Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor

This letter is in response to the letter from Joshua Larson who wrote that he is “sad­dened” that the City of Two Harbors decid­ed to add a Pride Event to the Heritage Days event line-up.

Mr. Larson, are we to understand that you would approve of the city denying a group of non-violent people, of whom you have “no an­imosity toward whatsoever”, from having an event to celebrate, raise awareness, and hope­fully make connections to gain acceptance in their community?

In this country, we have freedoms that allow us to be who we are, believe how and what we choose to believe, regardless of how you “feel”. If the city were to judge as you do, per­haps they may deny the Ministerial the right to hold a public church service at that same park on Heritage Days Sunday. Our country’s freedoms are already in a danger zone in the climate of today’s politics. It would be wise to remember that Jesus also asked us not to judge at the risk of being judged ourselves.

Toni Wangen
Senior Citizen of Two Harbors

I’m so so proud that Two Harbors finally had a pride event. Our beautiful community supporting all walks of life without hate is a wonderful thing, showing that even small towns can be open and welcoming to all with­out pushing harmful rhetoric on not only its youth, but a whole group of people that have been afraid to show themselves to family and friends. What Pride in our small town means to a lot of us is acceptance and compassion from people we thought would push us out, hate and abandon us. I myself was afraid for 40 years to show who I was. I thought I was alone and isolated. I met so many wonderful people who not only were in the LGBTQIA+ community, but many supporters who opened their arms with a smile, offering hugs and sup­port. I can’t tell you how much this means to a lot of us. It was my very first pride and I felt overwhelmed with pride and happiness to see so much love and support. So thank you. Thank you to everyone who supported the event and offered love and compassion to all of us.

Thank you,
Christine Carlon

Lifestyle?? The word implies choice. LGBTQ+ people do not choose who they are. Would you become someone you’re not and open yourself up to people who deem themselves superior and wouldn’t think twice about harassing and ridiculing you? No. And they didn’t. Revelations 4:11 says: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.” ALL things.

Bob Pruden
Two Harbors

Kudos to Kitty Mayo, Patti Paulson, Mar­ley Schumacher, the Two Harbors High School Pride Club and the City of Two Har­bors for staging and supporting the huge­ly successful Pride event during Heritage Days this year, Two Harbors’ first-ever Pride event. It was inspiring to see so many people turned out to celebrate the diversity in our community. Special thanks to city council president Robin Glaser for acknowledging and praising the event at the conclusion of this week’s council meeting.

Hearing two graduates of Two Harbors High School from previous generations talk about their challenges and experiences growing up and finding their ways in life to successful careers and relationships should be encouraging to young people now in the throes of figuring it all out for themselves. The message was to accept who you are and lean into it, don’t try to align yourself with anyone else’s idea of who you should be.

I hope those in the community for whom this acceptance, of themselves and of others, is a challenge will reflect on the goodwill and love radiating through that event. Imag­ine how much better the world would be if we could all just be our natural selves with­out judgement or fear. Our individual and community mental health will be so much better if we can all achieve that realization.

Fran Kaliher

ALL:

My name is Billy Harrington. I was born and raised in Two Harbors graduating with the class of 1993. Since then, I served hon­orably in the United States Marine Corps and currently as a Firefighter/Paramedic in the DC Metro area.

Each and every Heritage Days I come “home” to visit family and friends, play in the Agate Golf Scramble, dance on 1st Ave, participate in the parade, support the local fire department, sport teams, and business. I simply enjoy the small community that I was raised in. When I return to the hustle and bustle of suburban DC life, I feel reener­gized and grounded after my long weekend in Two Harbors.

When I heard of the first ever PRIDE event being held over Heritage Days weekend, I was both excited, and I will admit, a little scared. Excited that my small city has now embraced diversity and its citizens can live in a community that is safe, free, non-judg­mental, dynamic, and adverse. I felt proud that people can live here and not feel as they need to be in exile or live in shame, embar­rassment, intimidation, or bullying. I was also a bit scared as ignorant, closed-mind­ed, mis-informed, and threated individuals may become aggressive or distracting to the peaceful event.

I attended this event and I have never been prouder of this community. Seeing people of all ages simply loving and caring for each other as human beings. The smiles of the young people in attendance, the hugs being shared with strangers, and the building of community was a site to see. I was happy to see so many community leaders, school administrators, and participants at this event.

Thank you for your continued support of events like PRIDE. I believe that this will show that the City of Two Harbors is both innovative and adaptive as the community grows together.

I hope to attend the SECOND annual PRIDE event next year.

Sincerely,

Billy Harrington
THHS Class of 1993