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Residents urge apology after council president's remark about rainbow on Kiwanis mural, say businesses faced boycott
Summary
At the June 16 Emmaus Borough Council meeting, residents criticized Council President Michael Balliet for a comment about a proposed rainbow motif on a Kiwanis mural and said the remark has prompted a boycott and harmed the borough's reputation for inclusivity.
At the Emmaus Borough Council meeting on June 16, 2025, residents told the council that a remark by Council President Michael Balliet about a proposed rainbow element in a Kiwanis park mural has prompted local backlash and, they said, a boycott of borough businesses.
Alisa Bowman, a Berger Street resident, told the council she supported the Kiwanis project but was alarmed by Balliet's prior comment at a May 19 meeting that “it's a shame what the rainbow has come to represent.” She said the remark signaled to some that Emmaus is not a welcoming community and that some…
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