St. CLOUD, Fla. – St. Cloud’s city council held a special meeting Wednesday after controversy about how it’s handling Pride Month.
Passionate public comments started off this St. Cloud special meeting called by Mayor Chris Robertson after controversy surrounding not issuing a Pride Month proclamation. People also shared how they felt about the city giving $1,250 in taxpayer dollars to Saturday’s Proud in the Cloud event.
“I object to my taxpayer dollars going to support this Pride event. This is nothing more than a celebration of a sexual preference and an alternate lifestyle,” one resident said during the meeting.
Another resident remarked, “It’s funny that those that bring the little few voices of hate on Sunday, they’re all preaching to their creator but their creator doesn’t teach them that.”
The debate stems from a disagreement between St. Cloud Mayor Chris Robertson and former deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher, the first openly gay council member. Fletcher was removed as deputy mayor after the council disagreed with the way he handled their decision to stop issuing proclamations for June, suggesting they did not want to support Pride month. He remains a council member.
“I absolutely believe it could have been handled differently and I’m going to leave it at that,” Fletcher told News 6.
[WATCH: Pride Month halt, deputy mayor’s removal prompts heated debate in St. Cloud]
Wednesday, the council voted to provide and pay for 10 additional Parks & Recreation staff members. Mayor Robertson felt there was not enough staff for the event that could draw over 2,000 people. He also questioned the grant application process, stating, “I believe we were hoodwinked up here on council.”
“No, there’s nothing unlawful,” Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, a volunteer for the event, responded. “There’s no hoodwinking going on. Nothing of that sort. This is just a group that wants to have an event.”
