But that has generated criticism from some Carrollton residents, who submitted a petition this month that opposes city officials' involvement in the parade.

The petitioners said it wasn't appropriate or "in the best interests of all the citizens of Carrollton." They asked that participation in the parade "and other such events like it be discontinued."

Ms. Miller and Pat Malone, a Carrollton City Council member, rode in September's annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, which has attracted elected officials from various cities.

Petitioners are concerned that the parade doesn't "fit with the values of our community," said Paul Kramer, who circulated the petition. About 75 people signed it.

"This particular activity didn't represent their values or the community standards," he said.

Ms. Miller said that while some people might be upset, most residents she's talked with aren't fazed by the parade. She said they "believe in inclusion and believe in diversity."

"I really embrace diversity," Ms. Miller said. "Everyone is here and they're all taxpayers and they live in my community. When I was elected, I was elected to serve all of them, and I will continue to do that.

"People know who I am, and I have a good heart."

This isn't the first time in Carrollton that there's been a brouhaha about homosexuality. Last year, a City Council candidate sent an e-mail to his opponent, criticizing him for using a gay man as a campaign volunteer, whom he called a "big sissy."

Mr. Kramer, who ran for the Carrollton council last year, said some residents are concerned about the gay pride parade in part because they were under the impression that the mayor and Ms. Malone were acting in an "official capacity" and representing the city. That stems from coverage in the Dallas Voice, a publication that covers the gay and lesbian community, which reported on Ms. Miller's involvement.

The issue came up after a copy of the Dallas Voice article was mailed anonymously last fall to some Carrollton residents, including Mr. Kramer.

Ms. Miller, who was asked by friends to be in the parade, said she was there "as an individual -- but people knew I was the mayor." She said she was in the parade on her own time.

Council member Matthew Marchant had little to say about the matter: "I think it was an unwise decision to ride in the parade." He said he hadn't talked to other council members about the petition and doesn't know whether the council will take action.

Ms. Miller and Ms. Malone said they don't expect the council to act on the petition.

The petition has stirred discussion among residents and observers during recent Carrollton council meetings. Both supporters and opponents of the petition mentioned God and religion. Some speakers, their voices quivering, talked about being gay and mentioned their partners and children.

Todd Cormier, a Carrollton resident, said homosexuality is "an abomination to God," according to a recording of a recent meeting.

"These kinds of efforts, parades ... I believe is an affront to God," Mr. Cormier told the council. "It's an affront to our Creator, who designed traditional marriage between one man and one woman. ... It tears down the moral fibers of this country."

Several people spoke in support of elected officials participating in the parade. They say the petition is discriminatory and doesn't demonstrate tolerance of others.

James Dillman, a Carrollton resident, told the council that the petition would "basically condemn me to a second-class status."

"I'm at a loss to understand this, the reasoning behind this petition," he said. "For you to consider this petition is an affront to me and to others. ... There's enough hate in the world. We don't need to foster that in our own communities."

Parade participants have included several elected officials from Dallas, including the mayor and City Council members, said Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, which produces the parade. Other Dallas city leaders have joined the parade, Mr. Doughman said, as have officials from Arlington and Fort Worth.

Ms. Malone said she joined Ms. Miller in the parade after the mayor mentioned she was attending and didn't have anyone to join her. "I've been in lots of parades representing a lot of different people," Ms. Malone said. "We have to be for our entire community." Carrollton petitioners were also concerned that residents didn't have input on whether elected officials should take part in the parade, Mr. Kramer said.

He said he'd like residents to be able to vote on whether elected officials can participate in future gay pride parades or have the city issue a public notice to let residents provide input at a council meeting. The petition calls for "this issue to be put to the voters of Carrollton through a referendum" if the council doesn't agree with the request.

City officials ... receive criticism for support of parade

By Katy Moore, Staff Writer -- The Carrollton Leader (www.CarrolltonLeader.com)

(Created: Wednesday, April 4, 2007 1:02 AM CDT)

http://www.carrolltonleader.com/articles/2007/04/07/carrollton_leader/news/01front.prt

A group of Carrollton residents presented a petition to the Carrollton city council Tuesday saying they object to any participation by Carrollton representatives in the Dallas Gay Pride parade or any other association with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered special interest organizations in the Metroplex.

More than 75 local residents signed the petition which suggests that any appearance of outward support for these groups is not "in the best interests of all citizens of Carrollton."

The petition also asks that if the council does not agree with the request, the matter be put to a vote for city residents to decide.

Carrollton resident Paul Kramer, who presented the petition, said he had received a package in the mail from an unknown sender containing a copy of an article from the Dallas Voice, a local publication for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. In the article, "Pride not prejudice: Opening doors, increasing gay visibility in Carrollon," which said that Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller would ride in the Dallas Gay Pride parade.

The article was originally published in September of 2006, but Miller said someone has been circulating it to Carrollton residents anonymously.

Miller and councilwoman Pat Malone said they were invited by their constituents to ride in the parade and were glad to do so.

In the article, Miller is quoted as saying she wanted to participate in the parade to show her support of diversity in the community.

"I want the gay community in Carrollton to see me there and know I support them," Miller is quoted as saying. "I welcome them, and my door is always open."

As the petition and copies of the story were distributed to council members Tuesday, Miller said an anonymous letter reflected cowardice on the part of the sender.

"I may not agree with that lifestyle, but I support diversity," Miller said. "You can't say that you will represent everyone except for one group of people when you are an elected official."

Staff writer Katy Moore can be reached at 972-628-4087 or at kmoore@acnpapers.com.

By By John Wright Staff Writer

City Council appoints anti-gay activist to advisory and appeals board over objections of gay-friendly mayor who rode in Pride parade

CARROLLTON If you look up “bigot” in the dictionary, you’ll find a pretty good description of Carrollton resident Paul Kramer, according to Mayor Becky Miller.

But that didn’t stop the City Council from voting to appoint

Kramer over the objections of Miller and other members to the Construction Advisory & Appeals Board on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Kramer, a former council candidate, was behind a petition submitted to the council in April objecting to Miller’s participation in Dallas’ 2006 gay Pride parade. Then, this week, Kramer appeared at a protest of Muslim Family Day at Six Flags Over Texas in a photograph printed by the Dallas Morning News. Carrollton has a large Muslim population.

Miller said Kramer also has made comments over the phone, in e-mails and in letters to the editor that suggest he doesn’t like anyone who’s not white, Christian and heterosexual.

Nevertheless, because the mayor does not vote in Carrollton’s system of government, Kramer was appointed 4-3.

“I didn’t have enough support, so he got put on, but I felt very strongly about it because I think when you have board members, they represent the city,” Miller said. “They represent our views and how we think of the city, and I really try to stress diversity in the city of Carrollton, and I don’t think Paul Kramer represents that.

“From what I read in the dictionary the definition of a bigot that’s what I see in Paul Kramer,” Miller added. “If you read the definition in the dictionary, Paul Kramer fits it to a “‘T.'”

Kramer did not return messages left at both his home and work phone numbers. Councilman Terry Simons, who voted in favor of Kramer’s appointment, defended the decision.

“A person’s personal opinions or religious beliefs should not come into the decision process of serving the city of Carrollton,” Simons said in an e-mail. “We as a council feel that a diverse board or commission gives the council the best overall views on different subjects for Carrollton.

Although I do not agree with all of Mr. Kramer’s personal views, he is qualified to serve in this capacity for the city of Carrollton.”

The petition submitted by Kramer on April 3 was signed by 75 residents. It demanded that city officials refrain from appearing in the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade in the future and that the issue be put before voters if necessary.

On April 17, LGBT community members and their supporters turned out in droves to City Hall to express their opposition to the petition, which the council ultimately ignored.

The landmark event was organized by gay real estate agent and political activist Bob McCranie. McCranie started the Carrollton Project, an LGBT equality group, in September 2006 after his sexual orientation became a contentious issue in spring elections.

McCranie said he was kicked off the campaigns of two Republican candidates due to pressure from the conservative wing of the party. When another candidate McCranie supported won, the loser criticized his opponent in an e-mail for accepting help from “gay Bob” and the “big sissy.”

Incidentally, McCranie is also on the Construction Advisory & Appeals Board, and both he and Miller said they believe that was part of the motivation for the council to appoint Kramer. One councilmember reportedly told McCranie that because he supports diversity, there should be somebody on the board who opposes it.

“I just think that was an astounding comment,” said McCranie, who declined to identify the councilmember.

According to the city’s Web site, the Construction Advisory & Appeals Board primarily decides appeals of decisions by the building official and fire marshal related to the application of city code. “As long as we stick to the topic at hand, I think I can work with anyone, but it’s certainly not a choice I would have made,” McCranie said of Kramer’s appointment. “I’m very disappointed. It doesn’t necessarily wipe out everything that [the Carrollton Project has] done.

It’s just a sign to me that there’s more understanding to be had.”

E-mail wright@dallasvoice.com

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 19, 2007