More than a dozen residents stood and turned their backs in protest as an ultra-conservative activist delivered a three-minute rant against transgender and other members of the local gay community during Tuesday's Fernandina Beach city commission meeting.
As Kelley Ann Yates exited the city commission chambers, a verbal confrontation between Yates and several people ensued at the entrance of city hall, prompting two Fernandina police officers to intervene.
Yates runs a Facebook page Classy Conservatives and speaks frequently during the public comment portion of city commission meetings launching into unsubstantiated claims of gays recruiting children during local PRIDE events.
Among those standing in protest was former Fernandina Mayor Robin Lentz. She spoke just before Yates.
"I'm sure the speaker after me is going to give you the same hate speech we've been receiving for weeks now here, I wanted to share with you how proud I am as a member of our community to stand with Fernandina Beach PRIDE, who has given out $23,000 worth of scholarships to students in our community that I've had the pleasure to work with several of those students who have received those scholarships," Lentz said.
She is a disgrace to woman everywhere. I hope she eventually stops this weekly circus act of intolerance. She's an embarrassment to our community.