June 24, 2009
Citizens Praise City’s New Non-Discrimination Protections:
South Bend Equality, Other Community Groups Voice Support for Human Rights Ordinance Amendment
Today, community members, including prominent members of religious, community, labor and student groups, issued statements praising South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke’s executive order that expanded the non-discrimination policy for city employees to include sexual orientation and gender identity. (**Please see a portion of such statements below.**)
The mayor’s executive order (signed at noon on 6/24/09) extends legal protections to city employees only, and does not impact South Bend's Human Rights Ordinance (HRO). Various individuals and organizations are now actively urging the South Bend Common Council to pass an amendment to the HRO, thus extending such protection to all individuals who work, go to school or seek housing in South Bend.
At this time, in South Bend, it is currently legal to fire, discriminate against, or deny housing to someone on the basis, or the perception, of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The amendment to the HRO which is being sought would allow alleged discrimination to be reported to the South Bend Human Rights Commission and to be investigated as are all other discrimination claims, with an exemption for religious organizations. An amendment intended to extend these protections was narrowly defeated in July 2006 by the Common Council in a vote of 5 to 4.
South Bend Equality (SBE) is a local community organization that advocates for equal protection under the law for all residents regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. SBE declared the executive order "an important step" toward establishing needed civil rights protections and applauded Mayor Luecke for his leadership and courage in standing up against the mistreatment of any citizen.
SBE has received legal opinions from Indiana attorneys, who conclude that both the Executive Order and the proposed amendment to the Ordinance are valid and enforceable under Indiana law.
The proposed amendment to the HRO would extend protection to all citizens in South Bend. Indianapolis enacted such protection in 2005, after their mayor had passed a similar executive order; and a variety of other Indiana cities (Lafayette, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Michigan City) have extended protection to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) has maintained similar civil rights protection for state employees since he took office in 2004.
SBE also pointed to a 2008 survey of Indiana citizens conducted by the IU Center for Survey Research, which found that respondents overwhelmingly agree (80.4%) that gay and lesbian Hoosiers should have the same civil rights protections that other groups do, while 79.7% agree on transgender inclusion in civil rights protections. Support for equal treatment is also bi-partisan: 92% of Democrats, 64.2% of Republicans, and 85.5% of Independents support civil rights for gays and lesbians. Clear majorities support such protections in urban, suburban, small town, and rural areas, and across all age and educational attainment groups. (For summary of survey, see http://indianaequality.typepad.com/Microsoft%20Word%20-%202009%20Polling%20Data.pdf)
“Everyone should be protected from discrimination based on their orientation, whether they’re gay or straight,” said Catherine Pittman, a South Bend clinical psychologist and member of South Bend Equality. “We all have a sexual orientation, and no one should be denied basic rights because someone does not approve of their orientation. Neither heterosexuals nor homosexuals should be mistreated by anyone because of their orientation or perceived orientation. There are cases where heterosexuals have been harassed for being perceived as gay, and when this happens they too have no legal recourse.”
South Bend Equality reported that members of the GLBT community are everyday Americans who are interested in earning a living, being active members of the community, and providing for their families like everyone else. Like all Hoosiers, they want to feel safe in their neighborhoods and be judged on the basis of their capabilities, job performance and contributions to the community. “It is difficult to hear the stories of people who have lost their jobs or have been denied housing opportunities because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to know that they have no place to go for assistance in combating this discrimination,” said Catherine Pittman.
South Bend Equality is joining with other concerned community groups to bring these concerns before the South Bend Common Council. A broad coalition of groups will be asking the council to amend the Human Rights Ordinance. Statements of support are below.
I applaud the mayor’s executive order and encourage the Common Council to pass an amendment extending protection to all citizens in the South Bend area. I am hopeful that we can now come together as a community to acknowledge the humanity of each and every citizen.
Debra Stanley
Executive Director
Imani Unidad, Inc.
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“The Northern Indiana College Democrats applaud the actions taken by Mayor Luecke to protect South Bend city employees against discrimination," said Caitlin Worm, Chairperson of NICD. "We call on the South Bend Common Council to pass legislation amending the South Bend Human Rights Ordinance to extend similar protections citywide. We also wish to state that we recognize support for such an action represents mainstream Hoosier values of fairness and equality.”
Northern Indiana College Democrats
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Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated in the work place. We at the St. Joseph Valley Project Jobs with Justice support the mayor's decision to protect the city’s employees based on their sexual orientation. We at the SJVP-JwJ have a strong interest in ensuring people are not just protected against such discrimination in the workplace, but in the wider community as well.
Joseph Carbone
St. Joe Valley Project-Jobs with Justice
I believe people who are gay should be free to say openly that the person they love most, and share their life with, is of the same gender. But simply believing that is not enough. It is not yet safe in our city, nor in our nation, for people who are gay to be open about that simple, harmless, true fact of life. And so I advocate for the rights of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. I have done so for many years, and so has my religious denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association. Historically, Unitarians have honored the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings, and Universalists have proclaimed that no one should be condemned to eternal punishment for something that is not their choice. Being gay is not a choice; it is simply the way some people are born. Approximately the same percentage of people are born gay as are born left-handed. Therefore sexual orientation should not be a moral issue. I and my denomination believe that diversity in religious beliefs, ethnicity, economic background, and family structure should be, not feared, but welcomed as enriching to our beloved communities. Until equal rights are expanded to include sexual orientation, people who are gay will continue to be discriminated against, at times most tragically so. We all know people who are gay. But we do not know how many we know because being gay can carry undeserved shame. Yet when we simply open our eyes and our hearts to our neighbors, co-workers, family members, and fellow parishioners who are gay, or might be perceived to be gay, we experience the truth that we are more alike than we are alien. I urge you to help our city become a safe place where people who are gay can live equally in good neighborliness, good will, and grace.
The Rev. Jennie Barrington
Interim Minister, First Unitarian Church, South Bend, Indiana
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As Christians, we believe Jesus calls us to look out for the needs of all people, especially those who suffer discrimination. We believe all people need access to safe housing and equal educational and employment opportunities. This is not about agreeing or disagreeing with someone's lifestyle choices; this is about justice for all people. We want all people of our community to have the opportunity to be heard if they think they have been discriminated against. This commitment grows directly out of our Christian faith and the commandment to love my neighbor as myself.
David and Janice Yordy Sutter
Pastors at Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend
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“No Special Rights!"--the duplicitous anthem of the opponents of amending the South Bend Human Relations Ordinance to include discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals (GLBT), is a euphemism for "sexual discrimination." Inasmuch as most of the opponents are traditional Christians, they have seemingly never consulted the Gospels. Jesus has never condemned homosexuality. In fact, Jesus' mission was to the poor, the outcasts, the sinners and those on the margins of his Jewish society. If homosexuals were part of this marginal class, Jesus would have ministered lovingly to them also. Since he never mentions homosexuality, maybe his society did not look down and discriminate against such citizens.
The fact that the amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance specifically allows churches to discriminate against GLBTs in their relations with them in their churches does not deter these groups from opposing this crucial amendment to ensure equal treatment of GLBTs in our South Bend Community! I consider myself "Straight for Equality!"
(Rev.) Edward J. Ruetz
Retired Catholic Priest, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
South Bend, IN
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As Christians, we believe Jesus calls us to look out for the needs of all people, especially those who suffer discrimination. We believe all people need access to safe housing and equal educational and employment opportunities. This is not about agreeing or disagreeing with someone's lifestyle choices; this is about justice for all people. We want all people of our community to have the opportunity to be heard if they think they have been discriminated against. This commitment grows directly out of our Christian faith and the commandment to love my neighbor as myself.
David and Janice Yordy Sutter
Pastors at Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend
:::::
Protecting the rights of citizens under the law is an area of justice that must be addressed by those who are charged with protecting the common good. Persons who are GLBT must have equal protection under the law and the lawful access to redress issues of discrimination.
I urge the Common Council to amend The South Bend Human Rights Ordinance so that it protects persons who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered, or those who are perceived to be. Protecting any segment of our population sends a message that no one stands outside the circle of protection offered by the law. To do otherwise is to plant a seed of violence against that or any other minority sub-group in the community. This amendment protects not only the GLBT community, but the larger community as well. This is a quality of life issue for all persons living in the Michiana area or seeking economic investment in the area.
Rev. Nancy J. Nichols
Broadway Christian Parish UMC
1412 Carroll
South Bend, IN
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As a former member of the South Bend Human Rights Commission and presently working as a volunteer on the Michiana Human Rights Initiative Project, I believe that all individuals should have human rights based on equality and nondiscrimination. In order that women and men are participating in the decisions that affect their daily lives, I think the city of South Bend needs and should adopt a Human Rights Policy that should include
• Labor rights for all
• Ending sexual orientation harassment and inequality
• Ending gender-based discrimination
• Fighting hate crimes
I commend the mayor for his Executive Order. It is an important first step.
Rick Kring
Former South Bend Human Rights Commissioner
The Michiana Social Forum, a network of local activists and organizations working for social and economic justice, applauds the efforts of Mayor Luecke to advance human rights in our city. We are appalled by the fact that—sixty years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted—people still face discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. We urge South Bend leaders to follow the Mayor’s lead and support a new human rights ordinance that will protect the human rights of all residents.
The Michiana Social Forum will continue to promote human rights in our region, and we hope to one day be able to call South Bend a “Human Rights City.” We are inspired by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, whose work was vital to the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
Jackie Smith
Co-coordinator, Michiana Social Forum
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David Gerth, the Minister of the Zion United Church of Christ in South Bend expressed his support for the mayor’s decision, and encouraged the Common Council to speak boldly to protect those who face discrimination. He noted that back in 1985 the United Church of Christ Synod voted to oppose such discrimination, and provided the following quote from the resolution:
Therefore, the Fifteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ encourages a policy on nondiscrimination in employment, volunteer service and membership policies with regard to sexual orientation; encourages Associations, Conferences and all related organizations to adopt a similar policy; and encourages the congregations of the United Church of Christ to adopt a nondiscrimination policy and a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian, gay and bisexual orientation within the community of faith.
Reverend Gerth added:
“The church has come a long way since 1985. South Bend, like Zion Church, is a pretty traditional place. But one of our traditions is a commitment to welcoming – and protecting the rights of – everyone. We’ve come a long way, and it has been long enough! The Common Council should find the courage to speak as boldly as Zion has. The time is now!”
David Gerth
Minister
Zion United Church of Christ
For further information, please contact those below, who wish to be interviewed.
Catherine Pittman Karl Hardy
South Bend Equality Michiana Social Forum
cpittman@saintmarys.edu karl_j_hardy@yahoo.com
250-8640 807-1349
Hank Mascotte Gladys Muhammad
PFLAG—Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays South Bend Heritage
and GLBT Resource Center office: 280-7092
mascotte@comcast.net cell: 514-5944
277-2684
Rev. David Gerth
Minister
Zion United Church of Christ
DavidGerth2@aol.com
Church: 233-5446
Cell: 314-518-6455
Mayor Luecke bans discrimination
http://www.fox28.com/global/story.asp?s=10588359
Posted by: Bill | June 24, 2009 at 03:17 PM