I have but one question: what was West Hollywood thinking when it decided to lower its flags to half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk? Knock Knock! Hello? Is anyone home?
First, let me be clear: in the strongest possible terms, and without hesitation, I condemn the horrific, criminal attack on Mr. Kirk. A loving father, dedicated husband, and fellow American citizen expressing his views in the public square did not deserve to lose his life for exercising his First Amendment rights. It is tragic, and it is shameful what happened to him — period. I am sincere when I say, my heart goes out to his family during this most awful time.
That is separate from the question of why a city like West Hollywood—founded on and known globally for its support of the LGBTQ+ community—would honor one whose words have so often vilified that very community.
Mr. Kirk had referred to the Old Testament mandate of stoning gays as “God’s perfect law when it comes to sexual matters” (Out.com). He was someone who described the transgender community as a “throbbing middle finger to God” and an “abomination” (PinkNews). He said it should be legal to burn the rainbow flag (Twitter), and on his April 8, 2022, radio show, declared that after marriage equality, gay couples were no longer content and instead “want to corrupt your children” (Media Matters).
Yes, Mr. Kirk had the constitutional right to speak his mind, even when those views were considered by many to be abhorrent, hateful, even dangerous. No, he did not deserve to be assassinated for expressing those views. That does not mean the City of West Hollywood was obliged to celebrate him in death.
The truth is, they weren’t. A presidential proclamation to lower flags is a request, not a mandate. The U.S. Flag Code carries no penalty for cities or private citizens who choose not to comply. WEHOonline reported, as of Friday afternoon, City Hall had received more than 20 calls objecting to the decision, yet West Hollywood’s City Manager, David Wilson ordered all flags lowered in Kirk’s honor.
So why did West Hollywood—a city that has long been a sanctuary for the very people Mr. Kirk spent his career disparaging—choose to drape itself in symbolic mourning for him? Was Mr. Wilson fearful of Trump’s backlash if he didn’t? Did he or anyone one of our Council members give thought to how “performative” this action appears, let alone, how painful it would be to so many of West Hollywood’s residents and visitors, queer and straight folk alike? The bigger question: were any of them consulted, and if so, did they all agree to support this decision? Did any object? Inquiring minds want to know.
Honoring Mr. Kirk’s right to speak is one thing. Honoring the man himself is another and in this case, it was not only unnecessary, it feels like a half-witted, half-staff misstep.
Brian Holt
Resident of West Hollywood
Exactly what do most of these comments mean?
it’s a woke gesture.
You can lie or you can tell the truth but you can’t do both. You have clearly chosen to lie. That makes you complicit.
You have zero redeeming qualities at this point. May God have mercy on you, for you bear false witness.
what are you talking about? Please make sense.
No lies detected. Try again! And bless your heart. ❤️
Thank you for writing this. The virtue signaling by city council is embarrassing and how can Erickson, who once claimed he was non-binary AND works for Planned Parenthood, condone this? And Chelsea, what say you as a WOMAN? This man hated both of you – and yes, he had a right to express that – but why on earth would you honor him? Again, condemn the violence but do not celebrate this man on behalf of this particular city.
“This man hated both of you” Flat out lie. Charlie Kirk did not hate anyone. He might disagree with someone but he was always respectful and never hated anyone. Lies like this spread hate. Stop.
Exactly. He hated no one.
He may not have “hated” them/us, but he sure did wish us gays all dead and gone, and woman thrown back into the kitchen.
I don’t consider Out.com, PinkNews, Twitter, and Media Matters reliable sources AT ALL! They will find and report whatever confirms the bias they are searching for. Spend some time watching Charlie present his point of view IN ITS ENTIRETY. The sources you site did not do that. I’m sure that as soon as they heard something they could use as a soundbite they turned him off.
Disgusting article.
Exactly.
NY and NJ skipped flag order for Charlie Kirk despite Trump directive. Wake up West Hollywood.
Agree. This is shameful and disgusting. This guy is moved on Air Force 2 and his wife will get the Medal of Freedom. What about all of the babies and others gunned down in schools, churches, malls, movie theaters, gay clubs and elsewhere???? Where are THEIR medals? Why isn’t Trump attending THEIR funerals. AbsolutelyPATHETIC. Let me also ask why hasn’t Trump, the republicans and the NRA come up with something, ANYTHING to deal with this national crisis and embarrassment?? It’s not enough to state the 2nd amendment. These people are making NO attempt at dealing with this issue. Charlie said… Read more »
The Medal of Freedom for what?
Because unlike most in West Hollywood, he believed that everyone should be able to express their opinion and have dialogue with those that he disagreed with. Respectable dialogue. A bedrock of our free society. Agree to disagree.
Sorry for mistakes in my two posts. Bad typist. But the message is the same.
Didn’t the Jews in Germany raise a flag when Hitler was killed, ending the war? Oh that’s right THEY WERE DEAD from the various most heinous form of A man and his followers wanted to do ethnic cleans of Jews and gays, gypsies, their own people who weren’t afraid to tell him to stop got killed – sound familiar to people now afraid to speak anything 47 might not like to hear? (the ones who tried rational attempts to make The Leader stop the war if for no other reason their Infrastructure was gone along with All basic needs of… Read more »
So, the same gay people who have spent their entire lives yelling through megaphones, that “How dare you not respect me just because I was born gay” are now judging everybody and anybody who doesn’t agree with them. I’m gay, and I’m so glad I’m fortunate that never suffered from the woke mind virus. Try educating yourself about Charlie Kirk before you start blabbing your lips with pure ignorance and things you heard repeated from other people who didn’t even spend five seconds to watch a video of anything this guy has to say. You’re the same people that are… Read more »
Saw this on the net…
CHARLIE KIRK WAS ALLOWED TO SAY WHATEVER RACIST, MISOGYNISTIC, ANTI-LGBTQ BS HE WANTED, BECAUSE OF FREE SPEECH, BUT WE AREN’T ALLOWED TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIE ABOUT KIRK FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION FROM REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE WE AREN’T ALLOWED FREE SPEECH.
Charlie Kirk liked to mention “God’s perfect law” which he believes prescribes death to homosexuals. I guess Kirk did not read his Bible because the same law calls for death by stoning for people who commit adultery, which would include President Trump. Would Kirk have the courage of his convictions to actually kill a homosexual?; I doubt it. You know he certainly would not stone Trump, even though Trump clearly flaunts “God’s Perfect Law”. We need to confront these people on their lack of actual knowledge of the scriptures and lack of common sense/decency instead of responding as if our… Read more »
I do not believe Mr. Kirk spoke directly to any deity. Whatever one thinks of a deity; it is largely their own take on faith. The late Mr. Kirk was not a speaker for any deity. If, in fact, it is said we are: “All GOD’s Children” , I doubt this god singles out any group for anything! Gay people are born the same way as all of us in most situations . We come as we are. My belief anyway. .
I would love to see after their idiotic land acknowledgement, the city council convene in memory of Charlie. But I won’t hold my breath.
Bigots. Dead or alive do not deserve honor ot public endorsement.
You need to calm down, watch his posts in their entirety and agree to disagree but be respectful to your fellow citizens. With the tone you are using in these comments, you could benefit from taking a good hard look in the mirror.
Your advice is uninvited, but noted.
I’m disgusted by the lowering of the Pride flags for the unfortunate death of this hateful man who, along with all the other anti-gay screeds he’s put forth, insisted it’s a sin to even attend a Pride festival.
They are on separate poles from the American flag. Maybe that one was lowered on the orders of our demented president. Of course, Kirk was not any kind of official who should be accorded that honor. But the Pride flags lowered as well is a local disgrace.
Private citizen. Bigot.
He did not hate anyone. Lie. Watch his full videos. Listen. He was always respectful and hated no one. Disagreeing with someone is not hate. We have seemed to have lost sight of that.
I’m so sick of these, BUT posts about what happened. If you are truly horrified about what happened, then you wouldn’t have to add an addendum to it. Nobody’s going to think that if a gay person says what happened is horrible, they are suddenly stupid or a MAGA supporter. Which leads me to my second comment. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Trans people have been dragging down the gay community with their whacked progressive tactics for decades now. It’s time to stick them in therapy where they belong.
Well, Charlie Kirk certainly had NOTHING nice to say about members of the LGBT community!!!
And he spoke from his beliefs.
El Presidente (aka Il Papa and other monikers) ordered all US flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff.
Ugh. As if the guy he’s honoring is worth any honor.
But no other flag may be displayed above Betsy Ross’ masterpiece. So the others come down lower as well.
Use your outrage not to fry our West Hollywood folks, but direct it where it belongs – the Orange Facist, the MAGA apparatchiks running Washington, Prop 50…
I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
Bravo
Perhaps WH was lowering the flag……to honor the shooter.
That would make more sense given your (and most commenters here) understanding of the city.
City Resolution No. 22-5499 governs the City’s outdoor display of governmental and non-governmental flags on public property and public facilities.
Most pertinent to this discussion – The City of West Hollywood follows the direction of the President, California Governor, and Mayor of the District of Columbia in determining when the flags in the City should be flown at half-staff.
If you don’t like this, I’d advocate for the policy to be changed, but this seems pretty typical.
City policy: https://www.weho.org/home/showpublisheddocument/62580/638900116104830000