Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Discrimination Protections for Gays Voted Down in County Commission Committee
Posted by Bianca Phillips on Wed, May 27, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Though audible gasps from the audience followed Bunker's statement, five other commissioners apparently agreed, as they voted down the ordinance in committee. The ordinance will still go to the full commission for a vote on Monday.
The original ordinance, proposed by commissioner Steve Mulroy, would protect Shelby County employees, workers with county contractors, and employees of large private businesses in unincorporated Shelby County.
Commissioners Deidre Malone and J.W. Gibson proposed an amendment to the ordinance removing protections for all but Shelby County government employees.
"We need to get our own house in order before we can start regulating other people," said Malone.
Gibson also had concerns about the cost of enforcing the ordinance, if passed.
"This will require time and more people," Gibson said.
But Mulroy disagreed, stating that no additional investigators would be needed in the county's human resources office.
"It's not like we're going to have investigators roving the hallways looking for discrimination problems," Mulroy said. "The [Equal Opportunity Employment] Commission investigates based on complaints, just like they already do with other issues of discrimination."
Religious convictions guided the votes of several commissioners, including Mike Carpenter and Bunker. Bunker blamed the ordinance on a "homosexual agenda" and compared protections for gays to "the seven deadly sins."
"Once [homosexuals] get their foot in the door, they push their way through society until [homosexuality] becomes the norm," said Bunker.
Supporters and opposition for the ordinance filled the committee meeting room. Brad Watkins with the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center pleaded with commission members to consider God’s love when using Christian faith to justify their opinion on the ordinance.
"Our faith is one of inclusion and love. We can't say that we love someone and then sit back and discriminate against them," said Watkins.
Comments (22)
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Homosexuality is abnormal. I would be against any law that would give creedence to this behavior.If one chooses that lifestyle,It's a free country and they have a right to do so.They can still vote,eat at the restaurant of their choice,come and go as they please.These are civil rights.Everyone now has these rights. Deviate behavior is even allowed. But don't expect legislation to norminalize your life choice.
Doesn't matter in the long run. To all my gay friends out there, the day is coming in this country when only a bitter few authoritarians won't recognize that gay people are as "normal" as anyone else. To all the authoritarian daddy worshippers: your own grandchildren won't agree with your stance on this issue, you're going to be viewed by your own descendants as an anachronism. It's inevitable.
my attraction to hairy arm pitted girls is apparently abnormal, i hope no one discriminates against me for it.
There shouldn't BE any discrimination at all! What ever happened to separation of Church and State? I know this is the South but this ridiculous.
Asians weren't allowed to marry white women (Cable Act of 1922). Only in 1920 did women won the right to vote.
And then African American from the '50s to the end of the '60s was the Civil Rights Movement.
It isn't a choice nor a mental illness. It happens! Like being left handed (and even left-handed people were persecuted!).
This is CIVIL. Civil means relating or having to do with people.
I don't know what these people are, but they are not Christian. Jesus never told you to hate anybody, and make no mistake, discrimination IS hate. Hate is not a Christian value. It never was and never will be. So you can either live a Christian life, or you can hate. The choice is yours.
Again I have to agree that it isn't for government to dictate to businesses how to operate. I do think that Deidre Malone had a good idea (I can't believe I just said that) by amending the proposal to county government only. That is fine. Government positions should be free from any form of discrimination. And for the last time this isn't about morals or religion, it's about keeping the government out of my privately owned and operated business. Period. Gay, straight, black, white it doesn't matter, the government has no business telling me who I can hire or fire and why.
I think it's a good thing for the county government to undertake for its own employees. I'd even be in favor of a county gay marriage proposal, that would show how open of a community we really are, not to mention really get the evangelicals fired up!
I wonder if he had a formative encounter with a German beer hall girl in his youth?
He's getting the Christian of the Year Academy award from Brother Steve out there in Bellevueland where snakes and donkeys talk and it's okay for little boys to be sexually abused by their pastors.
I certainly hope that the videotape of Bunker advocating discrimination is made into a political ad opposing his re-election. Memphis, of all places, knows how poisonous discrimination is to a community of diverse people.
This is not about homosexuality, it is about job discrimination. Job discrimination is wrong, period. It is also bad policy, bad business, and bad for our image as a city.
As much as I love Midtown, I may have to move to the burbs so I can help get this clown out of public office.
You know, it has been my observation that the people who are most vehemently opposed to homosexuality are homosexuals. So, that might help explain why Wyatt Bunker and Chris Thomas are so vocal about this: they don't want to be outed.
On another note, I think that those pastors and the commissioners who spoke yesterday did us all a huge favor: they went public with their ignorance, bigotry, and hatred and showed everyone just how immoral the religious right in this country can be.
Oh shit . . .
I was reading the bible last night and in Neuteronomy 23 it says I can't go to heaven because of my vasectomy.
According to his bio on the SC Government website, Bigot Bunker is a reserve officer for the Collierville Police Deptmartment and sells used cars. Amazing! I didn't know you could openly discriminate and be a cop?
http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/FirstPortal/…
It is quite telling that those who are calling for "tolerance" show such hate for those that don't agree with them. Name calling, bashing, and strong-arm tactics against those with whom one disagrees are not loving, appropriate, or consistent with the principles that have made America great. Therefore, I am calling on rational, fair-minded homosexuals to stop treating those who disagree in such ways. The hatred from SOME homosexuals towards those who disagree is so incredibly hypocritical and intellectually dishonest that it is shocking to see so many people who are otherwise sane accepting the GLB propaganda. In case one is interested, I neither hate nor am I afraid of homosexual people. However, it is at the same time distressing and saddening to see people who are at times able to think clearly still rather often embrace destructive, hateful and bigoted rhetoric. So again, I'm calling on those in the GLB camp to stop trying to cram your choices down the throats of others. The GLB crowd too often wants tolerance but too many GLBs are UNwilling to tolerate the opinions and viewpoints of others. In other words, the GLB crowd is usually playing the victim while acting as a bully. That is evil. Take a look in the mirror, and learn how to love others with whom you have chosen to disagree.
Fair-Minded Guy, Why do i get the idea that if you were back in the 60's you would have replaced the GLB with Black or Negro??? "The principles that have made America great".So there was no tea party? No fight for Independance? Guess the fourth of July shouldent be celebrated if i were to follow your logic... WJD? can't remember him staying away from the"Bad people of the day" Oh thats right he, had a respectable job and looked down on others he did not understand? Kind of like you?? Right??
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