Queen Creek HOA says no to gay pride flag

[Hepburn]

Imagine not being able to put up Halloween decorations or a Hanakah display outside your home. That's what one East Valley man claims his neighborhood has turned into. Zeniff Vanderran said the Cambria Ocotillo Homeowners Association crossed the line when they told him to remove a gay pride flag hanging from his home outside his garage. The explanation he received is only adding to the debate.

Vanderran received a letter from the HOA’s attorney. In it, it said the rainbow colored gay pride flag he's hung over the past several years is now in violation of HOA rules. The homeowner claims he's being discriminated against. The HOA’s attorney said it's about clutter.

For 5 years, Vanderran has shown his pride as a gay man and as an Air Force retiree by displaying flags at his home.

"They never said anything about our flags or holiday decorations,” said Vanderran.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/06/02/20090602gr-hoaflag06022009-CR-CP.html

The NEW HOA rule is that only flags about "nationally recognized holidays" are allowed.

Geeee, I am Wiccan...so that means that they can make me take down my Pentacle?

What horseshit this is and, yeah, it is IMO exactly what it looks like.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. I fly the flag of the Four Provinces

Somehow I don't think they'd have a problem with that flag.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I could never live in an HOA subdivision.

They're freaking Nazis.

[Hepburn]

3. I have one where I live ....

... and they are such wimps. In fact, I think they are afraid of me.

[Howardx]

8. good god you are right about that

our hoa is a nightmare of epic proportions

[Wizard777]

30. HOA's should be classified as a hate group like the KKK.

[Tim01]

4. HOAs can make up just about any rules they want to.

[Hepburn]

6. The clue is to just ignore them...

...and deny what you are doing violates any rules if they bitch at ya.

Utterly worthless organization.

[NightWatcher]

18. ours will fine you for not mowing your lawn when THEY say so. Not paying the fine gets a lien

put on your house so you cant sell it without clearing your account with the HOA.

We got nailed for xeroscaping with mulch and native ground coverings. It looked good, but they mandated that we cover the yard with st augustine or bermuda grasses which dont do as well and require tons of water. Oh yes, we are under watering restrictions, which so many people ignore just so that they'll have no brown spots on the lawn. The same HOA does nothing to protect property values because of two houses that were abandoned after foreclosure. They refused to clean up the yards of these houses, but sent us numerous letters when we were out of town for two weeks. The grass was 5 inches tall, but still looked fine.

I could go on and on....

[Hepburn]

23. Mine has NO teeth...

...so I regularly tell them and the management where to stick it.

That is really why I do not mind the HOA too much ~~ they cannot do a thing to me. Yours, however, sounds like a nightmare. Wow...!

[billyoc]

5. HOA, who would live like that?

[Hepburn]

7. I live in a manufactured home and there is not a mobile home...

...community of which I know that does not have an HOA.

Some are better than others...but in all cases, they need to be ignored because most have no teeth.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Unless it's like in the X-Files...

Where if you don't conform, a monster comes up an eats you. Have you seen that episode? haha

[Hepburn]

12. I've never watched the X-Files...

...and from what you have said, I don't think I want to!

:scared:

[Drunken Irishman]

14. It's actually a pretty funny episode.

Mulder and Skully pretend to be a married couple and they move into this subdivision dominated by a HOA.

For those who don't follow the rules, well...

http://x-files.wikia.com/wiki/Arcadia

[Manifestor_of_Light]

27. Oh yes, that was the best X-files episode EVER!!

Mulder whacking mailboxes!

I wish they had done more episodes in suburbia.

Scummy called Moldy "poopy-face" :rofl:

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" - Best X Files episode EVER!

Charles Nelson Reilly stars, and Alex Trebec joins Jesse Ventura as "Men in Black".

Oh yeah, and PIE!!

[Raineyb]

31. Excellent episode

Although I do rather enjoy Bad Blood. Mulder singing Shaft. Too funny!

[ecstatic]

32. I would and do

Without it, my community would be a MESS!

[namahage]

9. Let's see, then, which of the ones listed fall under the guidelines.

The guideline being "nationally recognized holidays."

According to the attorney for the HOA:

"Easter is fine."-->Easter might qualify as "nationally recognized," but is not a Federal holiday.
"Kwanza is not."-->Again, might qualify as "nationally recognized," even if not a Federal holiday.
"Columbus day is not...Any national holiday is fine."--> Whoops.

[Hepburn]

10. How about the HOA suggestion to cover up MOST of the gay pride flag with...

...for example, a turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday.

GMAFB....:eyes:

[arbusto_baboso]

13. Don't know about AZ law but in Cali, the flag would fly.

Pretty much any flag can be flown, on pretty much any day, in California HOAs. We had that issue come up when I was a board VP a couple years ago.

[Hepburn]

15. I have a Scottish Terrier Flag flying...

...and no one had better complain!

[arbusto_baboso]

17. If they do, the law is on YOUR side....

[NeedleCast]

16. HOAs: Desgined by busybodies, for busybodies

I'd tell them to get stuffed in the least uncertain terms.

[Hepburn]

19. I do...

...and do it quite often!

:evilgrin:

[Igel]

24. In most cases.

I generally hate HOAs.

I'm reserving judgment on Houston-area HOAs. We have no zoning at the city or county level, and the only kind of zoning we's got is HOAs. You buy a bunch of land, subdivide it, and plop a big nasty set of covenant restrictions on it ... and there's your zoning.

It's possible to break a restriction if it's not enforced for so many years (etc.), so a lot of subdivisions enforce routinely, if sometimes trivially.

[bullimiami]

21. file a discrimination lawsuit.

im sure you can find an atty to do it pro-bono. maybe try calling the aclu first.

[Hepburn]

22. Depends on the fair housing laws in the State ~~

It would fly in Calif because one cannot discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. But...this is Arizona ~~ not sure what the status of their law is.

If there is an Arizona state fair housing law that deals with sexual orientation, then the homeowner should deal with the appropriate state agency. The ACLU can ONLY intervene if there is "state action." The HOA is a private party and not an agency of the state ~~ thus no "state action" which is required for the ACLU to intervene.

[blueamy66]

25. Il ive in an HOA in AZ....

and I object to the Ohio State U flag one neighbor is flying along with the Snoopy flag another neighbor is flying. Yet they are still allowed to display them.

[MadBadger]

26. Accordingto the HOA, Easter counts as a nationally recognized Holiday

[Occulus]

28. HOAs that do this shit deserve a flash mob holding garden gnomes and pink flamingos. n/t

[Wizard777]

29. HOA's should be outlawed. They are a greater threat to our freedom than Al Qaida.

If people want to form a HOA. I guess that's fine. Freedom of association. But membership cannot be compulsory. Freedom from association.

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. I live under the rules of my HOA. They keep the place orderly and attractive.