Following controversial remarks about a local Pride event, Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz is facing pressure to resign. Nathan Black, an organizer with Rainbowatonna, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, penned an open letter to Mayor Kuntz and the Owatonna City Council detailing the incident. According to Black, Kuntz, a Republican, questioned pastors at Associated Church, the venue for a Pride service, about the event's content, reportedly asking if stripper poles would be present in the sanctuary. This interaction, coupled with a prayer posted on social media by Kuntz alluding to "sin and brokenness" being celebrated at public events around the time of the Pride festivities, has sparked outrage within the community.
The Pride event, held on July 8th, included a service at Associated Church, a gathering at a local pavilion, and a drag show after-party at the Owatonna Arts Center. Black asserts that Kuntz's behavior constituted harassment and intimidation, leveraging his elected position to target those involved in the Pride celebration. Kuntz's prayer, while not explicitly mentioning the Pride event, called for prayer "until July 8th," the date of the festivities, further fueling concerns about the mayor's intentions.
While initially calling for Kuntz's immediate resignation, Black has since indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue. Rainbowatonna members met with the mayor and have scheduled a follow-up meeting. The group has outlined several demands, including a formal apology acknowledging the impact of Kuntz's actions, diversity and sensitivity training for the mayor and city staff, and the appointment of a Rainbowatonna board member to the city's human rights commission. If these demands are met, Black stated that the group would withdraw their request for resignation.
Mayor Kuntz has issued a public response, maintaining that he acted in accordance with his beliefs and apologizing for any offense caused. He stated that his intent was not to harass or intimidate anyone and emphasized the right of individuals to hold their own beliefs. Kuntz confirmed to the Owatonna People's Press that he had inquired about the possibility of pole dancing at the event, a claim corroborated by others present. He also expressed his personal disapproval of drag shows and homosexuality based on his religious convictions.
An attendee holds up flags during the New York City Pride Parade on June 24, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
