Last week, a Jewish woman in our community emailed the Taylor Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee expressing her feelings of discrimination, fear, and frustration about the planned Christmas parade. With antisemitism on the rise across the country, she had reason to be scared.
The annual Taylor tradition sparked controversy when the organizers added discriminatory language to their parade application.
The City had a decision to make.
The Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance (TAMA) has organized the parade for the last few years and has always accepted applications from all who wish to participate. This year, however, their application stated that floats needed to be “biblical” in nature. This led people to ask, “Does that mean no Santa?” “Will there be a float of the Seven Deadly Sins?”
Taylor PRIDE, a nonprofit made up of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, alerted the City to TAMA’s revised application. As a cosponsor of the event, the City could not legally allow discrimination or constitutional violations. Ultimately, city staff decided to allow the TAMA parade to proceed while also launching a second, all-inclusive parade that would follow the first - with spectators being none the wiser.
Of course, that’s not how this is playing out on social media. The megaphones of the selfrighteous are causing others to feel marginalized, and it’s clear this goes well beyond a public spat between TAMA and Taylor PRIDE. The brave Jewish woman who reached out to us wanted to know who was going to stand with her.
The answer is, the City of Taylor stands with her and with all residents of our community. Taylor is a beautifully diverse place to raise a family, start a business, and enjoy small-town life.
Our community consists of all faiths, racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Embracing this fact, the City made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2020 by setting internal goals and creating the public-facing DEI Committee.
So where does this leave us?
Clearly, this has opened a dialogue. We have a choice: the loudest Taylorites can continue to yell past each other, or we can have a meaningful community conversation about our differences and celebrate our cultural diversity. We have a unique opportunity to open our hearts, minds, and eyes and learn from our brothers and sisters.
This year’s double parade is unique, and hopefully an anomaly.
Let’s look to the future and plan a truly inclusive celebration going forward. Many businesses, organizations, and even the schools don’t want to “choose sides.” Though it’s a difficult situation, we encourage everyone to embrace the holiday spirit and participate - whether you build a float or watch from the sidewalk.
We are blessed to have a truly multicultural community and we should not allow anyone to feel left out. As you see your neighbors at the parade or around town this season, remember that you have an opportunity to offer respect, broaden your understanding, and appreciate the diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds that make this community strong.
