By Darlene Drury
FBHS class of 1974
I was born and raised a Fernandinian. When I was growing up, I had no role models. I always felt alone and ashamed because I knew I was different.
In an effort to not embarrass my numerous family members on the island, I left as soon as I could to start what I was told by people, by the media and by the world at large, would be a lonely existence lived in the shadows.
Well, guess what? My life in a large city, with many of my own kind, has given me a rich and fulfilling life in full view of the world. The current generation of LGBTQ+ youth have more advantages than I did, and perhaps this will allow them to stay in a town they love, near family and childhood friends that love them.
I am perplexed by the efforts of Citizens Defending Freedom–Nassau to prevent the Fernandina Pride celebration from using a public park. Mr. Jack Knocke says he is trying to protect children from “adult content.”
Mr. Knocke, how about you just stay away from the park on that particular day? It is public space, and the LGBTQ+ community is part of the law-abiding and tax-paying public.
If you and your group wanted to have a redneck rally or hillbilly hoedown in the park, I would be sure to put it on my calendar and avoid the area on that day. But I would never try to prevent such a gathering because I believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights — especially those pesky freedom of speech and freedom of peaceable assembly parts.
If you wish to protect your children from “adult content,” perhaps you should throw away your computer and all the cell phones in your house. Or work toward a more worthy cause like curbing gun violence if you want to really protect children.
I appreciate the opportunity to have my opinion heard. Happy Pride, everyone — even Mr. Knocke.
Thank you for your courage, strength, and for speaking up, very nicely stated!
Thanks for speaking out. Every voice matters.
Why can’t people just keep their sexual orientation to themselves I really don’t want to know what goes on in your bedroom
Your parade offends many people because of being so blatant
Stay home then. An easy solution.
Would you want married heterosexual couples to hide their relationships as well? No public weddings, no public displays or acknowledgment of their relationship? No wedding announcements in the newspaper? No mention of a wife in a man’s obituary? No mention of parents in a birth announcement? With your logic, everyone should hide their relationships. It is not just about sexual orientation; it is about identity and one’s place in society. People simply want to celebrate their right to be who they are and not have to hide who they love. Comments like yours are exactly the reason why pride celebrations are still needed.
You ever kiss your significant other in public? Just sayin’
Do you think that’s what everyone is thinking when they look at one another? About their sex life? Or is that just where your mind goes?
Linda, then don’t tell me about your husband or boyfriend or what you did this weekend because I don’t care. Keep your orientation to yourself. Be real…No one is telling you about what they do in their bedrooms. News flash….that’s in your head so seek help, nut job.
Sure, Linda. You do the same. No one wants to hear about your husband or kids, you know, basic things that define you. Be sure to remove any photos of your loved ones from your office space as well. And also..well, you just have to read your own words. If you thought it was ok to think that…then you are unable to progress.
Let’s be honest…. Not every voice matters… it appears it’s only the ones that agree with you…
Well said, Darlene!
“Redneck rally?” “Hillbilly hoedown?” Really?
We don’t need to denigrate people we disagree with. It’s not necessary to demonize others to advance a belief. To both sides of the issue, please stop the clever perjoratives, the cloaked.inuendo, and a call to arms using faith, family, and flag.
Now, where can I find a hillbilly hoedown? I’ve never seen one of those!
Except she said it well. I applaud her honesty
Mr. White, your ability to nitpick and find disagreement with the tiniest items in a person’s post is unparalleled, but it only creates more divisions. Please step back and take a look at the larger message. It is one of love and tolerance.
Mr White, then you aren’t getting out much
Then stop others from denigrating ALL members of our City
Thank you! Darlene! You said it wonderfully and you took the high road!
Bravo Darlene!
Pride is still a sin.
In the context of the Bible, the term “pride” refers to excessive or arrogant self-centeredness and a sense of superiority that leads to a disregard for others and a refusal to acknowledge one’s own limitations. This form of pride is generally considered a spiritual or moral failing. In the context of the Pride Festival, pride refers to self-respect, dignity, and a sense of accomplishment or belonging within a community. Same word, two different meanings.
Well said!
Is that what your ex-wife says?
You almost had me, but by using terms like “redneck rally” and “hillbilly hoedown”, you’ve proven yourself to be just as prejudicial and hateful as Mr. Knocke.
Darlene,
your hillbilly and redneck remarks demonstrates your are just another clueless hypocritical left wing dolt. Jack has an opinion and had a right to say it without being demonized personally by the local Lib mob on this blog.
Mr. Walker – I’m assuming from your remarks that you cannot recognize words like “LGBTQ+ Agenda”, “grooming”, “clueless, hypocritical left wing dolt” etc. as demonizing and triggering, or at the very least as a dog whistle to those who seek an excuse to agree with you. Your remarks just might fall into your category of cluelessness, but how fortunate for you that you have the right to express them.
Sorry Bonnie, her remarks were bigoted. “Dog whistle” or no “dog whistle”
What ever that really means.
There’s a reason their beloved trumpy loves the poorly educated.
Wow, you somehow got “trump” in to the conversation lol.
Thank you Tim you are so right
and why do we need to know their sexual orientation I mean really isn’t that something you keep private
Maybe we should have a parade for married couples or engaged couples or couples that are boyfriend and girlfriend I think we should
Go ahead and organize one. Excuse me but heterosexuals have no problem with displays of affection in public or letting the world know their preferences or orientations. This group has been made a target…not a good thing
We have one every day. It’s called traffic.
lol
Would you want married heterosexual couples to hide their relationships as well? No public weddings, no public displays or acknowledgment of their relationship? No wedding announcements in the newspaper? No mention of a wife in a man’s obituary? No mention of parents in a birth announcement? With your logic, everyone should hide their relationships. It is not just about sexual orientation; it is about identity and one’s place in society. People simply want to celebrate their right to be who they are and not have to hide who they love. Comments like yours are exactly the reason why pride celebrations are still needed.
We have that 7 days each week. Kinda boring.
Read the room, Linda. The world is moving on without you. Its called progress. You can learn and live in it or you can stay stuck in stupid.
It appears that the Observer is committed to being the lead News outlet for the Pride community. While I believe that people have no more choice over their sexual preference than they do their skin color, and that everyone deserves to be treated equally, what I tire of is the constant drone coming from the Pride community that we must constantly bow to their need for love and attention or else be demonized for not being supportive. As for the concerns related to the Pride parade, it does not take much to do a little internet searching to see lewd costumes and performances at Pride parades in a number of cities across the country. It also does not take much to see children exposed to drag shows that are anything but family friendly. These are real concerns and should not be readily dismissed as is so often the case. The organizers of the Pride Parade here have stated that no such behavior will be allowed and hope that they are able to keep that promise.
Thank you you are so right
Anonymous is absolutely correct. Please stop with the endless discussion of this topic. The matter of the parade was settled. We don’t need to read endless articles from everyone with some “new” angle on the same subject. Enough already.
Personal letters are welcome
Then don’t read them. There is a reason for the noise.
While I’d agree that the hillbilly and redneck comments were not necessary to prove her point, Darlene’s letter does move me to add the Pride event to my calendar in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Without LGBTQ+ family or close friends, it is too easy to pass such events by. Because I believe in free speech and the value of all people, including those who do not look or feel as I do, it’s time to get off my comfortable WASP couch and say so. I hope others who are in similar situations will do so, too.
I was under the impression the parade and gathering were settled science. A few last minute bantering,name calling blurbs won’t hurt I guess. Thanks Observer for raising the ire again. When personal struggles are pushed into the public sphere, some are always going to push back, get used to it that’s life.
Every voice matters and Darlene did a great job
Of course ‘every voice matters’ that you agree with…. Others just need to sit down and shut up!
You first, please.
Well said. A few observations, if I may. Procreation by heterosexuals creates non-heterosexuals. Groomers? How abiut the tens of thousands of little girls sexualized at age 4+ in “Beauty Contests” so they can grow up and br groped like “contestants” in Miss Universe? Where are the protests against that form of child abuse? Anecdotally, the people who subject their children to that form of abuse are not “Left-wing” (whatever that means anymore).
This paper is seriously one sided, irritating and becoming more irrelevant by the article…
This article is the opinion of the writer only, not the paper. That’s how “commentary” works.
Dear Lord people, have some humanity and sense of compassion. Why isit assumed there is grooming by the LBGTQ+ community? I was raped by my brother at the age of 16 and by a boss at the age of 28. Both heterosexual… how’s that for grooming?
I am so sorry.
Thank you, Darlene, for your courage to speak up on behalf of the Pride community. Pride and Pride events exist to demonstrate support for a population that continues to be vilified. The youth of our community who identify as LGBTQ are grateful for the kindness and compassion shown to them by Pride, and I suspect this love and support helps to instill self-esteem and, yes, Pride in them. I am an ally and always will be!
Powerful article you’ve written here! I wish I could have been there for you when you were young. All you needed were people who were comfortable enough with themselves (pretty much fearless) to understand that being “different” does NOT mean abnormal. You’ve turned into a big city sleeking gal now so I guess you have figured this out already, but please let me remind you that no matter who you are or where you go… whether it’s the beach, a park, downtown, church, City Hall, etc., you are just as special and important as the next person! When people try to silence you or threaten your right to exercise your Constitutional rights, it has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. Stay strong, my friend. Cheers!
Most hillbilly and redneck types are happy to refer to themselves by those words. Stop acting offended by Darlene’s statement.