Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
After a contentious back and forth, and input from a Danish Mayor, the Solvang City Council voted 3-2 in favor of rainbow banners for Pride Month during Monday evening’s meeting.
Rainbow House, a nonprofit in the Santa Ynez Valley, had previously applied for rainbow crosswalks and banners to celebrate the nationally recognized Pride Month this June in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Solvang City Council denied the application twice before citing vision issues for horses over the crosswalk and councilmember Robert Clarke stating it was too “political” and “divisive.” Clarke went on to make discriminatory comments about the LGBTQ+ community and drag queens while stating he expects to be called a bigot.
Members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community called out Clarke and the council claiming discrimination and unfair treatment.
The issue gained international attention last week with the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen sending a letter to the Solvang Mayor and council urging them to embrace Danish values as they embrace other parts of Danish culture, and give their full support to the LGBTQ+ community.
This week, Tyler Hayden at the Santa Barbara Independent reported a request for records showed councilmember Clarke’s close association with an extremist conservative religious group, “Santa Ynez Common Sense.” Texts and emails between Clarke and members of the group showed anger and frustration over the backlash for his comments. He vowed to “keep fighting this crap” while calling his colleagues “bozos” for “bowing to a tiny woke mob” and also called the LGBTQ+ community “clowns,” “snowflakes,” “assholes,” and the “alphabet mafia.”
Clarke also contacted the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office for an investigation over what he called “threats” such as online comments suggesting Clarke’s house should be toilet papered. “These trans folks are pretty unpredictable,” Clarke wrote in a text message. The Sheriff’s Office declined his request, according to Hayden’s report.
Records show that members of the “God-centered” Santa Ynez Valley Common Sense group believe hanging Pride banners will “groom” children to become gay or transgender. Clarke stated that for every one of his “butt-hurt” critics he will donate $10 to Gays Against Groomers, another extremist conservative group that targets the LGBTQ+ community with false claims of pedophilia. Clarke has so far donated $100 to the organization, reports Hayden.
Clarke unsuccessfully ran for a citycouncil seat this past November before being appointed to a vacant seat by Mayor Mark Infanti.
During Monday evening’s meeting, councilmembers Claudia Orona, Mayor Pro-Tem Elizabeth Orona, and Mayor Mark Infanti voted yes in support of the Pride banners, while council members David Brown and Robert Clarke voted no.
Proposed PRIDE banners (courtesy photo)
Co-founders of The Rainbow House said even though their revised and downsized application didn’t include everything, they are happy with the result.
“These banners send a silent message to all of those who secretly need support, or need a space to finally breath for a moment. A place to relax and drop their shoulders and unclench their jaws. A place where in their own head they hear their voice say it’s ok, I’m safe here. I’m accepted, I’m seen,” the group stated on social media. “They serve a purpose for the ENTIRE community. The approval of these banners will speak volumes to the community, that support is here, and that we can find it together by conversation, education, exploration and partnerships,”
Eight Pride banners will hang for up for 10 days during Pride month in downtown Solvang this June.
Related Articles
April 21, 2023: Solvang Scolded by Copenhagen Mayor, Urges Support of LGBTQ+ Community
April 1, 2023: Santa Ynez High Breaks Agreement with Students Due to Complaints
March 23, 2023: Two Santa Ynez Men Charged with Stealing and Burning Pride Flags
Next thing you know, they’ll take the whole hand and make Solvang paint the buildings rainbow with “LGBTQ Only” signs.
To the people of SYV, keep fighting the good fight and don’t let your politicians sell you out because of some pressure from the woke masses of SB.
I agree with Sac, what a disgusting, dumb comment.
SBSTONER – you’re really gross. Hysterics and hate, great combo.
“Woke masses” you mean non bigots.
“the woke masses” – Proud to be a part of those folks. Yup. Empathy, compassion, understanding, acknowledging, and being willing to try to help those people who have a different lot in life than yourself because of the way they were born. Just awful traits, right?
Yeah guys! Keep fighting the good fight! About 70% of people nationwide support gay marriage. Keep doing what you’re doing, I’m sure it will work and make you more relevant in the next election 🙂 Doing great sweetie!
Chillin, it’s more than 70%. Fun fact: Donald Trump was the first president in history to enter office supporting gay marriage.
SBSTONER, whatever it is that you’re smoking, you have turned your brain to hateful MUSH.
Does this mean Robert Clarke reads Edhat? I wonder what username is his?
I have a few guesses
Starts with a V
I was at this meeting. The tone was respectful and civilized by all concerned. Of course, the entire brouhaha was greatly inflamed by Mr. Clarke’s incendiary, right-wing political remarks and could have been easily avoided with less rancor and vitriol had he kept his FOX NEWS opinions to himself rather than spewing them into the public domain. Kudos to the three council members who chose compromise over controversy.
Are we done with this yet?
BASIC – what were you saying yesterday about “contributing to the debate?” There’s a kettle I’d like to introduce you to…..
Another miss. This thing should be put to rest, that’s what my comment means. It’s done. It’s resolved, so yeah it’s relevant to the conversation at hand.
EdHat, can we get a daily comment limit please?
Some more of your greatest hits:
“Liars get delete here. Thank you.” Penalty Box Op-Ed: Santa Ynez Valley Hates Gay PeopleBasicinfo805
“Wow, Alex. That’s stupid.” BASICINFO805 4 APR 23, 2023 03:04 PM
No, another hit.
VOICE – lol I think you forgot to hit “Hide Your Handle.” Either way, you’re Mr. Anti-Fascism, right? Mr. Pro Freedom, right? Yet here you are asking the our right to comment be arbitrarily limited? Wow.
Take a look at a Penalty Box or any comment thread you and I have engaged in. Not just me commenting to myself, bub.
LOL!!! Voice needs someone else to keep him from making so many daily comments. Dude, you have no self control?
SBBoner,
Your 3.99 in taxes isn’t going to go all that far for those of us mooching. Can you please get off your culo and go make a decent living.
For you
No, that’s just flat dickish. What IS “absurdly stupid” to complain about your “taxes” funding it.
Alex – Very mature. Talking about boners and culos.
Sac, it’s not absurdly stupid to point out that you have waaayyy too much time on your hands to be a keyboard warrior on here 24/7.
Rather than a comment limit, let’s use the tools that Edhat already gives us. This is, in a sense, a community, and just as a community can get together and paint over graffiti defiling their neighborhood, we can make offensive commenters disappear by down voting them. Instead of just complaining, take action – and it involves a lot fewer keystrokes!
“fascism is the forcible suppression of opposition, which is what you and Sacjon are doing with a bombardment of comments”
Gaslighting doesn’t get much purer than this.
Awww, VOR, it’s so cute how you literally lie to yourself about reality to justify your behavior. Your comments are a “pittance” compared to mine? In fact, you made eight comments on this thread, I made eleven.
Add “pittance” to the list of words you shouldn’t use until you understand what they mean.
The replies to my mention of a comment limit are all more reasons to have one. Such kind words and positive language, and what’s that, a reference to fascism, by some of the commenters who most closely represent actual fascism.
“kind words and positive language,” – like asshole, right, VOL?
Fascism is limiting the ability of those you don’t agree with to speak their mind. Textbook.
Real question, VOR, why don’ you lead by example and limit your daily comments? You could certainly make Edhat a better place by doing so.
“I have, ” – no, you have not.
“fascism is the forcible suppression of opposition, which is what you and Sacjon are doing with a bombardment of comments” – lol not at all. No one told you to stop commenting. YOU are the one asking we not even be able to comment at all. Lying hypocrite. Man, you’re something else.
Sounds like a fascist request…
VOR–no, you really haven’t. Your output seems to be quite consistent. You have no self control at all, you call for people to limit comments, but you can’t do it.
Prove me wrong, don’t reply.
“attacking anyone who dares share an idea or opinion you don’t like.” The other spin on this is that VOR is defending the hateful and bigoted comments.
VOR is now the arbiter of fascism haha
I have, my comments are a pittance compared to the constant argumentative stream of comments from you and Sacjon. A big part of fascism is the forcible suppression of opposition, which is what you and Sacjon are doing with a bombardment of comments attacking anyone who dares share an idea or opinion you don’t like.
VOR is a huge hypocrite.
VOR, your comments are always on the wrong side of history. Always conservative drivel. You have chosen the side of hate, and you are now wanting to limit those of us who support inclusion and the LBGTQ part of our community. I see you. WE see you.
GeneralTree: Finally I feel like you and I are on common ground in regards to past/present comments. Now that Solvang has hit the ‘Reset Button’ after much uproar, the city officials, business owners, and townsfolk can get back to doing what they do best: hosting visitors to their city. We can all celebrate this latest decision, and hopefully stop the terrible back-and-forth nasty comments. It’s a good time for everyone to visit the Santa Ynez Valley!!! Big pink box of pastry anyone? I like them crisp waffles with the cream and raspberry filling….even if they are $5.75 each for goodness sake!)
BABY – have you tried the fancy chocolate truffles at the Danish Mill Bakery? World famous apparently.
SacJon: Have not had the chocolate truffles from the Danish Mill Bakery. I am more of a “carb” person and will have a bready sweet thing before chocolate. Although…I’ve had truffles/chocolate in Belgium/The Netherlands/France/Italy/Germany. My all-time fave reasonably inexpensive ($5 or less for 250 grams…almost 9 oz.) chocolate is Whittaker’s from New Zealand. Not sold in the US, but sold pretty much all over Canada (like London’s Drug Stores).
I do succumb to the pastries when I drive through Solvang.
A hit means a relevant comment. A miss means tired, ‘nothing to do with your time’ efforts at trying to dredge up unrelated quotation past comments from different topics, totally out of context. Let it go. And I wouldn’t try and defend liars here if I were you.
BASIC – I don’t defend you or VOICE so I’m not sure who you’re talking about.
BasicBish, you’ve just posted like five different times sayin “it’s over, it’s settled, let it go”.
How many times do you need to post that?
“Robert is not the worst candidate out there,” Infanti said.
“I hope he’s worth saving $40,000 for. I’m not convinced of that yet,” Infanti said after casting the tie-breaking vote.
https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/divided-solvang-council-appoints-robert-clarke-to-at-large-seat-vacated-by-infanti/article_f0a9e51c-fbf8-50f4-ae5b-6ce6e9a09fac.html
Pretty close though. Solvang should have spent the $40K (to hold an election that Clarke would have had to campaign in and win to get his seat).
Thanks for this article link, eastbeach.
Helpful background!
Lotsa anger coming from the left here.
Way to contribute.
Okay snowflake
Sorry that rainbows hurt your feelings. Lucky Charms commercials must be triggering for you. Stay strong, bro lmao
Toilet paper threat? Whoops…… lol!
I can’t believe he read my comment and took it as a “threat” from an “unpredictable” “trans folk!” If only he knew haha! What a fool though. Glad the City came to its senses and didn’t bow to the bigots again.
Haha! Imagine being so threatened by toilet paper that you call the cops?! This guy is unhinged. Really hope he doesn’t have any firearms. Anyone walking by with their groceries and toiletries could be in danger.
These fascists are not well “Records show that members of the “God-centered” Santa Ynez Valley Common Sense group believe hanging Pride banners will “groom” children to become gay or transgender.”
And they will scare horses apparently!
Those banners are obviously grooming material, by trying to make you think Solvang is a really pleasant, welcoming place.
OUST those far right extremists. Bring their darkness to the light. Show their faces. The evil must be rooted out of our systems “Clarke’s close association with an extremist conservative religious group, “Santa Ynez Common Sense.” Texts and emails between Clarke and members of the group showed anger and frustration over the backlash for his comments. He vowed to “keep fighting this crap” while calling his colleagues “bozos” for “bowing to a tiny woke mob” and also called the LGBTQ+ community “clowns,” “snowflakes,” “assholes,” and the “alphabet mafia.”
Glad this is over. Now the SY Valley can pay attention to the lawsuit pending regarding racial epithets being shouted by students at a SY high school basketball game. Culprits have been ID’d. And then of course we have a principal, a decent man, resigning over some pretty hateful stuff and some very bad decisions by another administrator. What are they putting in those aebleskivers!!!!!
“When they show you who they are, believe them.”
Clarke has made his insane hatred abundantly clear. He needs to go, there’s no way a person like that can represent his constituency at this point.
ALEX – sad thing is, I think he DOES represent a significant (and unfortunately pretty vocal and influential) part of his constituency.
According to Scientific American, many homophobes are either secretly gay, and/or taught this behavior from homophobic parents.
“Homophobes should consider a little self-reflection, suggests a new study finding those individuals who are most hostile toward gays and hold strong anti-gay views may themselves have same-sex desires, albeit undercover ones.
The prejudice of homophobia may also stem from authoritarian parents, particularly those with homophobic views as well, the researchers added.
“This study shows that if you are feeling that kind of visceral reaction to an out-group, ask yourself, ‘Why?'” co-author Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, said in a statement. “Those intense emotions should serve as a call to self-reflection.””
Oops, looks like you offended one of those homophobes. Homophobia is a mental disease (but it’s curable, as the rapid shift in societal attitudes toward gay marriage demonstrated).
Sadly, I refer to Edhat as Edhate. This is why I skipped the recent Edhat gathering, I was concerned I would meet one of the angry far right whackos that frequently comment and get into a brawl with them. Lol.
@SB_Tahoe, this isn’t an edhat issue, its an internet issue. Look at comments on Facebook, instagram, next-door, YouTube,etc etc. People are bold behind screens, no matter what site it is. Thankfully edhat moderates while those others don’t so much.
For the edhat party, even if everyone was a GOP troll, you wouldn’t know it. All were kind, nice, and lovely to chat with. Hope to meet you at the next party!
Meh, things are very different IRL. This is just banter and entertainment. If I met VOR or Basic, I’m sure we’d find something to talk about in a reasonable fashion. People are more than their politics, online anonymous communities are just toxic by nature.
Not to worry–those folks don’t leave their mothers’ basements. I had to leave early but everyone I talked to there was very nice.
And sometimes, VOR, people genuinely express truly hateful ideas. All kinds of people from all sorts of political backgrounds. But you love to claim that “the hate comes from the left.”
Demonstrably false .
VOR exemplifying his love for cancel culture “EdHat, can we get a daily comment limit please?”
Same here!
” very limited in what we can type here” – not at all. Look at all the hateful, bigoted, insulting, condescending, and all the outright lies that are up on these comment threads from BOTH sides. The only thing you can’t do is call people “Assholes” or complain about the Edhat policies or spout out hate for people because of how they are born. Pretty good rules if you ask me.
Alex and 10:46, look at what people like Robert Clarke, MTG, or Lauren Boebert are like IRL. I’ve met many of the sort of people that SB_TAHOE refers to and they aren’t very pleasant, especially if the kinds of topics we see them rant about here come up. Interestingly, almost all the people I spoke to at the party said they never comment here.
It also because 1) you’re very limited in what we can type here and 2) you get an erroneous assumption someone is a “far right whacko” not from their own comments but from other commenters opinions on that commenter who often default to “right wing extremists” ” Trumper” “Covidiot” “Bigot”, “Faux News watcher” etc. anytime they hear something they don’t like and every time they’re unable to articulate a rational response to defend their position.
VOR has exposed himself…. “you are wrong, even when your attitude, anger and hate are directed and people who may in fact be bigoted, two wrongs do not make a right.” Be nice to bigots is what he is saying.
11:12, It’s easy to separate that chaff from the wheat, the snark and name calling from the substance, of people’s posts. I disagree with the positions people take and the arguments they use for them, regardless of what name calling is used on either side.
For instance, I disagree with you and find your arguments incredibly offensive, like when you said Trump didn’t brag about sexual assault because “it’s not assault when “they let you do it”, that’s consensual.”