Commissioners won't light courthouse in LGBTQ rainbow colors for Pride event

NEWARK – Organizers of the first Newark Pride celebration envisioned a day of speakers, vendors, performances and concerts embracing the area's diversity, with the Licking County Courthouse lit up in rainbow colors for the June 9 event downtown.

The Licking County Commissioners do not share the same vision, at least when it comes to the courthouse being lit up in the gay pride flag colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

Commissioners rejected a request to light the courthouse in rainbow colors in part because of a new policy setting the lighting schedule. The commissioners said they do have the ability to deviate from that schedule, but are choosing not to for the Pride request.

Sean Fennell, a Newark city councilman representing the 7th Ward, made the request in a letter to the commissioners March 12. The commissioners developed a policy on colored lighting of the courthouse, passed by the three-member board on April 3.

The policy recognizes 19 holidays, seasons or observances, including 10 federal holidays, five for health awareness, three other patriotic days and one for the Spring Equinox. The policy does not allow for taking requests for special events, although the commissioners said they could make exceptions.

"It is clear that the commissioners knew about the request prior to passing resolution 94-216B, and could have made the decision to include Pride in the calendar of approved lightings prior to passage,” Fennell wrote in a Friday email to Newark Pride members.

Pride members will try to change that decision during a May 1 visit to the commissioners' office, on the fourth floor of the Don Hill Licking County Administration Building, 20 S. Second St., Newark.

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"We're all frustrated and disappointed, but haven't given up hope for it," Fennell said. "We hope the commissioners stand for diversity and acceptance.

"It seems they don't fully understand what Pride is and how important it is. And, how important it is to have a Pride in Newark, showing we welcome and accept diversity in Licking County. Hopefully, we can get them to change their mind."

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said the policy was not simply a response to the Pride request, but for all the requests they had received.

"We've just had a lot of requests," Bubb said. "People have asked, 'How do I get on the list for lighting of the courthouse.' We said we're going to be inundated every weekend for events.

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"It had nothing to do with any specific request. We patterned the approach after the Ohio Statehouse, and we added a few of our own. We have to make a decision and stick with it, and live with it.”

A recently-completed $9 million renovation and restoration of the courthouse, built in 1876, includes hundreds of LED lights on the tower that can be programmed for various holidays or recognitions.

The commissioners said they began discussing a courthouse lighting plan after Christmas, when the newly restored 1876 courthouse was red and green for the holidays.

In a tribute to two Westerville police officers, killed Feb. 10 in the line of duty, the commissioners had the courthouse lit in blue Feb. 11-13, before returning to red and white lights on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, the last of 14 scheduled days of red and white lights for National Heart Month.

In February, the commissioners had planned for 26 holiday combinations this year, including red, white and blue for patriotic holidays, green for St. Patrick's Day and blue-white for Easter.

Then, in late February or early March, a county employee lit the courthouse in purple and white, without authorization, renewing the commissioners' discussion about a policy, they said.

"We knew this was a game-changer because we have this new asset,” Bubb said. “I think it was obvious to us, in our deliberations, we should have a plan."

One other request, Bubb said, was to have the courthouse lit in green for 4H Week.

Fennell said any discussion of a policy before the Pride request does not change his opinion.

"If that is the case, really, it doesn't change our request,” Fennell said. “If our request wasn't the catalyst for this (policy), it was certainly part of it. We think it's important enough to have that (Pride) celebration and honor. I'm not saying any of the other events are not important."

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For events such as the shootings of the Westerville police officers, or if the president orders flags at half-staff, the commissioners could make their own policy exemption, they said.

“We can make exceptions, as a board of commissioners, if we choose to,” Bubb said. “Like for a 9-11 event. Red, white and blue for an occasion like that. A one-time event that means something to the entire population.”

Commissioner Rick Black said he would not support changing the policy to recognize a local sports team winning a state championship, but Bubb said, “I hate to speculate on exceptions.”

Fennell said the courthouse lit in rainbow colors could have a profound impact on young people in the community struggling with several issues.

“If there are people being bullied because of their identity, or afraid to come out, or be themselves, see the courthouse lit, in acceptance of diversity, it tells them their elected officials accept them,” Fennell said. "I'm not sure if others have the same impact or importance.

"Perhaps they don't know the cultural significance of Pride. My hope is this is just a miscommunication."

Courthouse lighting days

Martin Luther King Day: Third Monday in January. Red, white and blue.

Heart Awareness Week: First week in February. Red and white.

President's Day: Third Monday in February. Red, white and blue.

Spring Equinox: March-April flex week. Purple and white.

Child Abuse, Neglect Prevention Month. First week in April. Blue and white.

Patriots Day: Third Monday in April. Red, white and blue.

Memorial Day: Last weekend in May. Red, white and blue.

Alzheimer's Awareness: First week in June. Purple and white.

Flag Day: June 14. Red, white and blue.

Independence Day: July 1-4. Red, white and blue.

Labor Day: Weekend before first Monday in September. Red, white and blue.

Constitution Day: Sept. 17. Red, white and blue.

Breast Cancer Awareness: First week in October. Pink and white.

Columbus Day: Second Monday in October. Red, Green and White.

Diabetes Awareness Week: First week in November. Blue and White.

Veterans Day: Nov. 11. Red, white and blue.

Thanksgiving Day: Last Thursday in November. Red, Brown, Yellow, Green.

Christmas season, New Year's Day: Friday after Thanksgiving through Jan. 1: Red, White, Green, Yellow.