LGBTQ community, supporters call for Berkley councilman’s resignation

BERKLEY — The comments made by a Berkley City Councilman about the LGTBQ community still linger, with many calling for his resignation.

At the June 6 City Council meeting, the council took up an item for the approval of the Berkley Pride Block Party, which was a celebration of the LGBTQ community during Pride Month. The event was approved in a 3-1 vote, with Councilman Dennis Hennen voting no.

Hennen stated during the meeting that he was voting no because of his religious beliefs.

“It’s my deeply held religious conviction that homosexuality is wrong,” he said. “To be clear, this is not some sort of homophobia. For example, I feel equally about all kinds of sin and I support the city’s annual Pride resolution that supports respect and equal treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community. There are many things that come before council that I personally find objectionable and I can accept those when the source is private, but I must draw the line at a city-run event that requires my personal endorsement.”

Hennen’s statement upset many people around the community, who have been calling for him to step down from the City Council. A gathering also was formed to bring residents and supporters of the LGBTQ community to speak out against Hennen at the June 20 council meeting.

In a Facebook post on June 14, Hennen apologized for his comments.

“After speaking with several members of the community, I understand now why my comments were so hurtful,” he stated. “While trying to make a statement about my religious convictions, I failed to show love and compassion, and I failed to acknowledge the history of severe persecution the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced, often from religious people and institutions, and the harsh and judgmental ways my words would come across. Had I taken the opportunity to speak to more people beforehand, I would have understood the hurt my words would cause. In that, I failed.”

While he stated his views guide his every decision, Hennen said he recognized that he can’t force them onto others and must keep them separate from government policy.

“I realize I have a lot to learn, and I know that some may doubt the sincerity of this apology, but I offer it to make amends and to humbly ask for forgiveness for the hurt that I caused,” he said. “I’ll continue to learn from my mistakes. I plan towards communicating with more compassion and to involve more stakeholders in my decision making process going forward. Even though we all have different views, the overlap between them is huge. I hope it’s in these areas that we can work together to make Berkley a better place for everyone.”

Hennen’s apology did not quell the voices calling for his resignation, as the City Hall council chambers were filled with supporters of the LGBTQ community.

More than 20 people took to the podium before the council to talk about pain caused by Hennen’s comments, their experiences as an LGBTQ person and how Hennen’s religion influenced his decision-making as a member of council. Those persons ranged from longtime members of the Berkley community to young people 12-13 years old.

A straw poll also was taken during the meeting, which showed more than 50 people in the crowd who supported the comments made by the speakers. No one spoke in support of Hennen.

Resident Christine Gale stated there are many issues that come before the City Council on which reasonable people can disagree, but there are not two reasonable positions on whether being gay makes someone a sinner.

“The principle that people of all sexualities and gender identities are worthy of dignity, respect and acceptance is not up for debate,” she said. “We have listened to your plea for tolerance for your intolerance, but Council member Hennen, we do not tolerate hate. We do not tolerate hate regardless of its source. You are entitled to religious beliefs that propagate homophobia, but in this community you are not entitled to represent us with those beliefs.”

Gale doubted that Hennen’s apology was sincere.

“We have heard you say that you now understand why your comments were so hurtful. It is difficult to believe that you did not know — prior to the backlash to your comments — that sharing your belief that homosexuality is wrong would be offensive,” she said. “It is difficult to fathom that you lacked the empathy to realize that labeling an entire group of residents, including children, as sinners would be hurtful.”

Hennen addressed the controversy once before the public spoke, reiterating his public apology. He did not acknowledge the calls for his resignation.

Jess Worrall, a Berkley resident for more than 15 years and one of the organizers of the gathering at the council meeting, told the Woodward Talk she was pleased with the turnout and the number of people who spoke up.

That being said, Worrall doesn’t believe Hennen will step down.

“He only seems to be saying sorry probably because there’s backlash and none of that really changed in my eyes about, I guess, regarding his beliefs,” she said. “I’m not asking him to change his belief system. I would never ask that. What I don’t want is him using his belief system to cast votes on minority groups. That’s absolutely horrendous. It’s a terrible thing to do.”

Worrall stated that she intends to initiate a recall process against Hennen. The councilman was elected to his seat in November 2021 to a four-year term. Because his term is more than two years in length, a recall only can be filed after he has served a full year of his term.

Worrall, along with many others at the council meeting, also shared their feelings that Hennen lied to them during his campaign for council, as they were made to believe he supported the LGBTQ community wholeheartedly.

“He told a lot of us that, and then to turn around and have him do that, you know, it was a blatant lie to your constituents, and we feel for those reasons a recall is absolutely warranted and it’s actually necessary,” she said. “If we don’t hold … our politicians accountable, then who will? … Even though it is small government, we feel it is important to make an example of it. We’re not going to let people like this get away with doing this to us anymore.

“You’re allowed to have your beliefs, you’re allowed to have your religion. Unfortunately, you are allowed to hate me and be hateful,” she continued. “You just can’t bend your gavel from a pulpit and pass laws that support your religious extremism. It’s not going to happen, not in my city, and hopefully we elect people that won’t allow that anywhere else.”

Hennen stated in an email he had “nothing more to add than what I’ve already said publicly” in regard to a comment on the potential recall or the demand for a resignation. He added that if someone wants to talk to him, they can call or text him at (248) 358-5150 or email him at dhennen@berkleymich.net.

The entire June 20 meeting can be viewed on the city of Berkley’s YouTube page.