HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-25 Public Comment - N. Allen - PLEASE READ THIS RESPECTFUL OPINION! NO TO THE RAINBOW FLAGFrom:Naida Allen
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]PLEASE READ THIS RESPECTFUL OPINION! NO TO THE RAINBOW FLAG
Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 11:39:50 PM
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Good afternoon! I apologize that I cannot be at the meeting tomorrow in person but I wanted
to send an email since I cannot be there due to work reasons. I hope my voice is heard.I completely understand that many people, have many opinions on the subject of making the
rainbow flag, the flag of Bozeman.I respectfully ask... do not do this! I do not give my opinion as someone who is racist or
homophobic. I have friends and family that are part of the LGBTQ+ community and I lovethem with all my heart That will never change!!! Having said that you are making a
decision to represent our beautiful town with only one color. That color just happens to berainbow color, which is offensive to many people. To Christians a rainbow is a sign of God's
promise. We have Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Jewish,Christians, French, Italian, Caucasian Americans, and so much more, in our community. One
flag does not represent us all. It's wrong for you to make the rainbow flag the flag of Bozemanbecause that only represents one group of people. Bozeman is an inclusive, college, western
town with deep roots that go back hundreds of years. By deciding to make the rainbow flag theflag of Bozeman, you are only including one group of people and you are excluding the rest.
What about the Native Americans who lived here before us? What about their pride and theirrecognition? If you want to have a city flag it should be rooted in things like Native American
history, our western culture or our blue and gold MSU college colors. The flag should beinclusive of EVERYONE. It should not represent just one group of people and exclude the rest
of us.Bozeman is not just comprised of Bozeman alone. Residents of Belgrade, Manhattan, Logan,
Three Forks, Willow Creek, Harrison, Cardwell, Livingston and Big Timber all frequentBozeman as their place to shop, watch movies, have fun at Hyaliye Canyon, the Museum of
the Rockies, and enjoy good dining. We all spend our hard earned money there.We were and still are a bunch of poor country Folk. That is not said in any derogatory way! It
is said with pride! My great great grandparents were some of the first settlers in this area and Iam proud to say I am one of them! I am also proud to say that I am understanding and not
judgmental of anyone's race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or where they moved herefrom. I believe everyone deserves a good quality of life which is why you should not make the
rainbow flag the flag to represent Bozeman. You are making quality of life good for only onegroup of people. If you're going to fly a rainbow flag then you need to also fly the Honored
Stars and Stripes, a Native American flag, a Mexican flag, a Black Liberation Flag, Flag ofIsreal ( to represent our Jewish community) La Drapeau Tricolore (to represent our French
community), all the flags of Asia to represent China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea... andmore. Bozeman should represent our country's ideals and not segregate those who are not
included in the rainbow flag. We are all here for the same thing! We are all here for theAmerican dream and when you force flags and ideals on us... the American dream dies!
I support all members of the LGBTQ+ community. I do not support excluding everyone butthem. I do not support Bozeman flying any flag that supports only one group of people! This
is a form of segregation and I do not support that!I ask that you make the flag of Bozeman something that represents us all!
Thank you for your time and understanding!
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