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Community demands change after homophobic comments made during city meeting

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ALBEMARLE, N.C. — Channel 9′s Jonathan Lowe spoke with people who live in Albemarle after homophobic comments were made by two voluntary members of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board at a public meeting Friday night.

The board is looking to potentially classify drag shows as sexually oriented businesses.

“The sad thing is that I’m not surprised that those were said,” said Tiffany Dahle, who once owned The Boardroom in downtown. “I mean, it’s appalling, but I’m not surprised.”

Dahle said she closed The Boardroom earlier this year for family reasons.

Before that, she would occasionally hold drag queen brunches.

“It was never me taking a political stance in the beginning,” she said. “I didn’t know there was a political stance to take. I just thought drag was a fun show that people went to.”

However, not everyone thought the same way.

Members of the far-right group The Proud Boys demonstrated outside of her business.

“I was intimidated that day, very intimidated,” she said.

People have largely been unwilling to talk about it.

“I think there are a lot of people in our community who want to support it but are afraid to speak out because of their businesses,” said Dr. Elaine Coats, an Albemarle resident.

“The bigotry and hate speech that was exhibited at that meeting occurs in the schools every day,” Coats said.

Coats’ two children identify as members of the LGTBQ community.

“Silence is complicity, so our leaders need to speak up,” Coats said.

Lowe asked several times for an interview with the Albemarle’s mayor.

They declined but said in a written statement that the words the former members used don’t represent the city of Albemarle’s values or beliefs.

“I think the problem is that, we as a generalized population, don’t understand what drag is, so since we don’t understand it, it has to be bad,” Coats said.

The issue of drag queen shows was tabled until the planning board’s meeting in September, which both women said they are organizing a group to attend.

The two people caught on the hot mic resigned from their positions on the Planning and Zoning Board.


VIDEO: 2 Albemarle officials resign after hate speech caught on hot mic

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