Oh, FFS. Are they going to do a Crotch Inspection of the vendors? And, personally, I like to discuss evolution and the occult while I'm buying my vegetables. /s Welcome to the Dark Ages, Pella.
As a Central College grad I'm saddened, but not surprised to read this. Pella has long been closed to anyone not "like" them, but this really goes too far.
In keeping with the Pella “Christian” spirit I would let their produce rot before purchasing any. When the sale of produce becomes grounds for hatred and bias these people need to re-examine their “Christian” values. There was a time not so long ago when even the suggestion of such a ban on people would have been considered absurd. Not anymore. Not in Pella.
Pella is a beautiful community and I am sure not everyone shares the beliefs of that small group. Raising their voices in support of their LGBTQ community is very important.
While the policy and conractual agreement to be signed is for the Vendors, there is the one sentence stating that "The manager reserves the sole and unappealable right to determine the appropriateness of all attire and direct a change in clothing or exclude anyone from the premises." Does "anyone" apply only to Vendors or does this include shoppers, passersby, etc.? Shoppers don't have a signed agreement, so what is enforceable on this private property for the public? Is the parking lot really private? Is the City-if they approve-vulnerable for any legal action? What era of gender-appropriate clothing for Vendors (and shoppers if this policy indeed includes them)? I've said for a long time that Pella's claim to be "A City of Refuge" is a typo, with "s" mis-typed as a "g." And you can pronounce the "s" either soft or hard.
Jun 1, 2023·edited Jun 1, 2023Liked by Robert Leonard
How weird. I'm selling my books at Pella Books tomorrow as part of the Great Iowa Road Trip. I made sure that the management was okay with the content (a gay couple in one book for example, dressing as not always associated with birth gender, taking a potion to change gender, discussing evolution, and premarital & marital sex in all of them.) It was absolutely okay. I was even told that yes there is a market for my books in Pella. So I'm not sure why the place would allow this unless they are trying to accommodate all views. Now, let's hear the juice on what Pella residents are behind this. Or do we all know?
Am I to understand that this faction expects to dictate what is to be allowed in the community space of the Farmers Market? Are they asking the City Council to make a policy demanding this? WHAT?! Our market has been so disrupted by our LGBTQ + friends, like NEVER.
Jun 3, 2023·edited Jun 3, 2023Liked by Robert Leonard
I do not recall ever having a discussion with a farmers market vendor about religion, sexuality, politics, abortion, evolution or receiving literature at a farmers market regarding the same topics. I also cannot recall exactly what the vendor was wearing or even their gender preference. Thinking back on my inability to recall any of the above - vegetables must be vegetables regardless if sold by an atheist, transgender individual, or a drag queen.
What do the policies of the proposed market have to do with vegetables or are these policies about exclusion for the sake of exclusion?
Exactly. I suspect the point of the policies of the proposed Market is to create controversy and push the envelope, push the Council to make a stand one way or another. You know, it you aren't with us, you are against us. The proposers know as well as anyone else there hasn't been related controversies at Pella Farmers Market. I believe the policies are indeed for the sake of exclusion and to create yet another flash point.
I have lived in Pella most of my life, and I love my city. I need to point out that most of these crazy movements in town (book banning, this weird market, aggressive evangelizing at Tulip Time) are largely coming from folks moving into town or those who don’t even live in town and are coming in from outside and bringing outside money with them. Please don’t judge everyone by a few of these people.
I think it is likely illegal to have such a policy. Once they sell to the general public they can't discriminate. It is different from the shop that wouldn't do a cake for a gay marriage because it involved the baker's active participation in a ceremony they did not believe in. At the farmer's market they are just selling items to people. It's not like they are being forced to sell t-shirts with LBGTQ supportive messages.
Christians want places they can shop and sell without constantly having perverse sexual deviancy shoved in their faces. You have the whole world—full of gay this gay that. Behave like moral, sane adults and Christians won’t mind doing business with you. Keep acting like sexual deviants and Christians will want to avoid you more and more. It the way it works. It’s only reasonable.
Has this "perverse sexual deviancy" been "shoved in [Christian] faces" at the Pella Farmers Market? I have only seen food and crafts there and everyone has been dressed modestly.
On the other hand, non-Christians want places they can shop and sell without having religion shoved in their faces. You have the whole world — full of Christians, real and pretenders. I was raised in churches, but now I stay away because I'm sick of their phony outrage and exclusivity. Behave like Christians, re-read Matthew 6:5-6.
Notice, though, it is *you* wanting to prohibit Christians from having a market that doesn’t promote perverse behavior. Christians are exclusive because our lives belong to Jesus Christ. He is our God. Not the state. Not you. Not Satan. That there are Christians who also sin and fail and others who pretend to love Christ and are hypocrites is no proof against my point. Keep your perversions, violence, and indecency away from our families.
But what objectionable behavior was taking place at the Thursday night market? Were transgender individuals dressed in outrageous clothing shilling radishes? Were drag queens hawking sweet corn? Were objects promoting “perversity” being sold? Cannot, for the life of me, understand creating a problem just so you can rush in with a bogus solution unless you’ve got an agenda to shape.
Has anyone claimed that was a problem on Thursdays and is the reason for this new market? This is a separate endeavor. No one has “created a problem” except people who think there should always and everywhere be a right to publicly flaunt perversion and that no one should be allowed to live separate from the constant barrage of sexual deviancy. Christians do have an agenda: that all people everywhere would repent and turn to Christ and receive his life. They also have an agenda to as much as possible live at peace with others and avoid conflicts that aren’t needed: having rules like this helps organizations avoid trouble caused by people who hate Christ and his people.
He actually says the exact reverse: he says to not hide our lives or the truth and to expect wicked people to revile and falsely accuse. I’d encourage you to read his words in Matthew 5-7 again. May God bless you this time to hear him in truth.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
The Lord Jesus doesn’t want us to seek praise from others but to seek favor from him—he certainly does not want wickedness paraded around in public defiling others.
Oh, FFS. Are they going to do a Crotch Inspection of the vendors? And, personally, I like to discuss evolution and the occult while I'm buying my vegetables. /s Welcome to the Dark Ages, Pella.
I am not LGBTQ, but I am sick and tired of the small-mindedness exhibited in excluding those folks from any public event.
I don't believe that I will be visiting Pella anytime soon — for any purpose.
As a Central College grad I'm saddened, but not surprised to read this. Pella has long been closed to anyone not "like" them, but this really goes too far.
In keeping with the Pella “Christian” spirit I would let their produce rot before purchasing any. When the sale of produce becomes grounds for hatred and bias these people need to re-examine their “Christian” values. There was a time not so long ago when even the suggestion of such a ban on people would have been considered absurd. Not anymore. Not in Pella.
Thanks Mary. Fortunately, there are a considerable number of people in Pella who are uncomfortable with this, to be sure.
Pella is a beautiful community and I am sure not everyone shares the beliefs of that small group. Raising their voices in support of their LGBTQ community is very important.
We received lots of supportive comments here, and I received many texts and emails also thanking me for writing about it.
While the policy and conractual agreement to be signed is for the Vendors, there is the one sentence stating that "The manager reserves the sole and unappealable right to determine the appropriateness of all attire and direct a change in clothing or exclude anyone from the premises." Does "anyone" apply only to Vendors or does this include shoppers, passersby, etc.? Shoppers don't have a signed agreement, so what is enforceable on this private property for the public? Is the parking lot really private? Is the City-if they approve-vulnerable for any legal action? What era of gender-appropriate clothing for Vendors (and shoppers if this policy indeed includes them)? I've said for a long time that Pella's claim to be "A City of Refuge" is a typo, with "s" mis-typed as a "g." And you can pronounce the "s" either soft or hard.
For a religious community, Pella seems rather hateful. I’ll enjoy spring flowers closer to home.
How weird. I'm selling my books at Pella Books tomorrow as part of the Great Iowa Road Trip. I made sure that the management was okay with the content (a gay couple in one book for example, dressing as not always associated with birth gender, taking a potion to change gender, discussing evolution, and premarital & marital sex in all of them.) It was absolutely okay. I was even told that yes there is a market for my books in Pella. So I'm not sure why the place would allow this unless they are trying to accommodate all views. Now, let's hear the juice on what Pella residents are behind this. Or do we all know?
Am I to understand that this faction expects to dictate what is to be allowed in the community space of the Farmers Market? Are they asking the City Council to make a policy demanding this? WHAT?! Our market has been so disrupted by our LGBTQ + friends, like NEVER.
On private property, so I suspect it will continue if the council allows it.
I do not recall ever having a discussion with a farmers market vendor about religion, sexuality, politics, abortion, evolution or receiving literature at a farmers market regarding the same topics. I also cannot recall exactly what the vendor was wearing or even their gender preference. Thinking back on my inability to recall any of the above - vegetables must be vegetables regardless if sold by an atheist, transgender individual, or a drag queen.
What do the policies of the proposed market have to do with vegetables or are these policies about exclusion for the sake of exclusion?
Exactly. I suspect the point of the policies of the proposed Market is to create controversy and push the envelope, push the Council to make a stand one way or another. You know, it you aren't with us, you are against us. The proposers know as well as anyone else there hasn't been related controversies at Pella Farmers Market. I believe the policies are indeed for the sake of exclusion and to create yet another flash point.
Ok, don’t shop there. Easy enough.
I agree. This type of nonsense, though, makes shopping at the "regular/public" farmers market in town all the more appealing.
I'm off to shop there (Pella Farmer's Market) right now!
I can definitely do that! Tot zines… afscheid!
The City Council’s policies raise issues of violations of the public accommodation portions of state law.
I will be interested in how this turns out. So different from life in Boston.
Margaret
I have lived in Pella most of my life, and I love my city. I need to point out that most of these crazy movements in town (book banning, this weird market, aggressive evangelizing at Tulip Time) are largely coming from folks moving into town or those who don’t even live in town and are coming in from outside and bringing outside money with them. Please don’t judge everyone by a few of these people.
I think it is likely illegal to have such a policy. Once they sell to the general public they can't discriminate. It is different from the shop that wouldn't do a cake for a gay marriage because it involved the baker's active participation in a ceremony they did not believe in. At the farmer's market they are just selling items to people. It's not like they are being forced to sell t-shirts with LBGTQ supportive messages.
It's going to be called Farmers' Market but in Dutch. Not exactly reflective of the modern Netherlands. Or the Netherlands ever.
Christians want places they can shop and sell without constantly having perverse sexual deviancy shoved in their faces. You have the whole world—full of gay this gay that. Behave like moral, sane adults and Christians won’t mind doing business with you. Keep acting like sexual deviants and Christians will want to avoid you more and more. It the way it works. It’s only reasonable.
Has this "perverse sexual deviancy" been "shoved in [Christian] faces" at the Pella Farmers Market? I have only seen food and crafts there and everyone has been dressed modestly.
On the other hand, non-Christians want places they can shop and sell without having religion shoved in their faces. You have the whole world — full of Christians, real and pretenders. I was raised in churches, but now I stay away because I'm sick of their phony outrage and exclusivity. Behave like Christians, re-read Matthew 6:5-6.
Notice, though, it is *you* wanting to prohibit Christians from having a market that doesn’t promote perverse behavior. Christians are exclusive because our lives belong to Jesus Christ. He is our God. Not the state. Not you. Not Satan. That there are Christians who also sin and fail and others who pretend to love Christ and are hypocrites is no proof against my point. Keep your perversions, violence, and indecency away from our families.
But what objectionable behavior was taking place at the Thursday night market? Were transgender individuals dressed in outrageous clothing shilling radishes? Were drag queens hawking sweet corn? Were objects promoting “perversity” being sold? Cannot, for the life of me, understand creating a problem just so you can rush in with a bogus solution unless you’ve got an agenda to shape.
Has anyone claimed that was a problem on Thursdays and is the reason for this new market? This is a separate endeavor. No one has “created a problem” except people who think there should always and everywhere be a right to publicly flaunt perversion and that no one should be allowed to live separate from the constant barrage of sexual deviancy. Christians do have an agenda: that all people everywhere would repent and turn to Christ and receive his life. They also have an agenda to as much as possible live at peace with others and avoid conflicts that aren’t needed: having rules like this helps organizations avoid trouble caused by people who hate Christ and his people.
‘Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company.’ —Mark Twain
Fine — we have a deal!
In return, keep your objectionable religion away from our families. In Matthew 6:5-6, your Jesus says to keep it to yourself.
He actually says the exact reverse: he says to not hide our lives or the truth and to expect wicked people to revile and falsely accuse. I’d encourage you to read his words in Matthew 5-7 again. May God bless you this time to hear him in truth.
Matthew 6:5-6
New International Version
Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
The Lord Jesus doesn’t want us to seek praise from others but to seek favor from him—he certainly does not want wickedness paraded around in public defiling others.