Ordinance Hearing #6 on Tuesday, July 21

We need YOU at the public hearing on Tuesday to show Assembly members that people in our town want lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Alaskans to be protected from discrimination. If you haven't already testified, now is the time to sign up. Don't let opponents of equality have the last word!

The hearings are at Loussac Library (36th & Denali) in the Assembly Chambers on the 1st Floor. The meetings run from 5-11 p.m, but the Assembly does other business first and gets to the equal rights ordinance around 6 or later.

Wear blue—the color of peace and unity—and your Equality Works button.

Beware false information
At the last hearing on July 7, one of the security guards told people dressed in blue that the ordinance had already gone to a public vote and there was no reason for us to be there. This is false - the Assembly has not voted on the ordinance yet and is allowing more people to sign up and give testimony. As a security guard on duty at the Assembly meeting, it was unprofessional of him to give false information on the ordinance and try to limit our freedom of speech at a public hearing. Do not be deceived by wrong information about the ordinance and hearings, even if it comes from a library or Assembly employee.

Words of encouragement from our allies
Our allies on Alaska Commons and the pro-ordinance site SOS Anchorage.NET have written thoughtful and inspiring new posts for this hearing. Heather explains why she, a straight woman, is fighting for the rights of her friends and the community of Anchorage. She describes how she became involved in gay issues, and why she is involved this time:
I and they know that this ordinance won't make hatred and discrimination go away, but it will give them somewhere to turn when they are harassed because of who they are. I will stand and fight with them, and with you, to make this community the place that it should be.

He [Jerry Prevo] has built his career out of hatred, and I am not willing to let him win this time. He is a pitiable man and a bully, but he does not dictate the behavior of the Anchorage community.
John reports on the hearings and why the ordinance is important for the future of Alaska:
I've heard and learned a staggering amount during these hearings. Some words have left me in absolute awe of the intelligence, bravery, and perseverance on display. Other words are harder to drink away.

For now, the fate of Ordinance 64 rests with the Assembly. We need to keep showing up, and keep reminding the Assembly that we won't go away.

Hate, in no way, results in the betterment of a society. And we are foolish if we pretend that Anchorage is somehow immune.
Visit their blogs to read the posts, plus transcripts from the hearings and guest posts by Tonei Glavinic. They will live-blog today's hearing, as will other local bloggers. Bent Alaska will add updates from the hearing on the Facebook wall and below this post.

If you are in Anchorage, please join us at the equal rights ordinance hearing, Tuesday at Loussac Library. Wear blue!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do not understand this "equal rights" thing. Everyone, gay or straight, has the right to marry one adult of the opposite sex. We are equal; we all have this right. Everyone, gay or straight, does not have the right to marry someone of the same sex, more than one person, a child, or any non-human object. We are equal; we are all not allowed to do these things.
Gays say that they are not treated equally because they are not allowed to marry the person they love. If we change the law to base the legality of marriage on love, then there will be inequality. Those who love one adult of the same or opposite sex would be allowed to marry that person, but those who love more than one adult, or a child, or a non-human object would still not be allowed to marry that person or object; this would be unequal. So I do not see how it is about equality.

E. Ross said...

This ordinance has nothing to do with marriage, only with protection against discrimination. If you're going to leave anonymous homophobic comments on a gay blog, at least make them on the topic.

E. Ross said...

Testimony on the ordinance began. We heard a speaker in favor then several theocrats. One spent 3 minutes telling us her fears of how gays are so very dangerous, then said, "I'm not homophobic." Homophobic means fear of homosexuals, so ... yes, she is homophobic. Like it or not, the word fits.

E. Ross said...

Great - the Assembly listens patiently to 100 red-shirts but as soon as we start to get a few more supporters testifying, the chair asks people who signed up to speak to stay in their seats if their testimony repeats previous arguments. Thanks, Debbie. Of course, the red-shirts aren't going to pass up an opportunity to preach at us.

Anonymous said...

Homophobic? I what way does my comment make you think that I am afraid of gays? It seems to me that when anyone disagrees with you or questions you, you label them "homophobic."

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