Chillicothe – The Ross County Commissioners have not agreed to light the courthouse tower to commemorate LGBTQ Pride Month in June. Commissioner David Glass explained his view of that on his Facebook page today.
He reported that last week, the commissioners “were the subject of some controversy, expressed primarily on Facebook.”
Glass wrote that the First Capital PRIDE Coalition had submitted a request by email for a rainbow-colored courthouse tower lighting for the month of June. He said the commissioners deliberated on that on May 27th, but “took no immediate action toward this request, and the Courthouse has not been lit for this purpose.”
Glass wrote that “displays of political activism do not belong on public buildings, especially using government as the vehicle of such activism.”
See the text of his entire post below, and read his original post on his official Facebook page – along with comments.
The Ross County Commissioners usually meet on Mondays, with a live video feed and archived podcast of their sessions on the commissioners’ YouTube account. Find the commissioners’ agendas on their website. The also have a Facebook page, which is separate from David Glass’ official page.
Commissioner Glass’s post:
Ross County Courthouse Bell Tower Display:
Displays of political activism do not belong on public buildings, especially using government as the vehicle of such activism.
Last week some of you may have seen that the Ross County Board of Commissioners were the subject of some controversy, expressed primarily on Facebook, regarding the lighting of the Ross County Courthouse to commemorate LGBTQ PRIDE Month, which this year is themed locally by some as “Activism & Social Change”.
In the interest of transparency, I felt compelled to reiterate and clarify my position, as well as provide a general update related to the requested display as it stands today.
First Capital PRIDE Coalition submitted a request by email to the Ross County Commissioners requesting the Courthouse display a rainbow colored lighting scheme using the bell tower lighting system for the month of June.
The request was deliberated upon by the County Commissioners on May 27th during the regularly scheduled weekly session that day.
I expressed my position, which is:
- Issues related to political activism and advocacy, are not appropriate for the use of the bell tower lighting system.
- A display presented by Ross County Government, by nature, is a statement by local government on behalf of all the residents of the community. The Ross County Board of Commissioners and local government should not be the mechanism for such displays.
Following that discussion, the Board of Commissioners took no immediate action toward this request, and the Courthouse has not been lit for this purpose.
I do not harbor any malice toward the LGBTQ Community, nor do I wish to impede the rights of Ross County citizens to publicly celebrate Pride Month however they wish. There are many in the LGBTQ community whom I know and love, and I respect their right, as I do all Ross County citizens, to engage in activism and exercise their First Amendment Rights. However, my position in that meeting was specifically opposed to the use of the Ross County Courthouse to be the mechanism for that celebration/activism.
The response to my position has been, with few exceptions, politically thematic to say the least. As well as personal in nature, specifically as it relates to my political affiliation and religious beliefs, none of which I brought to this discussion. As an elected official, I recognize and accept those comments humbly as a function of my role, from constituents who disagree with me.
However, I hope those comments directed at me, are not also directed toward many Ross County citizens who share my position. I also believe in good faith, that they are not representative of First Capital PRIDE Coalition, nor organizations such as United Way of Ross County who have sponsored this year’s PRIDE Celebration.
I believe in showing respect and love for individuals within the LGBTQ community, while also believing that it is not an appropriate role for County Government to carry such a message of political activism.
Nor do I believe it is incumbent upon every citizen to agree completely with any individual or groups of individuals, about their specific beliefs on a particular issue. Which is aligned with my opposition of such requests.
I have remained consistent, since my first ~30 days in office earlier this year, in expressing that the Ross County Commissioners should adopt a formal policy related to bell tower displays.
In the modern era of a divided American electorate, I believe a fair written policy is necessary. This would offer citizens of Ross County reliable expectations regarding procedure and appropriate parameters as to how the Board of Commissioners will consider their request.
Additionally, if executed effectively, I think it would provide some continuity, regardless of who is elected to serve in our current roles; and reduce feelings of controversy and division around specific individual requests.
First Capital PRIDE Coalition has amended their request to include the dates June 22nd through June 28th. This request will be considered by the Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 9th.
To see my comments, verbatim, related to this issue, or to view the livestream of all weekly Ross County Commissioners meetings, visit: https://youtube.com/@rosscommissioners?si=M0nj9V38IaYlR_rS and follow Ross County Commissioners on Facebook.
I will continue to help lead the discussion and engage in the issues most directly associated with the role of the Ross County Board of Commissioners. Chiefly: base economic development, response to support efforts related to the Chillicothe paper mill, and the fiscal oversight of the Ross County government.
