Morality, Diversity, Free Speech and Mayor Kriseman

St. Petersburg, FL
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin

If you haven’t been following the dust up between the Local NAACP Chapter, the gay rights movement and Mayor Rick Kriseman check out the recent articles in the Tampa Bay Times, by Charlie Frago:

Gay rights groups protest choice of pastor to speak at St. Petersburg MLK event
Kriseman says he’ll use MLK Day breakfast as an opportunity to educate minister on his antigay views
St. Petersburg’s NAACP chapter criticizes Kriseman, gay rights groups for opposition to MLK event speaker

You might also find Janelle Irwin’s Post/near rant in saintpetersblog; St. St.Pete City Council’s invocation highlights commitment to diversity interesting.

Early word was Kriseman refused to present the key to the City to Rev Jamal Bryant due to his openly anti-gay stand. Probably no big deal, I doubt seriously Rev. Bryant was all that interested in a key to the City anyhow.

Kriseman now says he will “educate” the Baltimore minister on his anti-gay views. Assuming the meeting can be arranged I would really like to be a fly on the wall in that conversation.

Two things strike me about all of this first, embracing diversity is one thing, exploiting it is another. I am not sure whether Kriseman is exploiting the situation or pandering.

I also find fascinating, those interest groups so very willing to throw away some ones’ right to free speech when their ideas do not fit with the anticipated message. It was not all that long ago that LGBT community was fighting to be heard.

The NAACP has the right to invite whoever they want to speak at an event, and they should know the individual well enough to anticipate the message, and the speaker certainly has a right to speak his or her opinion without interference from an elected official, special interest group or anyone else.

If you don’t like the message go to peacefully protest the event. That is your right also.

Kriseman and his team like this kind of publicity they think it makes him somehow look “Mayoral.”

I think at times it just makes him look foolish.

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Disclosures:
Contributor: Waterfront Charter Amendment (Vote on The Pier), Carly Fiorina for President