A column calling for Straight Pride American Month (SPAM) written by Dixon Vice Mayor Ted Hickman has sparked some outrage.

Hickman, who proclaims July as SPAM, admittedly notes in the column published in the Independent Voice that he wasn’t sure if he can make such a proclamation and followed that statement with, “but what the heck.”

“Now hundreds of millions of the rest of us can celebrate our month, peaking on July 4th as healthy, heterosexual, fairly monogamous, keep our kinky stuff to ourselves, Americans,” Hickman wrote. “We do it with our parades in every state and county in this country with families celebrating together.

“We honor our country and our veterans who have made all of this possible (including for the tinker bells) and we can do it with actual real pride, not some put on show just to help our inferior complex ‘show we are different’ type of (crap).”

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He goes on to write, “We ARE different from them … We work, have families (and babies we make) enjoy and love the company (and marriage) of the opposite sex and don’t flaunt our differences dressing up like faries (sic) and prancing by the thousands in a parade in nearby San Francisco to be televised all over the world…”

Hickman also referenced the story of Peter Pan.

“So, right now, if you don’t want any faries (sic) to expire, you can clap your hands. See, I do have a heart, I just can’t type and clap at the same time… so I had to make a hard choice didn’t I?”

The column can be read in its entirety at www.tedhickman.com.

What Hickman wrote hasn’t gone over well with some of his constituents with some taking to social media demanding for a recall and an apology.

“Ted’s opinion is absolutely allowed for in this free country, but his use of his title of vice mayor in such an obvious homophobic tirade is nothing short of disgusting,” wrote Allison Hietbrink in an email to The Reporter.

She explained that her family just moved from Vacaville to Dixon.

Related Articles Hundreds show up to demand NorCal Vice Mayor step down over ‘Straight Pride Month’ comments “Knowing that this kind of offensive, blatantly hateful rhetoric is willingly and openly shared among city officials makes me quite weary of our decision,” she continued. “We are all entitled to our opinions, but when those opinions are publicly shared and peppered with such offensive, uneducated stereotypes of a certain community of people, our opinions become more than just thoughts and words: they become hurtful and dangerous. Ted’s opinion piece in a local paper was not meant to promote pride in straight people; it was meant to demean and ostracize LGBTQ people.”

Hietbrink then demanded that Hickman give a public apology.

“He does not need to pretend to change his opinions: he needs to apologize for writing a piece with such shameful, hurtful examples of a misrepresented group of people,” she wrote.

By Saturday afternoon, a Recall Ted Hickman Facebook page was created.

“We believe bigotry has no place in public office in the State of California. We will see you soon, and many times, Hickman. We look forward to filing the petition for your recall,” reads a post on the page.

Saturday morning over the phone Hickman told The Reporter that he’s been writing the column weekly for 10 years.

“Don’t like what I write, don’t read it,” he said.

He also explained that as an elected official he does represent all Dixon residents equally.

“I do represent them equally on government issues, not their personal habits,” he said. “I’m not elected to represent their lifestyle.”

He added that the column was written “tongue in cheek.”

“They’re entitled to their opinion and I’m entitled to mine,” he said of the people who disagree with what he wrote.

He also noted that a recall is unlikely since “the numbers aren’t there,” but added that he is up for re-election in November.

Dixon Mayor Thom Bogue said he was made aware of the column by a concerned resident.

“While I do not approve of such an article — in my belief we are all American U.S. citizens where sexual (preference) shouldn’t play a role — I do believe in a person’s freedom of speech even when I don’t like what they are saying,” said Bogue in his response to the constituent. “Aside from that, a person also has to recognize the consequences of their statements. … It is not within my capabilities to sanction an elected official for what they wish to publish in the paper, nor would I, that is up to constituents within his district to determine if he represents their beliefs.”

Bogue added that until residents decide to say or vote otherwise, then Hickman will likely continue to do what he’s been doing.