An Open Letter to the Newcastle City Council, and Mayor Clark's Reply

Newcastle, WA – Following the Newcastle City Council's June 4 vote to not raise the Pride flag at City Hall during Pride Month, this site's author, a Newcastle resident and member of the queer community, sent an open letter to Mayor Clark and council members. On June 13, Mayor Clark replied. Both the letter and the mayor's response, a public record, reproduced with his consent as stated in the email itself, appear below, along with commentary.

Open Letter to the Newcastle City Council

Dear Mayor Clark and Newcastle City Council Members,

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the recent decision not to raise the Pride flag at City Hall during Pride Month. As a resident of Newcastle and a member of the queer community, I am surprised and disheartened by the outcome of the council's meeting, especially given the overwhelming support I have received from fellow residents and friends within our community.

Mayor Clark's remarks on this issue reveal a troubling disregard for the experiences of marginalized communities. The assertion that the American flag is the "most unifying symbol in the history of the world" and that it "includes everybody in the community" is fundamentally flawed. For many minorities, including the indigenous population, Japanese Americans during World War II, and the entire queer community, the American flag has not always been a symbol of unity or inclusion. The struggles for essential human rights, the fight against discrimination, and the ongoing battle for equality and acceptance clearly demonstrate that the unity Mayor Clark speaks of is limited to cisgender, heterosexual white males.

Moreover, the reasoning that raising a flag for one cause would necessitate raising flags for every cause is a slippery slope fallacy. Equating the Pride flag, a symbol of love, acceptance, and human rights, with flags of organizations like Hamas or political figures like MAGA and former President Donald Trump is not only illogical but also offensive. The Pride flag represents the ongoing struggle for the rights and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community, a cause that deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated by our city.

Additionally, citing the Supreme Court's decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston as a justification is a misapplication of legal precedent. The ruling in that case focused on the refusal to allow a religious flag, which is distinctly different from raising a flag that represents the inclusivity and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. The intent behind raising the Pride flag is to promote visibility and support for a historically marginalized group, not to endorse or favor a specific religion or political agenda.

The unity Mayor Clark claims to champion seems, in reality, to be an exclusionary vision that ignores the very real struggles and needs of minority communities. In a time when many American citizens with political power are actively fighting against the transgender community, basic female reproductive and medical rights, and a renewed wave of bigotry and violence against queer people, it is more important than ever for local leaders to stand up for inclusion and equality.

I urge you to reconsider this decision and to recognize the importance of visibly supporting all members of our community. Raising the Pride flag during Pride Month is a small but significant gesture that shows Newcastle is a city that values diversity, inclusion, and the rights of all its residents.

Sincerely, A Newcastle Resident

Mayor Clark's Reply

On June 13, a reply from Mayor Clark was received by this site's author and several other residents who had expressed their disagreement with the council's decision. Since the reply was sent from an official City of Newcastle email address and the message states explicitly that "This email is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure," it is reproduced here in full:

Thank you for sharing your perspective.

I am aware that some people disagree with me and my attempt to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us. It has become all too easy to create silos and insulate them with negativity. I refuse to accept those silos. Instead, I chose to focus on the one symbol that signifies the freedoms we ALL enjoy. The US flag is that symbol. It has been bought and paid for by the sacrifice of countless numbers of men and women of all walks of life over the course of our history. I would never think of disrespecting their sacrifice by suppressing anyone's first amendment rights. In Newcastle, any person or group of people is free (and encouraged) to celebrate what is important to them. Therefore, while it is my responsibility to represent all the people equally, it is impossible to have everyone agree on what is important. The best thing the government can do is to stay out of people's lives. As I stated clearly in the previous council meeting, I support everyone equally. Everyone is an all encompassing term that includes the rainbow community but I will not be part of a government that tells people what to say, do or think.

Thank you again for writing.

Robert ClarkMayor, City of Newcastlerobertc@newcastlewa.gov

This email is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

Commentary

While a reply is appreciated, the same generic message appears to have been sent to everyone who expressed disagreement with the council's decision, avoiding any engagement with the specific concerns raised by different individuals.

Mayor Clark emphasizes the American flag as a symbol of unity and insists that raising the Pride flag would create division. However, unity has been achieved through the struggles of marginalized communities, the Stonewall Uprising, the Civil Rights Movement, and is not yet fully realized for everyone.

The mayor's message also suggests that raising the Pride flag might suppress First Amendment rights and equates it with endorsing hate groups. This comparison is deeply offensive: the Pride flag symbolizes tolerance and inclusivity. The LGBTQ+ community has historically faced harassment and violence, and the city's refusal to raise the flag only heightens genuine fears for safety and acceptance.

The argument that some residents fear expressing disagreement with LGBTQ+ issues because of potential backlash is equally concerning. There is no basis for equating the expression of queer identity with acts of hate. The queer community continuously faces real threats, as evidenced by tragedies like the Pulse Nightclub Shooting and the Charlottesville Rally.

Furthermore, many veterans are part of the queer community and seek recognition and support. Colonel Edward Thomas Ryan's story, a decorated army veteran who came out as gay in his obituary, illustrates the fear and prejudice faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, even those who have served their country.

Emotions and reason must coexist with empathy to create a truly inclusive and supportive community. Raising the Pride flag is a symbol of that commitment, and the city council's reconsideration of that decision, which came on June 18, reflects what advocacy and community pressure can accomplish.