Local pastors ask council to reconsider city sponsorship of Pride river glow float

WAVERLY, Iowa — During Monday's public-comment period, Pastor Josh Rausser of Grace Baptist Church read a letter signed by local pastors asking the City of Waverly, the city council and the Human Equity and Diversity Commission to reconsider sponsoring or funding a planned Pride River glow float.

Rausser said the letter represented a group of local pastors and included a bibliography. The letter asked the council to consider the beliefs of all Waverly citizens before approving or sponsoring events the signers said promote specific views on gender identity and morality. The letter stated ministers represent more than 1,000 area congregants holding "traditional Christian beliefs" about marriage and sexual behavior and said their position was not a request to regulate private conduct but to ask the council to avoid endorsing what they described as views that contradict those beliefs.

Rausser also raised concerns that river events can become "indecent and sometimes pornographic," asking how the city would ensure minors would not see adult river activities. He said that some research indicates Pride events can be controversial or commercialized and asserted, citing materials he said were in his bibliography, that DEI promotion may be divisive.

Council President Jones and other councilmembers did not debate or respond to the content because public-comment rules prevent council discussion on items not on the agenda. Council staff accepted printed copies of the letter for distribution.

Ending

The council did not take action on the request at the meeting. Staff will distribute the letter to councilmembers; if the matter later appears on an agenda, it would be scheduled for public discussion in accordance with council rules.