Letter: Medford is a Welcoming Community
The following letter is in reference to a message targeting gays that was recently posted on a sign in Medford Square:
Once again the Medford Human Rights and Disability Commissions are witnessing what a wonderful welcoming community Medford is. The feedback from the inappropriate signboard posted in Medford Square tells us that this is not the sentiments felt by the people of Medford.
Many residents, along with our Commissions celebrate this spirit of tolerance and openness that characterizes our city. The Commission — whose charter calls upon us “to reinforce a positive community atmosphere……. to promote understanding to eliminate prejudice and intolerance…..†is proud to serve as an amplifier for the voices of good will throughout our city. We have always stood and will continue to stand with other civic and religious organizations that promote tolerance and understanding and call upon all of them to join us specifically in condemning public expressions of hate and intolerance. Hateful expressions of any type, even those protected by free speech, do not foster a positive community spirit we all value so highly.
We thank the many members of the Medford community who raise their voices to foster tolerance and understanding throughout the city and beyond.
– Diversity Director Diane McLeod, Medford Human Rights Commission, and Disability Commission
Diane McLeod is a very nice woman with good intentions, and it is commendable that she voices concern about the intentional lack of tolerance at a church which has such a bully pulpit smack dab in the middle of Medford Square. That being said, over eight years ago I personally reported to the City Solicitor and Human Rights Commissioner McLeod about intolerance at a non-profit in Medford. That intolerance involved the New England Baptist Church as well as the manager of the non-profit. Eight and a half years later the hate speech continues under some ruse that this is “Freedom of Speech” and a 1st Amendment issue. When 22 year old Matthew Shepherd was killed as a direct result of this hate speech one wonders what has to happen in Medford before city officials truly get proactive about situations like the one Ms. McLeod discusses in her statement. The sad punchline is that a member of the New England Baptist Church was embraced by the board of directors of that non-profit that does exactly what the NEBC does…issues hate speech under the guise of the 1st Amendment, but doesn’t have the integrity to allow for opposing points of view. That almost nine years have elapsed since Diane McLeod and Solicitor Rumley were alerted to this kind of behavior is truly food for thought. Talk is one thing, but actions speak louder than words. Especially when hateful words demand action. When the Mayor spends tens of thousands of dollars on an evaluation by a retired judge, an audit and his own solicitor’s report, yet fails to discuss those pretty damaging findings with his constituents, any words from City Hall ring hollow. Actions speak louder than words. It’s time for our Mayor to be a man of integrity and be forthright with his constituents.