When Don Grundmann took the podium to boos and jeers at a Modesto City Council meeting Wednesday, he appeared angry that some people had called his efforts to organize a “straight pride” event in the California city racist.
He singled out Councilmember Kristi Ah You, accusing her of “pulling the race card” and allegedly inflaming tensions by “attacking us as racists.”
Then he appeared to make a slip of the tongue.
“We haven’t done anything,” he said. “We’re a totally peaceful, racist group.”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
As Grundmann tried to regain control of the room, he said his group was “here to defend all races” and claimed that Planned Parenthood was the “greatest mass murderer of blacks in this nation’s history.”
Shortly after, he was told his time was up and the crowd booed as he left the podium.
Grundmann, who previously ran two failed campaigns for the US Senate, leads a group called the National Straight Pride Coalition. It claims on its website that heterosexuality, the nuclear family and Western civilization, among other institutions, are under attack.
The group is planning a “straight pride” parade in a local park on August 24.
Modesto is home to about 214,000 people, according to the latest Census.
Dozens of residents voiced opposition
Over more than four hours, almost 30 constituents spoke against the event. A handful spoke in favor of it, citing free speech.
Matthew Mason, a Modesto native and Turlock resident, called event organizers “white supremacists.”
“I’m here to condemn the straight pride event and to unequivocally state that this white supremacist rhetoric is not speech that deserves protection,” Mason said at the meeting. “Whenever this rhetoric is given a platform, violence always follows.”
CNN has attempted to reach Grundmann but was unable to leave a message because his voice mailbox was full. He has not responded to an email request for comment.
Marjorie Sturdy, vice president of the Modesto Progressive Democrats, also voiced her opposition at the meeting.
“You’ve never heard of anybody losing a job because they’re straight or white,” she told CNN. “You’ve never heard of anybody not being able to obtain a job because they’re straight. The entitlement of being straight and white shouldn’t be celebrated. You get to celebrate that every day of your life.”
Sturdy said that the Modesto Progressive Democrats are teaming up with local community groups to organize an event on the same day as the “straight pride” parade. She said it will include music, speeches and prayer.
“It’ll be a colorful, fun, celebration of life,” Sturdy said.
The ‘straight pride’ event needs city approval
The City of Modesto said it hopes to decide on the “straight pride” application Friday.
Thomas Reeves, spokesman for the City Manager, told CNN that officials are evaluating the risk to the city, residents and participants.
He added that the city’s final determination would not be an indication of where it stood on the issue.
“Whatever decision is made on the permit is no way is a reflection of the city’s perspective, opinion or views on the issue,” Reeves said.
In late June, a “straight pride parade” planned in Boston on August 31 became one step closer to reality after city officials approved the organizers’ public event application.