Don't let Amanda Ballard fool you. Her anti-LGBTQ stance is about fear and hate
Positions on library books and youth counseling expose Manatee County commissioner's true intent.
In her short time in office, Manatee County Commissioner Amanda Ballard has made it a bad habit to target the county’s LGBTQ+ residents. That she masks her intent with rhetoric about looking out for county employees who don’t want to share a bathroom with colleagues who are transgender, “protecting the children” from library books with gay characters or themes or wanting to make sure tax dollars are wisely spent, does not diminish the spite she communicates every time an issue that might matter for her LGBTQ+ constituents comes before the commission.
Plainly put, it’s not about the bathrooms. It’s not about the books. And it’s not about the tax dollars. It’s about hating on members of this community that she knows will never be part of her right-wing base in order to solidify her credentials as some sort of cultural warrior. And hating on people in this community whom too many of us are often reluctant to defend.
Commissioner James Satcher has done the same as Ballard, but he is not as skilled as the more rhetorically accomplished Ballard in hiding his scorn for those whose lifestyles he abhors. In the end, as evidenced by his recent failed attempt to block county funding for a pregnancy prevention program at a local charter school for girls, he is a much less effective than Ballard as a vessel of hate.
Last month, Ballard moved to block $27,500 in taxpayer funding for ALSO Youth. a Sarasota-based nonprofit, for mental health counseling for LGBTQ+ youth, among whom there is a significant level of suicidal ideation and other mental illness. Ballard said she had attended a meeting of the Children’s Services Advisory Board, which recommended the funding, and talked with ALSO Youth officials, but remained unconvinced that the money would not be used to somehow brainwash vulnerable teenagers to change their genders. Her statement was in the same category of hate-inspired nonsense that marked her earlier effort to control what’s available at the library.
With no discussion, other commissioners joined Ballard in unanimously voting to withhold the funding.
A reading of ALSO Youth’s presentation to the CSAB, as revised and published this past weekend as part of an op-ed in the Bradenton Times, shows that why ALSO Youth requested the money had nothing to do with what Ballard is fearing.
“Our counseling services address management of depression and anxiety that result from peer and school bullying, family stress, and academic pressures, often leading to low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts,” the op-ed reads. “The CSAB understands our mission and services, which is the reason they recommended funding for this counseling program.”
Like me, Ballard is a Roman Catholic, so I am going to guess she grew up hearing a lot of the same homophobia-disguised-as-theology I was exposed to during my 16 years in Catholic schools and beyond. Rocked by priest-abuse scandals, the church has moderated some of its rhetoric, especially under Pope Francis, but many in the flock remain hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, whether it’s because of fear, hate and/or a misunderstanding or ignorance of what Jesus would do.
Ballard is free to believe what she wants and even to lean on her beliefs and values, and precepts of her church, as she carries out her duties and responsibilities as a commissioner, as long as she doesn’t ignore the ones that might conflict with her political interests.
But she, Satcher and other elected officials need to remember that with the oaths they swear, they take on a duty and a responsibility to serve the needs and protect the rights of all of their constituents — even those they fear and hate.
Marc R. Masferrer was a first place winner for commentary writing in the Florida Press Club’s 2022 Excellence in Journalism Competition for work published in The Bradenton Journal. Previously, he was a newspaper editor in Bradenton for more than 16 years. You can reach him at Marc.R.Masferrer@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, or ‘X.’ @mrmasferrer. You can also like The Bradenton Journal on Facebook.
I urge good people to donate to ALSO. They are doing much needed work. These kids need to know that most of us support their courage to be themselves.
After meeting at a Town Hall meeting I understand that she is a hater of those who are different.
I just hope one of her children are not different from what she expects.