JONES BROKE PROMiSE TO HAVE WORKSHOP ON BRIDGE OF LIONS FLAGS -- No Workshop Was Ever Held

Commission turns down Gay Pride flag request

By PETER GUINTA
Staff Writer
Publication Date: 06/15/04

A request Monday night by the St. Augustine Gay Pride Committee to fly rainbow flags on the Bridge of Lions was turned down by the City Commission.

This is the second year in a row the committee has asked for, and been denied, permission to fly flags honoring Gay Pride Week.

The Rev. Ruth Jensen of First Coast Metropolitan Church said there will be "an unprecedented number" of people here celebrating this year. Part of the celebration is a march across the bridge at 5:30 p.m. Friday that will feature people carrying rainbow flags.

Jensen said last year the City Commission promised a public hearing to determine a policy for flying flags for nonprofit groups on the bridge.

"That did not happen," she said. "This is really the basis of why so many people lose faith in government."

She asked for public hearings and workshops so people affected could have a voice in determining the rules.

In public comment, Juanita Davis said rainbow flags are displayed in other public places quite often.

"This is a great time to raise the flag," she said.

Jason Relph, a member of the Pride Committee, named several commissioners who had previously said a public hearing should be held to determine policy on the flags.

"What is the meaning of the word 'historic'? Flagler College is only 35 years old. St. Augustine's namesake was in a homosexual relationship. How much more historic can you get? We'd like clarification of the word," he said.

According to Paul Williamson, St. Augustine's director of public affairs, the city's policy was unanimously decided in October and required all flags to be durable, represent a not-for-profit event and have some correlation between a historic landmark or event in the city.

The logo flags of Flagler College, Los Floridanos, Greek Landing Day and the Lighthouse Festival are examples, he said. This morning at 10 a.m., another flag -- belonging to the Civil Rights Committee of St. Augustine -- will be flown from the bridge.

Vice Mayor Susan Burk said anyone should be able to petition the city to fly a flag.

"We are a marketplace of ideas. We should not be afraid of ideas we may not agree with," she said.

But Commissioner Don Crichlow said fear has nothing to do with it.

"Everybody will have a flag every week," he said. "You have to put a limit on it. I think the policy we put in place is appropriate for the city of St. Augustine. We're not saying 'Don't fly flags.' We're just saying, 'Don't fly flags on the bridge.' We've opened our doors."

The city will close Cuna Street for the celebration. Rainbow flags will be visible there and throughout the city, said Mayor George Gardner.

Gardner said he wrote a welcome letter to Gay Pride participants and said the celebration "reflected the diversity of our city and our society."

But he added, "Diversity is a concept. If we decide to expand our criteria to accept concepts, the bridge will look like billboard alley every weekend. The specialness of flags on the bridge will be lost."

Gardner said he wanted to leave established guidelines in place.

Commissioner Errol Jones promised that a workshop will be held to discuss this issue.

"I doubt this is going to go away," Jones said. "It will be back next year."

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