DIXON, Calif. July 2, 2018— After a local independent newspaper published a column written by Dixon, California’s Vice Mayor Ted Hickman that declares July “Straight Pride American Month” and makes numerous derogatory references to the LGBTQ community, Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Rick Zbur urging Hickman to resign:

“Despite all the progress we’ve made, hate and intolerance are alive and well in fringe politicians like Mr. Hickman who spew hateful rhetoric in an attempt to dehumanize members of our LGBTQ community. Mr. Hickman’s words have no place in our society — especially at a time when our nation is already so divided and studies show hate crimes are on the rise.  Residents of Dixon — LGBTQ people, their families, their friends and their neighbors — deserve better, and Mr. Hickman should resign immediately.”

“The First Amendment protects Mr. Hickman’s right to make inflammatory, hateful remarks about members of the LGBTQ community, and he is certainly entitled to his opinion. But he’s not entitled to serve in elected office and the very same Amendment protects the rights of of Dixon residents and pro-equality Californians to stand up and demand accountability. That’s what we intend to do.”

Mr. Hickman has defended his column as “tongue-in-cheek,” but a Sacramento Bee report details Hickman’s history of homophobic rhetoric and behavior. Residents, concerned that the column could incite anti-LGBTQ discrimination or violence, have set up a Facebook group called “Recall Ted Hickman, Vice Mayor of Dixon, CA,” which already has nearly 1,000 followers.
Another member of the Dixon City Council, Devon Minnema, responded to Hickman’s column, saying in a statement, “There is no part of the community that is untouched by the venom that Councilman Hickman has spewed over the years, and that is the saddest part.”

Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org

One reply on “Equality California Urges Homophobic Vice Mayor of Dixon to Resign Following Anti-LGBTQ Weekly Column”

  1. While to disagree with the name calling by this man, he’s entitled to his opinion but as a leader of a community, he should keep his opinion to himself or step down. No need for all this hate (FROM EITHER SIDE!!)

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