A proposed statement of tolerance in Baton Rouge proves why the city has a long way to go until it is a tolerant place.

The sponsors of a proposed One Baton Rouge resolution expressing tolerance of the city’s gay population pulled the resolution from the Metro Council’s agenda Wednesday.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker and Councilwoman Alison Casio said there was no point in going forward because they lack the votes to pass the resolution.

“It’s not going to pass,” Walker said shortly before the meeting. “We don’t have the votes. Let’s move on.”

You can find the text of the resolution and the opposition letter here.

The One Baton Rouge resolution had prompted heated debate, including an open letter to Mayor-President Kip Holden and the council signed by more than 50 local church pastors opposed to the resolution.

The open letter, published as a full page ad in The Advocate on Wednesday, called homosexuality a sin and said that gays should not be afforded “special recognition.”

The ad continued, “We believe you are being encouraged to press an agenda that has long-range implications. We plead with you to drop this agenda. It will divide good-hearted citizens whose consciences are offended by a resolution that is wholly unnecessary.”

The pastors claim the resolution will "divide good hearted citizens." But the rest of the article raises the question of whether these good hearted citizens are outright hostile.

Cascio said she didn’t want to see the hostile tone of some of the opposition play out in public at the council.

She said that type of debate would be more damaging to the city’s image than pulling the item from the agenda.

“For whatever reason, people just get fired up over this issue,” Cascio said.

The resolution was meant to recognize people of different sexual orientations as a welcome part of the community and that there was never any intent to confer special recognition to gays, she said.

The whole thing just makes you want to pick up and move to Baton Rouge, doesn't it?  Essentially, this episode demonstrates that Baton Rouge is an intolerant place for people of different walks of life.