"I believe it is appropriate for our community to make a stand that says we oppose discrimination against individuals of this category," Luecke said. There is ample evidence locally and nationally of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to warrant protective language in the law, Luecke said . . . "I believe it's not only appropriate but important for the city of South Bend to make a statement for fair housing, fair employment for individuals of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender orientation," he said.
And while Luecke was being pressured to make the proposal voluntary rather than mandatory, he would hear nothing of it. He supports mandatory compliance. Luecke had this to say at the first public hearing on the recently proposed ordinance. The city council plans to hold two more hearings on the ordinance before scheduling a vote before the full council on June 26.
If you would like to e-mail Mayor Luecke to thank him for his support, please click here. Friends like Mayor Luecke deserve the support of Indiana's GLBT community.
3 comments:
You're right Gary. Mayor Luecke has been a strong supporter of the LBGT community for years. His stand is not surprising. His courage is appreciated. Thanks for including his email link.
This is a refreshing reminder that secret meetings, like Daniels had a couple of years ago, and which it appears some gay Republicans are advocating, ought to be brought out into the bright lights. Mayor Peterson and Gov's O'Bannon and Kernan were completely open and upfront with their support of rights for LGBT.
Hiding in the dark crevaces of secrecy so as not to offend the right wing of their party is no way to show your pride.
Proudlly Gay
Some food for thought:
May 09, 2006
Poll: Federal Marriage Amendment not a priority for Americans
Although senators Bill Frist and Rick Santorum have vowed to bring the Federal Marriage Amendment to a Senate vote the first week of June, a new poll shows that Americans don't think the issue should be a priority. The poll, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Human Rights Campaign, shows that an amendment outlawing same-sex marriage ranks last on a list of priorities for Congress, after such issues as affordable health care, Iraq, new ethics and lobbying laws, and even an amendment banning flag burning.
"The Federal Marriage Amendment does not rank on the list of voters' priorities anywhere near where one might expect," Samantha Smoot, political director for HRC, said at a press conference Monday. "As far as it's a political ploy, it doesn't seem so far to be distracting the American public."
The poll also showed that regardless of how respondents felt about same-sex marriage, 63% of them said they have strong or some concerns about amending the Constitution over the issue. And although the U.S. Catholic Church has recently stepped up its support for the Federal Marriage Amendment, initiating a write-in postcard campaign for its parishioners, 69% of Catholic respondents said they were concerned about the amendment.
And while 53% of respondents favor banning same-sex marriage, only 43% favor banning both marriage and civil unions for gay couples, which the proposed amendment would do. The survey showed that support for civil unions has grown by four percentage points since 2004 to 40%, while support for marriage equality declined two points to 25%.
The survey polled 802 registered voters nationwide in April. It has a margin of error of 3.5%. (The Advocate)
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail.asp?id=30682
Nonsense. The Indiana courts have stricken down several such bills as unconstitutional. It's a meaningless, empty gesture.
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