Two items appeared in my social media feeds yesterday, the first day of Pride Month, that caused me to think a little about contrasts.
The first, from the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, is simple and straightforward --- and reflects the thinking (and belief systems) of many Iowans from various denominations who profess to be Christians.
The other was a column by Bob Leonard published under his brand, Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, and headlined, "No LGBTQ+ Folks Welcome at Proposed Farmers' Market in Pella."
The latter involves a permit petition from an outfit called Pella Books now before City Council there that would allow the business to operate a farmers market. Pella Books is a second-hard book store located in an historic building in downtown Pella --- and appears to be a pleasant, well-stocked place.
Documentation with the petition includes a list of vendor rules, including the requirement that all vendors dress “in the attire appropriate for the gender of their natural birth,” a prohibition on "immodest clothing," and a ban on the display of "material promoting non-Biblical positions on issues such as evolution, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, or presenting occultist beliefs” either as merchandise or attire.
A great deal of time and energy seems to have been invested in rules governing participants in a market that one would expect to offer, in season, green beans and baked goods.
I'm guessing that the business is within its rights to operate under these rules so long as the market is located on private property so, transgender gardeners, beware! And leave your Raygun t-shirts at home.
But how simple it is just to open the door and say "welcome" as opposed to crafting and then enforcing a complicated set of rules to keep people and ideas perceived of as wicked out.
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