North Dakota Councilwoman Declares She's a Proud Lesbian in Response to Bigot

During a heated meeting over the official flying of a Pride flag in Minot, N.D., Councilwoman Carrie Evans declared that she is the first "openly elected lesbian" in the state while responding to a citizen demanding the flag be pulled down.

"Mr. Walker, if you're not aware, and I think a lot of people in this room are not aware and have come here just because this is a gay issue, I am proudly the first openly elected lesbian in North Dakota. So that is why I am not paying any heed to your crap!"

At that point, Evans had been listening to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric for days when the speaker, Walker, called her out for appearing irritated, according to The Dickinson Press.

"We the people. I'm the people. I live in Minot. I am a taxpayer. I am a person. I get to see myself represented on that flagpole just as much as the people who got the Juneteenth flag last month, as much as the POW/MIA will get later this month," Evans said.

She continued:

"Every single person is entitled to see themselves represented. We are not some group of people who live in San Francisco or Seattle. We are here. We are your elected officials. We are your brothers. We are your sisters, and don't tell me you're not [feeling] or anger. That's all I feel. I've had to listen to it for days now, as has the mayor and many of my colleagues. It is unacceptable!

"This city is big enough for all of us. Me having a flag flying does not take away anything from your rights. But you know what it does for me? It shows me I live in a city that appreciates and embraces me and my community. And I can live here and feel safe. That's what it does. I'm sorry that it doesn't make you feel comfortable, but we're here, we're queer, and we're not going away!"

Responding to her outcry, Walker simply said, "Thank you for exposing yourself and your anger."

Evans was elected to the Minot City Council in June, making her the first out lesbian elected official in the state, where some gay men have won races for political offices.

Watch the exchange below.