LBGTQ group says Christian mayor must meet demands or resign after speaking against church's Pride worship service

An LBGTQ group is calling on the mayor of Owatonna, Minnesota, to meet its demands or resign after he spoke against a church's recent Pride worship service.

What are the details?

Nathan Black — founder and chair of the LGBTQ group Rainbowatonna — penned an open letter to Mayor Tom Kuntz and Owatonna City Council members complaining about the mayor's words and actions.

The Associated Press reported that Kuntz is a Republican. Owatonna is about an hour south of Minneapolis.

The open letter stated, "As you may have heard, we had some very distressing and disappointing behavior from residents and neighbors who harassed and intimidated our vendors, the original venue of our drag show, and the church hosting our Pride Worship Service ... What you may not know is that Mayor Tom Kuntz participated in some of this behavior."

The letter added, "On Tuesday, June 27th, Mayor Kuntz showed up at Associated Church, the host church for the Pride Worship Service, and demanded to speak with the pastor. After a staff member explained the pastor is out on medical leave, he finally identified himself. He was upset that Associated was hosting this service and asked bizarre questions like, 'Are there going to be stripper poles in the sanctuary.'" The church's Pride event was scheduled for July 8.

Black — who says on Instagram he's a "justice creator, follower of Jesus" and "committed to a world where Love Wins and no one is left out" — indicated in the open letter that he was to preach at the Pride worship service and that he and Kuntz traded emails about it.

Kuntz told Black in one email, "As a Christian, I just want to encourage all of us to follow God's commandments and am hoping your service follows God's words."

Black replied that he'd wanted to ask Kuntz to proclaim July 8 "Rainbowatonna Day" for "our LGBTQ+ citizens and neighbors" and that "rest assured, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will be proclaimed joyfully at the Pride worship service ... I'd be honored if you'd attend in person ..."

Kuntz replied, "I just can't do the proclamation" and that he'd be out of town on the day of the Pride worship service. Black asked Kuntz why he couldn't do the proclamation, and that's where the email exchange ends.

Black also wrote in the open letter that Kuntz also went to a restaurant and bar "and made some complaints about the drag show being hosted there." He added, "I would like an explanation about why an elected public official is attempting to interfere with a religious service. I would also like an explanation and public apology from Mayor Kuntz about his attempt to harass and intimidate the organizers and hosts of LGBTQ+ events."

Black added in an update to the letter that he "just came across an overwhelmingly bigoted prayer that Mayor Kuntz posted on his personal page." The image of the typewritten prayer Black included in the letter shows it asks God for "wisdom" related to "upcoming public events where sin and brokenness will be celebrated and where sexually explicit acts will be normalized."

Black added in his open letter that Kuntz's "behavior these past few weeks has been problematic, but finding a public 'prayer' that he wrote that articulated his bigotry shows that his behavior wasn’t just problematic or maybe even an emotional accident… Instead, his letter shows that his actions come from very intentional, premeditated bigotry."

Black concluded by saying "the only satisfactory response from Mayor Kuntz is his immediate resignation. There is no place for homophobic bigotry in city government."

What else?

The Star-Tribune reported that Kuntz declined an interview but said he offered to talk through the issue with Black. The Star-Tribune — citing the Owatonna People's Press — added that Kuntz confirmed some parts of Black's letter.

"A couple people asked if there was going to be pole dancing, so I asked that," Kuntz told the People's Press, the Star-Tribune reported.

Kuntz added to the People's Press that he felt God would not approve of drag shows and homosexuality, the Star-Tribune added.

Black told the AP that Rainbowatonna members met with Kuntz on Monday and planned another meeting later this week, adding that group members are asking Kuntz for an apology “that acknowledges the impact of his actions" as well as diversity and sensitivity training for the mayor and city staff.

The AP added that Rainbowatonna is also asking Kuntz to appoint a member of Rainbowatonna’s board to the city’s human rights commission, along with other measures.

“If he meets these demands, and we’re hopeful that he will, then we would withdraw that request” for his resignation, Black told the AP.

The AP added that while its email to Kuntz wasn't returned Monday, he told Black in a public response that “I did what I thought was the right thing to do." Kuntz also said, “My intent was not to harass or intimidate anyone. My words were my own and not those of the City. I try each day to follow my own faith and beliefs, but I also recognize other people have the right to follow their own faith and beliefs too. ... Please accept my apologies," the AP reported.

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