By LYNETTE SOWELL-STEVENS
Cove Leader-Press
It was a more-than-full house at Tuesday evening’s Copperas Cove city council meeting, and it took about 45 minutes for citizens to address the council on several matters, the largest one being the issuance of a Pride Month proclamation for June 1, 2027.
Ultimately, the decision lay at the feet of Mayor Dan D. Yancey to make the call.
Kevin Keller, the City’s Director of Public Relations, said in a phone conversation on Wednesday that the mayor’s office alone makes the determination if a proclamation will be issued. Whenever a proclamation comes from the mayor, it is because individuals or organizations have submitted a request.
Keller stated that Yancey has declined several proclamation requests since he has been in the position of mayor. Also, even if the city council concurred regarding any kind of proclamation, the mayor can refuse to do so, Keller added. Yancey has been in the office of mayor since winning a special election in December 2018 and is now in his second full term of office.
At this time, there is no written city policy for mayoral proclamations.
Howard Hawk, Place 3 on the Copperas Cove city council, called for the discussion of a proclamation at the close of the June 16 meeting, after several advocates for a proclamation related to LGBTQ and Pride Month spoke during citizens’ forum.
On the agenda, it was listed as “discussion and direction” so there would have not been a vote by the council, even if that were possible according to the city charter.
Sheena Tanner is a Copperas Cove resident and a leader of the Democrats of Copperas Cove, and was the first to address the council on Tuesday.
“A pride proclamation is not a law. It does not require anyone to change their beliefs. It does not compel any church to alter its teachings. It does not interfere with anyone’s religious liberty. It simply acknowledges that LGBTQIA residents are part of this community and deserve to know that their city values them as neighbors and constituents. Some have suggested that issuing a proclamation would mean the city is promoting an ideology. I respectfully disagree,” Tanner told the council. “Cities issue proclamations throughout the year recognizing veterans, first responders, small businesses, military service, historical observances, and countless community organizations. These proclamations are not endorsements of every belief held by those being recognized. They are acknowledgments that these members of our community matter.”
She said that Copperas Cove has LGBTQIA residents who live, work, own businesses, attend schools, pay taxes, volunteer, worship, within the community.
“They are not outsiders; they are your constituents,” she told the council.
Resident Sara Schultz also spoke, she said, as her civic responsibility and support of this community and the Pride Proclamation.
“The importance of this proclamation is as important as our First Amendment, the freedom of speech, expression, press, and freedom of and from religion. Many claim scriptures have definitively defined what is acceptable as a family unit or marriage as one man married to one woman,” Schultz said. “However, in these modern times, many theologians have continuous debates over the accuracy of this morally specific belief, because love always protects, always trusta, always hopes and always perseveres. This community was built on a foundation of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”
On the other side of the idea, Pastor Kirby Lack was one who spoke against such a mayoral proclamation. He said he was there representing the Coryell County Republican Party and its president, Norman Mitchell.
“We believe it is not required of the government to officially celebrate or endorse behavior or ideology that many residents believe are contrary to biblical faith. The Bible teaches, as God created marriage as a sexual relationship between one man, one woman. These verses are not politically intended; they’re deeply held biblical convictions by many Christians and families in this community. The question before the council is not whether a citizen deserves fair treatment under the law; of course they do,” Lack said.
“We question whether the City of Copperas Cove should be an official voice to promote, celebrate a proclamation that directly conflicts with Christian ethical and moral values of many citizens that of this council represents. We believe the answer is no. City government should focus on the matters that unite the community, public safety, infrastructure, economic growth, families, veteran service members, and the community good. It should not be taken to the sides of deeply divisive cultural or moral issues, using a proclamation that many of the residents do not support or cannot support in good conscience.”
During the discussion of the item, Yancey read from a prepared statement.
“The city received a request to issue a proclamation recognizing the LGBTQ community. I appreciate the request and recognize the passion and desire from those who requested this specific recognition. You’ve been heard and respected and are a vital part of this community, based on the general application of the city’s charter and state law.
“The issuance of proclamations is primarily ceremonial in nature, and as such lacks any binding authority, not to diminish the importance of the celebration of the LGBTQ community,” Yancey told those assembled. “I do not feel such proclamation provides benefit to the greater good of the community, and will not issue requested proclamation. The city is committed and dedicated to serving every resident, business owner, and visitor with fairness, professionalism, and respect, regardless of background or demographic, in providing excellent municipal services to all members of our community.”
After Yancey's statement, Councilmember Dale Treadway made the suggestion that there be a policy drafted regarding mayoral proclamations.
“I appreciate everyone that spoke up and participated in democracy’s right to speak. I really do appreciate that, but I’ve been trying to find the right word to use all night, and I really don’t want to use the word fair, because the system is not always fair. I want to use the word equity, what is right for the entire community,” Treadway said. ““We represent everyone, and what I would recommend or ask for, again, this is just my opinion, the mayor has the right to either approve or disapprove a proclamation, and I understand that that’s his right as it may have, and I also have to support that.”
Yancey acknowledged his decision “disappoints a lot of people in the room.”
“It’s a tough deal, and I’m in a no-win situation, regardless. But I feel that I am here to represent the best interest of the entire community, and I wanted to say that I appreciate everybody’s professionalism, decorum, you have all conducted yourselves, and you all make the city of Copperas Cove proud for what you do.”
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.