Lawmaker blasts gay-pride flag at Richmond Fed

Posted to: Federal Government News Politics State Government Virginia
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By Julian Walker
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 4, 2011

RICHMOND

A flap has developed over a flag flying outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in recognition of Gay Pride Month.

The prominent perch for the rainbow pennant has drawn the ire of Del. Bob Marshall and the Family Foundation, who have opposed the expansion of gay rights in Virginia.

Marshall, a Prince William County Republican, wants the flag removed, reasoning "the front of a federal building is not a commercial or political message board."

Officials at the bank said the flag will be flown during June, but isn't being displayed to advance a political agenda.

Reserve banks are considered private institutions but, as part of the nation's central bank system established by Congress, are quasi-governmental entities.

The flag in Richmond was hoisted at the request of a group of employees, bank spokesman Jim Strader said. The request was approved, he added, "because of our belief the flag symbolized the values of diversity and inclusion which are important to us as an institution."

Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb wonders if another message is being delivered, considering President Barack Obama issued a pride month proclamation and has opted not to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Obama, Cobb wrote in an email, "has made advancing the acceptance of homosexual behavior a priority that seems to equal or take precedent over working toward reducing the national debt or reducing unemployment."

In a letter to bank president Jeff Lacker, Marshall demanded that the flag be taken down, claiming that homosexual behavior is bad for the economy, "shortens lives, adds significantly to illness, increases health costs" and "promotes venereal diseases."

Strader said the bank has received Marshall's letter and will respond. He didn't offer any specifics.

James Parrish, executive director of gay rights group Equality Virginia, praised the bank for recognizing and celebrating its diverse employee and customer base.

"It's a private business and should be able to make its own personnel and corporate policy decisions without Bob Marshall's guidance or the Family Foundation's approval," he said in a statement.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com

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Federal building

Submitted by nerts on Mon, 06/06/2011 at 12:37 pm.

The Federal Reserve is not a private corporation. It is part private and part public, with the presidentially appointed Board of Governors an agency of the United States government. The regional Federal Reserve Banks are private corporations acting as agents of the government, owned by their member banks. No individuals hold stock in the Fed. Corporate control of the regional Federal Reserve Banks is limited and based on one vote per stockholding bank (so that big banks cannot control the system). Over 95% of the "profits" go directly to the treasury.

It is a federal building and the flag must come down.

What does your last sentence

Submitted by icemachine79 on Tue, 06/07/2011 at 9:57 am.

What does your last sentence have to do with everything else you said? Last time I checked gay people were indeed citizens of the United States, so explaining that the Federal Reserve isn't a private corporation doesn't lead to the conclusion that the flag must come down.

Hey Marshall

Submitted by josephinegiannone on Mon, 06/06/2011 at 8:16 am.

Thanks for bringing all the publicity to this, I would have never known. I think the flag is a good thing. Guess your complaints backfired, that flag is getting so much press!!!

got cut off

Submitted by bingpa68 on Sat, 06/04/2011 at 11:15 pm.

I think my old boss still has those "Marshall Memos". Need to contact her.

Why am I NOT surprised?? Marshall again?

Submitted by bingpa68 on Sat, 06/04/2011 at 11:14 pm.

Why am I NOT surprised that Bob Marshall is behind this !!!! Back in the mid 90's I was working at a small FM rock station in Winchester, VA ( the same market that gave Hampton Roads the great Mary Kay Mallonee..sad to hear that she is gone from WAVY BTW ) anyway back in 1996 it was discovered to all of us on our staff and others in the market that one of our announcers had tested postive for HIV. Long story how that happened and I will spare you on that but guess who was quick to protest? BOB MARSHALL !! I still remember the letters and faxes that we had received from his offices. "..a person with HIV IS a threat to Winchester radio listeners..FIRE HIM at once !!...Nobody with HIV deserves to be on the radio in OUR commonwealth !!..". I think my fo

Double standard

Submitted by bohemian101 on Sat, 06/04/2011 at 9:38 pm.

I wonder how many people would be protesting if there was a flag with a big cross on it flying in front of this "private" Government-affiliated bank. I'll never understand why when gays, muslims, african-americans, clowns, etc. were a t-shirt, create a holiday, or fly a flag, it's called a celebration, but when christians do the same, it's bigotry. My son was not permitted to distribute Christmas cards at school unless they said "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", yet they had a Kwanzaa celebration and ate kosher food to learn about Hannakuh. Nothing like preaching diversity while practicing discrimination....

Being gay isn't a religion,

Submitted by icemachine79 on Tue, 06/07/2011 at 9:49 am.

Being gay isn't a religion, Kwanzaa isn't a religious celebration, and learning about Hannakuh isn't an endorsement of Judaism. I bet they learned about the history of Christmas too. I also bet your kid wouldn't have been able to distribute Happy Hannakuh cards in class either, hence the "Happy Holidays" requirement. What you're trying to invoke is Christian privilege, not right. Most Christians I know can understand the difference. Why can't you?

Nationality?

Submitted by truthseeker on Sun, 06/05/2011 at 1:21 pm.

Flag with big cross on it? Would that mean it was Swiss owned, or that the Red Cross had an office there?
Seriously, one would hope that with age, Mr Marshall mellows and accepts that there are people who are different, that they are mostly productive citizens and probably neighbors of his. Somewhat on the order of Senator Byrd and his eventual acceptance of black equality.

indeed

Submitted by ohmie on Sat, 06/04/2011 at 9:56 pm.

There was a time when we could be accepting of the minority and respect their right not to participate in prayer or allegiance to our flag and the majority could still openly and freely worship or show dedication and pride to our country. Now we are are controlled and have to bow down to a small group or even one person. I have full respect and acceptance of minority groups as does most people. Now I think it's time for these minorities or individuals to learn how to be diverse and accepting of the majority without forcing the majority to conform to the minorities believes.

What do you mean by "bow

Submitted by icemachine79 on Tue, 06/07/2011 at 9:53 am.

What do you mean by "bow down"? Has anyone told you that you can't practice your religion? Has anyone told you that you can't pray in school? The answer to both questions is no. They've simply stopped government endorsement of any particular religion in accordance with our laws. I'm sorry that's made things a little inconvenient for you but our country isn't supposed to play favorites, and that includes religion.