Wednesday, August 25, 2010

My Homestate withdrew a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance


In Tennessee, supportive groups has withdrew a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance. The reasoning? Lack of support.

The Tennessee Equality Project and councilwoman Janis Fullilove this morning withdrew the proposed ordinance, which would prevent the city from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring or promotion of employees, and an accompanying resolution that would have included the ordinance’s language in city contracts.

Fullilove and TEP members said it was clear the ordinance, which was scheduled for the second of three readings this afternoon, lacked support from the 13-member council and Wharton’s administration, which said two weeks ago that it favors a more general ordinance approved by the Shelby County Commission earlier this year.

Michelle Bliss, vice chairwoman of the Shelby County Committee of the TEP, said council members were making decisions based on “fear and prejudice.”

“At this time we don’t think we can get a fair hearing,” said Bliss.

Fullilove said she was disappointed that she had to withdraw the legislation.

“We’ve been working on that for three years now and we have some closed-minded people on the council,” said Fullilove. “They felt like if we could get Mayor Wharton to support it, we could get some of these other council members to support it.”

Councilman Bill Boyd, who helped organize opposition to the measures, said the legislation only divided people along religious and moral lines.

“I think it’s best for everyone around,” said Boyd. “We don’t need to be divisive in this city. They’re protected under the laws we have."

Earlier this year, the County Commission approved an ordinance that didn't mention gays or any other groups, but said "discrimination against any Shelby County government employees on the basis of non-merit factors shall be prohibited."

This is ridic, the people, our people need protection. They need to fight harder and challenge these religious freaks.

source

2 comments:

Judy C. Adanna said...

A fellow Tennessean! What part are you from?
I was born and raised in a little shithole redneck town in West Tennessee, and the fact that the TEP had to withdraw in this case is no surprise.
If you have seen the size of the mega churches as you drive into Memphis, you know that area is full of people who only feel good about themselves when they are persecuting someone else.

Wonder Man said...

I'm from Union City, Tn.

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Viktor is a small town southern boy living in Los Angeles. You can find him on Twitter, writing about pop culture, politics, and comics. He’s the creator of the graphic novel StrangeLore and currently getting back into screenwriting.