I may not have spent this Sunday in church but I clearly was in the presence of the Lord. In solidarity with an estimated five hundred citizens we stood in the sweltering heat to show our support for an ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Steve Mulroy to insure the protection and fair treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender in the workplace. This issue has clearly been divisive, even though it shouldn't be. As the Shelby County Democratic Party's Secretary I watched as Executive Committee Member Jonathan Cole, a member of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), struggled to convince SCDP Members, mostly the black members, to support this anti-discrimination proposal. Only after making it clear that this proposal in no way endorsed same sex marriages was the body able to support it.
As I said before I support this ordinance but I can't help but point out what I feel has been a serious misstep by the gay and lesbian community. About a month or so ago I happened on a fellow blogger website. There was a posting asking, "Why do so many blacks not get it when it comes to the gay community demanding the same Civil Rights they have." I felt a need to respond even though I anticipated a negative reaction.
My response to the blogger was that even in their question they explained the problem. This looking at blacks as if we don’t understand is demeaning and insulting. African Americas gets it. As I have discussed in other postings blacks are by circumstance a conservative lot. In a macro sense social change may create opportunities for progress, but at the same time on an individual level it has almost always been devastating to the black family. The victories of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s and 70’s brought social experimenting by well meaning groups and agencies. These experiments which were not well thought out, in the end helped to decimate the black nuclear family.
The average black person’s life is built on sand. Any shift can be devastating. The church and family are two bed-rocks that anchor this community. It is far easier for white gays to challenge these sacred institutions, but for blacks the repercussions warrant greater caution. The LGBT movement must understand this and not depend on superficial slogans of Equal Rights solidarity to win over blacks but work to address common core issues that impact us all.
That being said the anti-discrimination ordinance is going before the Shelby County Commission today should be supported. It must go to a vote today – Monday, June 1st before the full County Commission for the first of three readings it must pass before it becomes law. For the ordinance to advance to a second reading it must have seven votes. Presently five Commissioners are in support, five are not, one did not vote due to family issues and two: Commissioners Sidney Chism and James Harvey have abstained. To move this ordinance forward we must convince Commissioners Chism and Harvey to support this initiative. So call or email them today.
(901-545-4301) or emailing them directly:
sidney.chism@shelbycountytn.gov
james.harvey@shelbycountytn.gov
17 comments:
Reginald its clear your trying to do the right thing by supporting the discrimination part but what if you hire a big hairy guy and one day he says he wants to get in touch with his female side and comes in the office with a dress on showing his hairy legs and he puts lipstick on with his hairy beard. Now you can't fire him even if he runs away customers. The problem with this is that if you support these rational gays you have to support these crazy ones to. Just look at a guy pride day. You will see decent gay couples who love each other which is fine but then you see the dyke march and Queer we Here march. There are a lot of sick stuff the gay community is trying to hide. They will never get my support because it will open the doors to all the perverted stuff. People need to be careful.
The SCDP is generally more liberal than Democrats as a whole. With that said, many members are uncomfortable with this ordinance but didn't vote against it because 1) they were new members not wanting to upset the applecart so early or 2) they had other goals for the Party and didn't want to alienate potential supporters of those goals by voting against it.
Please understand...
THIS IS AN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
It protects "People" from being fired for their sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with gay marriage. Anon 8:35, if it is a sin then god will deal with it. Anon 9:42, companies still will have the right to establish reasonable dress codes.
Thank-you Mr. Milton for standing up for what is right.
Count me in June 1, 2009 9:42 AM
You start letting them have these laws and what happens when a trans-male (that a man that thinks he's a woman) demands his/her? on restroom or a a trans-female (that a female that thinks she's a man) demands her/his? on restroom. This crap will get out of hand. Stop it NOW!!!!!!!! No, no, no and if these commissioners vote for this they can bet we're going to work to get them out of office. And no I don't hate gays, but that doesn't mean you have give up your beliefs.
The ordinance failed. The resolution passed is not a law and "protects" only those who are already employees of Shelby County. The resolution is unenforceable in court.
Merriam-Webster says a resolution is: "a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or assembled group"
Opinion, will and intent are all well and good, but try to get some legal recourse to discrimination as a gay job applicant to Shelby County! Looks like somebody on the commission got what they wanted. ... Mr. Chism - any comments?
Reginald where was Van Turner? The Shelby County party supported this law. So why didn't "Chairman" Turner make an appearance?! Was he hiding like Chism?
It was watered down to a toothless resolution yesterday. At least it is a small step in the right direction.
There were many courageous people who spoke at the meeting yesterday as well as some who were ignorant and hate filled.
3:20 - You are so right! These cowards who called themselves Reverends know we are right but they don't want to rock the boat. What don't want to lose all that church money? They make me sick!
Countries in Europe have unisex restrooms everywhere and they don't seem to have a problem. On to the next phobia!
10:59 summed it up. What passed was so watered down that you could bottle it and sell it as spring water.
Those who were opposed to this ordinance won. Memphis will never be nothing but a backwater town.
The push for gay marriage has hurt the gay community. They should have focused on civil unions, but by trying to shove their beliefs on everybody and label anybody that disagree as haters they have lost a lot of support.
Man shall not lie with mankind as with womankind. Womankind shall not lie with womankind as with mankind. Clearly stated. It just does not work without much dificulty and pain.
When an African American or Black person is born, the birth certificate is so noted. Please advise when a 'Gay" person is born, why is it hidden and displays itself later on. If a person is "gay" God would be kind enough to let the parents know ahead of birth. Can you imagine giving birth and hearing the doctor proclaiming, its a "gay". If anyone has trouble knowing their gender, get a mirror and observe what God has placed on your body. It is what is ON your body that determines your sexuality, not what you feel like on the inside of your body.
Turn to Jesus Christ, believe in Him and be saved today. He wil heal your wounded heart and repair all damaged emotions.
The agenda for those who think themsleves to be 'gay" are to force this mind set on our children thereby ruining their moral value system. Once the moral value system has been ruined, and "any thing goes", our youth will not know what to believe. Mr. Milton, if you want to know the truth of the matter, ask your mother who is holding the Bible in her hand. Therein lies the truth. I believe she will tell you what is right, if you want to know. Dare to ask your mother is homosexuality right. You will receive a firm answer in which you can forever trust. An answer that will come from the Word of God. Even though the Bible does not specifically have the word homosexuality in it, but it does speak clearly that the kind of sexual acts that must be participated in as a homosexual are wrong. How dare one take the organ that God placed on their body and do things with them that are unspeakable. God is in charge of the whole man, every organ and He determines how we use them, not us. The majority of people who participate in homosexual behavior are ashamed for anyone to know it. The countenance of people who engage in this behavior is weary and sad. Their personal lives are ruined, sad and alone, but they fake it to the public. This is sign enough to let you know that homosexuality is wrong. Hetrosexuals have never had to explain their sexual preference, nor be concerned about being fired because they chose to participte in hetrosexual activity. It is expected that one will grow up and marry the opposite sex. It is not expected that one will grow up and marry the same sex nor participate in sex with the same sex.
We have got to guard our children from perverted minds. This gay movement if filled with obsessiveness. World, protect our children. If they gay movement can have access to the minds of our children, their goes the world. Pray, God will answer while we are yet speaking. He promised and He is faithful. We can rejoice in knowing that God is stil in charge no matter how off course man may seem. God loves all of us and He wants the best for us. That is why He give us good guidance and directions in the Word of God. Try living life God's way, you will love it. A long and prosperous life is ours if we follow God. Choose today to follow God.
You know all you people who quote God. What about him making man in his own image? Gay or straight we're all God's children.
If we are created in God's image, is he then both "gay" and straight. There is only one image of God, Holy. People get upset when you speak out against sin and say you are a hater. Sin is sin regardless of whether it is homnosexuality or gossiping. Whatever the sin, it is wrong. To speak out against stealing does no mean that you hate the thief. It is to point out that stealing is wrong. To speak out against homosexuality is not speaking out against a person, it is speaking out against the wrong behavior.
People who do wrong know it, but want a law to appease the conscious so that they can do wrong and feel good about it, after all, if one is not breaking the law, they feel comfortable.
Mankind is choosing to ignore the laws of God. He has the final answer. That is the answer we must seek and will be judged by.
Take it or leave it, at least you know the truth.
that is nice
He said that!
He said that!
You had better believe it. He said it, that settles it.
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