Rainbowatonna withdraws call for mayor’s resignation

An Owatonna-based LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) group and the city’s long-time mayor Tom Kuntz have taken “a positive step forward” to resolve concerns over Kuntz’s statements before and after Rainbowatonna’s July 8 Pride event held at Morehouse Park.

Nathan Black, who chairs Rainbowatonna’s board of directors, last month shared an email exchange with Kuntz, most of which came through Kuntz’s city email address. Kuntz acknowledged statements and questions he raised about the Pride event and said his religious beliefs would not allow him to work with Rainbowatonna on a proclamation recognizing the Owatonna Pride event.

Kuntz issued an initial apology, but on August 11 released a longer statement that acknowledged the hurt his words caused the LGBTQ community. The statement was made in conjunction with a press release issued by Rainbowatonna and the Alliance for Greater Equity (AGE).

Black expressed gratitude to Kuntz for his openness to hear the concerns of the LGBTQ+ community:

“I know that it takes a lot of courage and commitment to do the hard work of making amends and I am very appreciative of Mayor Tom for meeting with us. He listened to the stories of the ongoing discrimination and challenges that the LGBTQ+ community has faced in our region, particularly youth and young adults, and he expressed heartfelt remorse when he heard how his actions have added to those challenges. As a result of this meeting, Mayor Tom agreed to rewrite his statement of apology, which is being released by the City of Owatonna. The Board of Directors of Rainbowatonna and myself are grateful for his thoughtful and kind words and we are satisfied that we can now work together to make Owatonna a better place for everyone to live. I am therefore withdrawing my call for his resignation, and I look forward to a future in Owatonna that doesn’t leave anyone out.”

In the press release, AGE echoed Rainbowatonna's gratitude to Kuntz for his further reflection and willingness to listen and learn about the impact of his comments and actions related to the Rainbowatonna Pride events:

“AGE is committed to advancing equity and building a cohesive community where unity, respect, and dignity create a sense of belonging for everyone. While AGE’s efforts thus far have focused predominantly on racial equity in our community, our mission is a call to authentically include and welcome all community members.”

With the support of third-party mediation and guidance, Rainbowatonna and AGE will work with Kuntz and Owatonna city staff to “develop ongoing conversations, educational experiences, and community building opportunities, so that we can continue to create positive change and help create a sense of belonging for everyone in our community.”

For more information about Rainbowatonna, please visit rainbowatonna.org or facebook.com/rainbowatonna.  For more information about the Alliance for Greater Equity, visit allianceforgreaterequity.org/ or facebook.com/greaterequityalliance.

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Mayor’s Statement

Dear Residents of Owatonna,

As your mayor for nearly 20 years, I take great pride in our city. We are a vibrant, beautiful, friendly, and hard-working community. We have great schools, thriving businesses, growing faith communities, and generous organizations. I feel a sense of ownership and protectiveness for Owatonna, values that many people in small towns have.

Our small-town values usually mean that we bring integrity to our work, we look out for our neighbors, and we support our community's endeavors. Sometimes, however, these small-town values may make us uncomfortable with change and less open to people we don't understand.

Often, we go about life with little thought on how we may be hurting others. We may not realize how we may have hurt someone's feelings by asking questions.

I am writing this letter today to the LGBTQ+ community, to the members of Associated Church, to our business community, and really to all of Owatonna. My questions may have caused some members of our community to feel harassed and intimidated. My questions may have added to the sense of fear and hostility that Associated Church and Torey's Restaurant had been experiencing. My questions may have come across negative to our Business Community, our Industry, our medical Community and others.

The subsequent calls for my resignation, the attention in the media, and the statement by our City Council have been challenging for me to experience. However, as I began to hear stories from other individuals, their parents, and supporters about how life has been for them in our beautiful town, I realized that the discomfort I have been experiencing is a minor compared to what some of our community members, neighbors, and especially young people, have experienced every day of their lives.

My love for this town includes everyone. I want everyone to feel safe, welcomed, and supported. I want all of our children to grow up without the harm of bullying and discrimination. I want our businesses to treat all employees with fairness and dignity. I want everyone to feel they can contribute to making Owatonna better.

These are Owatonna values and are what I believe all small-town values should be. And these are values that we can all hold, regardless of our differences of faith or opinion.

I am committed to upholding these values along with a sense of ownership and protectiveness for our city. And I will do so while doing my best to learn about all the diversity we have here so that we make sure everyone is included in that sense of ownership and protectiveness.

It is my honor to serve as Mayor for ALL of Owatonna.

Mayor Thomas Kuntz

Owatonna

Joint Statement from Rainbowatonna, the Alliance for Greater Equity and Owatonna Mayor Thomas Kuntz

Rainbowatonna, an organization created to celebrate and advocate for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning community in Owatonna, and Mayor Tom Kuntz, Owatonna Mayor, have been able to work together to take a positive step forward in resolving concerns regarding Mayor Tom’s actions prior to the Rainbowatonna Pride events of July 8, 2023.

Nathan Black, Chair of the Board of Directors for Rainbowatonna, offered his gratitude to Mayor Tom for his openness to hear the concerns of the LGBTQ+ community stating:

 “I know that it takes a lot of courage and commitment to do the hard work of making amends and I am very appreciative of Mayor Tom for meeting with us. He listened to the stories of the ongoing discrimination and challenges that the LGBTQ+ community has faced in our region, particularly youth and young adults, and he expressed heartfelt remorse when he heard how his actions have added to those challenges. As a result of this meeting, Mayor Tom agreed to rewrite his statement of apology, which is being released by the City of Owatonna. The Board of Directors of Rainbowatonna and myself are grateful for his thoughtful and kind words and we are satisfied that we can now work together to make Owatonna a better place for everyone to live. I am therefore withdrawing my call for his resignation, and I look forward to a future in Owatonna that doesn’t leave anyone out.”

The Alliance for Greater Equity (AGE) echoes Rainbowatonna's gratitude to Mayor Kuntz for his further reflection and willingness to listen and learn about the impact of his comments and actions related to the Rainbowatonna Pride events. AGE is committed to advancing equity and building a cohesive community where unity, respect, and dignity create a sense of belonging for everyone. While AGE's efforts thus far have focused predominantly on racial equity in our community, our mission is a call to authentically include and welcome all community members.

Rainbowatonna & the Alliance for Greater Equity, with the support of third-party mediation and guidance, will work with Mayor Tom and Owatonna City staff to develop ongoing conversations, educational experiences, and community building opportunities, so that we can continue to create positive change and help create a sense of belonging for everyone in our community.