Discrimination

Discrimination
(SBT Voice of the People)
10/15/08

Jay Dunlap, who opposes an amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance to protect gay, leslian, bisexual and transgendered people (Voice, Sept. 25) is confused and misguided. The SouthBend Human Rights Commission does not deal with individuals who are disadvantaged; it deals with individuals who are discriminated against. Even a wealthy, well-educated man could be the target of discrimination.

Only members of Citizens for Community Values, such as Dunlap, dispute that there is discrimination against GLBT persons. The question is, are our representatives on the Common Council going to remedy the situation? Will they give GLBT persons the right to bring complaints of alleged discrimination to the HRC for investigation? Other Indiana cities permit this (e.g. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bloomington, Michigan City), and it works.

In his Viewpoint on Aug. 15, Don Wheeler stated that he didn't pay too much attention to the rhetoric of the opposition when the amendment was voted on two years ago, because the arguments against the legislation were factually incorrect or irrational. Dunlap's letter is a perfect example. The council must see through this obfuscation.

Discrimination is discrimination, even when it's called "loving opposition."

Elizabeth Karle
South Bend

A Democrat by any other name...

The following statement is included in the 2008 platform of the national Democratic Party (p. 51-52):

"A More Perfect Union We believe in the essential American ideal that we are not constrained by the circumstances of birth but can make of our lives what we will. Unfortunately, for too many, that ideal is not a reality. We have more work to do. Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that’s the America we believe in. We all have to do our part to lift up this country, and that means changing hearts and changing minds, and making sure that every American is treated equally under the law. "

And, in our own state, the 2008 Indiana Democratic Party platform states:

“The Indiana Democratic Party is proud of our long-standing commitment to and support for civil rights and equality. Our 2008 ticket makes history, creating the opportunity for the first African-American president and the first female governor. As the party of the people, we strongly oppose restriction of opportunity to Hoosiers based on their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic background.”

These ideals are what the Democratic Party, and - dare we say - many Republicans, aspire to. The Mayor gets this. The South Bend Common Council, which is comprised of 9 members (eight of whom claim to be Democrats) fell short of reaching the goal of equality by failing to pass an amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance to level the playing field for GLBT persons in July, 2006. Only Pfeifer, Kelly, Kirsits, and Puzzello stood firm.

No doubt this issue will come up again. When it does, will the Democrats be true to their party's ideals, or will they turn their backs on these aspirations? Will the eight (D)s be Democrats, and vote like Democrats...or will they behave like something else?

Chicago may get 'gay-friendly' high school

from CNN.com
By Mallory Simon

Story Highlights
High school would not be exclusively for gay students

Officials say harassment contributing to high dropout rates among gay students

39 states don't have laws against bullying based on sexual identity

Advocate: "We can continue to do nothing ... or we can save young people's lives"

(emphasis added)

(CNN) -- Public school officials in Chicago, Illinois, are recommending approval of a "gay-friendly" high school because harassment and violence are causing gay students to skip class and drop out at alarming rates.

School officials say the proposed school would offer a welcoming, harassment-free environment for gay students.

The School for Social Justice Pride Campus, which officials say will not be exclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, is aimed at being safe and welcoming for any student looking for another school option, said Josh Edelman, executive officer in the Chicago Public Schools' Office of New Schools.

"It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation," Edelman said.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan announced his recommendation Wednesday. Officials said Pride Campus would be separate physically but be attached administratively to the School for Social Justice.

School officials said the standards and curriculum for the school would be in line with other schools in the district. The school would also offer counseling for students, though because of federal laws, officials cannot ask students about their sexual orientation. The curriculum would not rely on, but would incorporate lessons about, sexual identity in history and literature classes, officials said.

"It's about creating another option for kids," Edelman said. "When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality options for students, whether they are gay or not."

The school could be a lifeline for students who are struggling for academic success.

Gay and lesbian students are three times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe, according to a 2003 Chicago Public School District survey. And a study released Wednesday by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network showed similar trends across the country.

The national study, which the group says is the most comprehensive report ever on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students nationwide, found that 86.2 percent of those students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1 percent physically harassed and 22.1 percent physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

This harassment, the study concludes, has affected students' ability to achieve success in school, causing their grade-point level to be, on average, half a point lower than that of heterosexual students nationwide.

Dropout levels are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students because of more frequent truancy, the study found. Almost 32 percent of those students missed a class because of feeling unsafe, compared with only 5.5 percent of heterosexual students nationwide, the study said.

Truancy and lower grades aren't the only repercussions of anti-gay sentiments in schools, said Kevin Jennings, the founder and executive director of GLSEN. He cited the killing of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student shot by a classmate in Oxnard, California, in February after King asked to be his valentine.

Jennings said the repercussions of harassment alone underscore the need for Pride Campus.

"If we keep doing nothing, we are going to keep getting these horrifying levels of harassment, greater rates of skipping, not going to college and more tragic violence like the murder of Lawrence King," he said. "Those are our choices. We can continue to do nothing, and we know the results, or we can save young people's lives and offer them an education and a future."

A similar school in New York, the Harvey Milk High School in the East Village, was created because of similar fears.

The school, which had been around since 1985, serving gay and lesbian students, expanded to a "gay-themed" school for 100 students in 2003. The Pride Campus is expected to serve 600 students, school officials said.

Harvey Milk High School, like the Pride Campus, is open to all students regardless of sexual orientation. But unlike the proposed school in Chicago, Harvey Milk requires its attendees to be at risk of dropping out because of harassment.

Harvey Milk boasts a graduation rate of 95 percent of its students -- all of whom were at risk of or had dropped out -- well above the city average of 52 percent.

When the school opened its doors, protesters, led by anti-gay Kansas minister Fred Phelps, screamed at supporters gathered outside to repent for their "sodomite behavior."

Edelman said that while some concerns have been raised about Pride Campus at community meetings, officials have not heard any large-scale opposition.

One Chicago resident said at a meeting that he could not support the school because of his religious beliefs, Edelman said. Others told local media they didn't support the use of public money to create the school. Some thought that if gay students went to the Pride Campus, students in other schools would not learn to accept the gay community. Instead, they suggested, the focus should be working toward acceptance in all schools.

"Absolutely, we should work for [acceptance] across the board," said Jennings, the GLSEN executive director. "But it's not going to change overnight, and in the meantime, these kids aren't going to graduate."

Jennings said that GLSEN research shows acceptance among peers is helped by having a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at school.

The most important factor, according to the GLSEN study, is the existence of a state law that protects students from harassment based on their sexual orientation.

Thirty-nine states, including Illinois and New York, do not have laws offering that specific protection, Jennings said citing the GLSEN study. Some have laws, but they don't specify on what basis the protections apply, which Jennings said was essentially as effective as having no law at all. California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin are the only states with specific sexual orientation protections for students.

The Chicago School Board will vote October 22 to approve the School for Social Justice Pride Campus in addition to 17 other proposed schools.

As far as Jennings is concerned, the school board's choice is an easy one.

"The choice they are making is not should we have this kind of school," he said. "The question is 'Are we going to do anything we can to get these kids an education?' And there's only one right answer -- yes."

It's past time for South Bend to amend human rights law

from Progressives, South Bend

Friday, August 15, 2008
It's past time for South Bend to amend human rights law
from The South Bend Tribune Viewpoint
published August 15, 2008

In the summer of 2006 an amendment to South Bend's Human Rights Ordinance was introduced in the South Bend Common Council. The concept of the original HRO was to protect citizens from discrimination in housing, the workplace, etc., but a clear gap in that protection had been identified. It was pointed out that there was no protection for citizens on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — real or perceived.

Like many people, I read about this with only passing interest. It seemed clear there was a problem, a clear solution had been proposed ... it seemed to be mostly just a housekeeping type of issue.

Imagine my astonishment when the amendment failed by one vote.

I had paid scant attention to the opposition's rhetoric. The claims were factually incorrect and the concerns seemed clearly based upon fear and dislike of people different than themselves. It seemed unnecessary to point out the irrationality.

I should have known better ... because these arguments have a familiar ring to them.

I grew up in Evanston, Ill., and in the late 1960s, it was a common practice that Realtors did not show homes in certain neighborhoods to people of color. By city ordinance (at any rate) this was not illegal. But it came to pass that many people in the community loathed the practice and dedicated themselves to ending it. My mother was one of those people.

She and I marched on several occasions, over many weeks, holding signs, chanting and singing for several miles each time. Each time we would rally at an African-American church at the beginning and another at the end. For a Caucasian boy approaching his teen years, it was quite an experience.

The rhetoric in opposition to our cause was typical of any case where certain people wish to retain institutionalized discrimination. Phrases like "we know what's best for these folks," and "it would be giving these folks special status, special rights" are merely code for a desire to dominate and oppress and — let's face it — they're inspired by hatred and fear.

So when I hear people say things such as, offering people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered equal protection under the law amounts to "special rights," I am not fooled. I've heard this stuff before.

And it's pretty frustrating that all that's asked for in the proposed amendment is a place to complain about ill treatment. That place doesn't even have to be created — the Human Rights Commission already exists.

And we don't have to guess whether there's ever cause to complain. The Chicago Tribune recently published two articles describing blatant job discrimination against transgendered people.

It recently came to light that a career justice department official was denied a position she was imminently qualified for, because the decision-makers thought she might be a lesbian. I have personally heard stories of employment and housing discrimination suffered by some of our GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered) citizens locally, as well.

I think, though, it's important to realize that this is not really about the GLBT community. What it is about is us as a community. We know that not all of our residents are protected equally. What matters is what we do about it. And, make no mistake, if we do nothing we are very much doing something. We are saying that in South Bend, Ind., if enough people are uncomfortable with some other people, it's OK to discriminate against those other people. We have the power to do that, and actually — as of now — we are doing that.

Well, I think we need to stop doing that and I hope you do, too. It's time for the South Bend Common Council to revisit this measure — and make it our law. It's time for citizens to make plain to their representatives as well, that it's time to do the responsible thing.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke many strong words, but the phrase I think of most often is: "There comes a time for all us, when silence is a betrayal."

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Don Wheeler lives in South Bend.

Meet one of the "loving opposition"

Human rights
from Voice of the People
South Bend Tribune
9/25/08

Don Wheeler supports changing South Bend's Human Rights Ordinance to cover gender identity and sexual orientation (Viewpoint, Aug. 15) as an extension of our society's civil rights gains. But he shows a sad disregard for the arguments of those of us who have successfully opposed this change. Wheeler openly states, "I had paid scant attention to the opposition's rhetoric."

As the opposition, we carefully analyzed whether the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered community needs protection against discrimination. Unlike blacks, Latinos and women, homosexuals as a group rank are not disadvantaged in educational attainment and annual income. GLBT individuals and interest groups boast strong influence in politics and especially the media: The New York Times has led the way in advocating the GLBT agenda.

Armed with facts, a majority of the South Bend Common Council voted not to change the ordinance. Despite the achievements of GLBT individuals, public issues of physical and psychological health remain: from suicide, to domestic violence, to distressing rates of anal cancer among gay men.

Looking at the reality, we lovingly oppose the GLBT agenda. The council made the right decision.

Jay Dunlap
South Bend

'Loving' opposition is full of hate

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
10/07/08

Jay Dunlap (Voice, Sept. 25) states in his letter opposing adding gender identity and sexual orientation to South Bend's Human Rights Ordinance that "As the opposition, we carefully analyzed whether the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered community needs protection against discrimination." He then goes on to make denigrating generalizations about the GLBT community. Isn't this one of the hallmarks of discrimination? My hope is that when others hear this "loving opposition" they will see it for what it is: The kind of hateful perceptions based on ignorance that are precisely what the GLBT members of our community need to be protected from.

Many people I speak with about this concern have no idea that a GLBT person living in South Bend can be refused service, fired from a position or refused housing simply because of their gender identity or sexual orientation or the perception that they may be GLBT, with no recourse. You can imagine where this would leave them if a person like Dunlap or another person from the "loving opposition" were in charge.

Please, South Bend, the 21st Century City, let's get it right the next time this issue comes before the Common Council.

Nancy Mascotte
South Bend

Pride, Community & AARP

Pride in the Park was a huge success! Not only did the Michiana GLBT community come together, but so many of our straight allies showed that they were up for celebrating a beautiful Saturday with us, as well. Thank you to all of the organizers!

A sense of "community" is an important element that helps people to know that they belong. In a similar vein, remember, it is from the grassroots level that we, the people, must speak truth to power. And don't for a moment think that those in power are not listening.

Sunday's South Bend Tribune (10/5/08) ran an AP piece entitled "Gay elders' challenges get a closer look." The gist of the story is that many older GLBT persons are single with no family (or family members from whom they are alienated). They are alone, scared, and fear discrimination. A group called SAGE (Service and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is trying to change that in New York by partnering older GLBT individuals with volunteers who can not only assist them, but befriend them. Quoting the article:

"A watershed moment comes this month, when the AARP — the largest advocacy group for Americans over 50 — for the first time sponsors a major national conference focused on gay and lesbian aging." It is sponsored by SAGE.

AARP, the extremely powerful national lobbying group has heard the truth. The fact that AARP is actively engaging in the GLBT human rights movement is monumental. It shows just how mainstream GLBT issues have become. The trend is toward equality. This is a fact, a truth that must be recognized by the powers that be here in South Bend.

There are GLBT elders in the city of South Bend. Surely many of them fear discrimination, as well. It is up to the Common Council to amend the city's Human Rights Ordinance to include not only sexual orientation and gender identity, but age and veteran status, as well.

If we protect those who are most vulnerable, as well as those who so honorably serve our country, then someday "Pride in the Park" truly will be a "community" event - something of which we will all be proud.