conversations take place. Public schools should remain neutral
spaces....free from symbols tied to religion, political ideologies, or identity-based movements. Even well-intentioned
displays can open the door to broader controversies and diminish the focus on creating a welcoming, academically
focused environment for all students.
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Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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From:Joey Morrison
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:Fwd: [EXTERNAL]RE: Pride flags being flown
Date:Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:12:21 AM
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: "City of Bozeman, MT" <webadmin@bozeman.net>Date: June 24, 2025 at 10:49:15 AM MDTTo: Joey Morrison <jmorrison@bozeman.net>Subject: [EXTERNAL]RE: Pride flags being flownReply-To: Joe Finely <jooeschmoe777@gmail.com>
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Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: Joe Finely Site Visitor Email: jooeschmoe777@gmail.com
Please do not allow Pride flags to be flown at our children’s schools or on publicbuildings like City Hall. Choosing to display a flag tied to a specific social or
political identity … whether related to race, sexuality, gender, or ideology …opens the door to many other divisive issues.
Many parents believe that topics related to sexuality and gender identity are not
appropriate for young children and should be addressed at home. While weunderstand the goal of fostering inclusivity, introducing symbols tied to these
topics in schools undermines parental authority and the neutral environmentpublic institutions are expected to provide.
Schools and government buildings should remain free of symbols connected to
political, religious, or identity-based movements. Even well-intentioned displayscan create controversy, distract from educational goals, and set a precedent for
many other groups to request equal representation.
Most parents we know have no issue with gay and lesbian individuals. However,many … including some within the LGBTQ+ community … feel the current
focus on gender identity has overshadowed core issues like marriage equality andanti-gay discrimination. Some feel silenced or marginalized when expressing
discomfort with aspects of today's transgender advocacy.
The bottom line is flying Pride flags at schools or City Hall does not reflect thevalues of most families in our community. Remaining neutral ....by not flying any
such flags ... allows Bozeman to be a place where all people feel respected,without promoting one identity or movement over others… and allow Bozeman to
be a place for everyone without singling out one particular group. Thank you