Solvang is so far up its own ass about what “Danish” means that it can’t understand the evolution of the European country that it spends marketing money to emulate. I guess Solvang likes to live in the past—like almost 100 years ago, past: pre-1933 Denmark.
You know? Back before it was legal to be a homosexual.
Not to rehash my rants from earlier this year, but come on Solvang! Hans Christian Andersen died in 1875. Isn’t it time to evolve to a more modern take on what it means to be Danish? After the City Council voted the city back to early 20th century Denmark by not allowing Pride banners to hang from city light poles during Pride Month, the city doubled down on its devolution by denying a second attempt to get the city to put the banners up.
Copenhagen hosts the biggest Pride celebration in Denmark every year, so Copenhagen Drive could really lean into that heritage during Pride Month.
All this talk about city policy got my feathers ruffled, and really got me thinking about what makes a political issue political. The Pride Month banners request is relatively benign, just a show of acceptance, really. If the city had just approved the application, I doubt anyone outside of the Santa Ynez Valley would have taken notice. Instead, the city of Solvang made headlines all over the Central Coast.
City residents and three members of the City Council made the Pride Month banners a political issue—using the excuse that they’re not compatible with the city’s marketing efforts.
If you check out the marketing website for “The Danish Capital of America,” solvang.usa, it begs the LGBTQ-plus community to “tie the knot in Solvang.” If that’s what the city wants, it would seem that hanging up Pride banners during Pride Month would fit right in with the city’s marking efforts.
“Solvang says ‘Velkommen’ to LGBT Visitors,” the website states. “Solvang proudly welcomes ALL visitors and has a tradition of welcoming LGBT singles, couples, and families.”
But, Solvang will not put up Pride banners, because—as the current mayor puts it—“We don’t want to promote one particular ideology.”
What particular ideology do flags on light poles for one month promote, Mark Infanti?
Because I can’t think of the “ideology” behind it.
One resident called the flags “political activism with disregard for all citizens and visitors, our children, and our community.” The flags are actually a sign of inclusiveness, a show of support for all citizens and visitors, children, and members of the community. And I know, “inclusiveness” is a dirty word for all you righty-tighties out there. But it shouldn’t be.
It’s absolute madness that the cultural fight for control over the country’s narrative is again targeting the LGBTQ-plus community (because targeting people of color isn’t doing enough to galvanize support for the far-right), and the stupid talking points from that campaign infiltrated a city discussion over the banners hanging from city light poles for four weeks. And gaslighting everyone—by claiming that rainbow banners don’t match with Solvang’s Danish heritage instead of admitting that America’s political moment really hits home for certain members of the Solvang’s City Council and adamant city residents—isn’t working.
Everyone now knows what and who you are. Slow clap, because you just made this a political fight.
The Canary hates the word gaslighting. Send new terms to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 23-30, 2023.