HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-25 Public Comment - A. Shepherd - City Flag of BozemanFrom:Ava Shepherd
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]City Flag of Bozeman
Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 12:40:35 PM
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Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
My name Ava Shepherd and I am a resident of Bozeman writing to express
my strong and sincere opposition to any proposal that would designate the
LGBTQ+ Pride flag as the official flag of the City of Bozeman.
While I fully support treating every individual with dignity and respect,
regardless of identity or background. Elevating the Pride flag to official city
status goes beyond inclusion. It represents an endorsement of a specific
political and cultural movement that does not reflect the values or beliefs of
the entire Bozeman community. Official city symbols should unite us, not
promote particular ideologies that risk creating division among residents.
Bozeman is a diverse and vibrant city, home to people of many different
faiths, values, and worldviews. Many families in our community hold to
long standing traditions rooted in faith, family, and service that run deep in
the culture of Montana. To adopt a flag so closely associated with a specific
social agenda as the emblem of our city sends an unintended but clear
message: that those who do not align with that agenda are less welcome or
less represented in their own hometown.
This is not a question of whether individuals deserve representation, they
absolutely do. Rather, it is about whether an official civic symbol should
reflect a movement that is, by its nature, political and polarizing. City flags
and emblems should reflect common ground, ideals we all share, not
amplify ideological differences.
I respectfully urge the commission to consider the broader implications of
this decision. Instead of symbolic gestures that may alienate many
residents, I encourage you to focus on initiatives that foster genuine unity,
understanding, and respect across all communities in Bozeman.
Thank you for your time and your service to our city. I hope you will
carefully consider these concerns and make a decision that reflects the
shared values of all Bozeman residents.
Sincerely,
Ava Shepherd
Bozeman, MT