By Jim Keithley

Sentry staff

    South Portland City Councilor David Jacobs says he's
being bullied by a small group of residents because he's gay.

    Jacobs recently came under fire after he said the
city should enforce an ordinance that prohibits the display of yellow
ribbons on city-owned property. On the other side of this battle is
Valorie Swiger. An outspoken resident whose son is serving in the war
with Iraq. Last spring Swiger made and hung hundreds of yellow ribbons
around the city in honor of her son, Jason, and others serving in the
military. She was recently told that her ribbons had to be removed from
city-owned property and public utility poles. Swiger has attended every
city council meeting since, to protest and demand an amendment to the
ordinance. During last Tuesday's meeting she said she has no intention
of removing her yellow ribbons.

    "I am not and refuse to be in fear of you for
standing for a cause that is right, just and welcomed by the majority
of this city, this state and this country," she told the council.

    Swiger said she contacted the human relations
departments at both Verizon and Central Maine Power Company and was
granted permission to hang her yellow ribbons.

    "The man at Verizon said he had no problem, in fact,
he said he had far better things to do than worry about a yellow ribbon
on a telephone pole," Swiger said. "The lady from CMP told me since
September 11, they've really turned a blind eye on patriotic symbols,"
she said.

    Swiger's comments then turned personal. She said she received a phone call from a veteran.

    “One gentleman said a fund should be started for the
SJTI," Swiger said. "I was a little puzzled and said what does that
mean," she said. "He said, 'that means in short translation; send Mr.
Jacobs to Iraq.'"

    Jacobs was visibly upset and left council chambers.

    Another woman stood at the podium and blasted Councilor Jacobs.

    Geraldine Bissonnette stood and criticized Jacobs
for changing his name from David Swander to David Jacobs during the
election.

    "He was David Swander and many of us out here . . .
we didn't know who Jacobs was," Bissonette said. She told the crowd
that Jacobs deceived the voters.

    "I think he needs to resign and do the city a favor," she said.

Moments later, Jacobs returned to council chambers and took to the podium.

    "I never imagined I'd be on this side of the podium," Jacobs said.

"It's been a long time since I felt like I've been in the playground, in the sandbox being bullied," he said.

    Jacobs blasted Swiger and Bissonette for creating a "very divisive United States."

    "It's a group that's very small and unless you march
in-line, you don't belong and they threaten to send you to other
countries," he said.

Jacobs then said this "small group" is against him because of his sexual orientation.

    "I wish that I could serve our country," he said.
"But as the detractors in the audience know, I'm gay, I can't."

    "I'm sorry that I'm gay, I wish I had an option, but
I do not," he said. "I understand that a lot of the hatred that is
directed my way is because of that simple fact. I can't change that."

    Jacobs went on to explain why he changed his name from Swander to Jacobs.

    "The reason I changed my name is exactly because of
September eventh," he said. "There were many gay and lesbian families
that perished in those same twin towers and on those airplanes that
went unnoticed and unrecognized," Jacobs said. "I was deeply affected,
as many Americans were," he said. "I didn't want to die with my
partner, without the world understanding what we meant to each other.
The only thing, legally, that I could do to show the world that we
mattered to each other, that we were a family, was to take his last
name. I will never apologize for that."

    Jacobs ended by saying he would not resign his position on the city council.

    "I will continue serving all of our residents of
South Portland," he said. "Being cruel and inhumane has no place in our
city or our country."

    Following the meeting, Swiger said Jacob's sexuality has nothing to do with this issue.

    "I respect David, his position and who he is," she
said. "But he should respect the majority of the people who live in
this city who really enjoy the yellow ribbons," she said.