A Tale of Two Institutions: Spencer Pride and the Owen County Commissioners

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The Owen County Board of Commissioners are now reconsidering a proposed amendment that would make it harder to host special events on Owen County property. Perhaps the event that would be affected most, is the annual Spencer Pride Festival.

The county commissioners decided to propose an amendment to the ordinance after a form letter they received from an online Facebook group called Morals of America – complaining that the Spencer Pride Festival was, “overly sexual and inappropriate for children.”

The group believes that the nation suffers from a lack of morality. It’s a local group formed by anonymous Owen County residents. After backlash from the community, the county commissioners are reconsidering the proposal.
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Jonathan Balash said he heard rumors that once Jeff Brothers became the president of the Owen County Commissioners, he would try to shut down the Spencer Pride Festival. The rumors Balash heard seemed to come to life.

Spencer Pride said it felt targeted by this special events ordinance – especially concerning its annual Pride Festival. The ordinance would make it harder to host events on county property. This affects Spencer Pride Fest, as the Owen County Courthouse is home to the annual festival.

The commissioners were asked why changes were being made to the special events ordinance. Balash said when pressed, the commissioners cited mostly financial reasons. Then, the Owen County Commissioners referred to what they called a petition – outlining the financial reasons used to make changes to the special events ordinance.

After the meeting, Balash asked the commissioners for a copy of the petition. After several days, they were told it wasn’t a petition – but rather a form letter written by a local Facebook group called Morals of America.

The online group notoriously posts anti-LGBTQ content to its page. An offensive cartoon of a member of the LGBTQ community shoving a book of, “homosexuality down everyone’s throats.”

The group uses social media outlet, Facebook, to prop up its platform. With 315 followers to the group page, Morals for America has grown its online following in a town of about 2,200 people.
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The wind rips through the small town of Spencer. Dark clouds form over the Owen County Courthouse. Directly across the street, pride flags flap wildly at the Spencer Community Center.

Through the chaos, you can see a tale of two different worlds — one of a marginalized community and one of lawyers and policy makers. The courthouse serves as the home for the Owen County Commissioners. Meanwhile, the Spencer Community Center houses the LGBTQ advocacy group, Spencer Pride.
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The commissioners meet every two weeks. Most of the time, the Owen County Commissioners meetings feature about 15 people – normally those who are on the agenda to speak that day.

Ever since the initial meeting where Owen County was to enact a law on special events in downtown Spencer, specifically designed to disrupt an LGBTQ festival – the commissioners’ meetings have been packed with 60 or more people every two weeks.

Three weeks ago, the Owen County Commissioners met and formally presented their proposed ordinance. Spencer Pride President Jonathan Balash said his attorneys did not think the document was legally sound.

On the day the special events ordinance was presented, the County Commissioners hosted a daytime meeting without the opportunity for public comment. Then, because of a non-operating elevator, the county commissioners changed the location for the meeting.

After Spencer Pride and the Tivoli Theater in Spencer offered spaces to host the meetings, the County Commissioners decided to host their meeting at a smaller county building. The fire marshal in Spencer declared the space unfit for a government meeting due to its lack of fire exits for the number of people attending the meetings.

Balash said he feels let down by local government leadership whose job, he says, is to serve the public.
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Balash said he takes the attacks on the Spencer Pride Festival personally. He said they offer a community service and strive to be family-friendly. He has a husband and a son. He said he’s conscious of all the actions the organization undertakes – especially with regard to the Spencer Pride Festival.

Balash said through all the hate and division, there is a silver lining. He said people of the community have pledged their support for Spencer Pride.

The Spencer Pride Festival will take place on June 6th, 2020. Instead of the courthouse lawn, it will take place surrounding the courthouse with more engagement from local businesses. As of now, the Owen County Commissioners delayed the ordinance and are working on a new proposal.