Alaska- Anchorage equality initiative draws national scrutiny

[SandraJane]

Anchorage equality initiative draws national scrutiny


Joel Davidson | CatholicAnchor.org | Jan 13, 2012

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/anchorage-equality-initiative-draws-national-scrutiny

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,112152.msg853834.html#msg853834   Related article


An initiative to grant new legal recognition to people in Anchorage who identify themselves as gay or transgender will appear on the April 3 ballot.

On Dec. 14, Anchorage City Clerk Barbara Gruenstein affirmed that enough signatures have been gathered to place the following question to voters:

"Shall the current municipal code sections providing legal protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, physical disability, and mental disability be amended to include protections on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender identity?"

Religious liberty groups, however, are already raising concerns about the impact that the proposed law would have on faith-based institutions and nonprofits in Anchorage.

[Jamie D]

This method of political] activism is one good way to effect much needed change.  If the measure passes, it will be because it enjoyed the support of a political majority (of the people in Anchorage).

Just the same, it would be a better, more inclusive measure, if it had strengthened its "religious liberty and conscious protections"

[justmeinoz]

Good point Jamie, anyone who objects to one of the provisions but not the rest is shown as being a hypocrite. 

[Jamie D]

Good point Jamie, anyone who objects to one of the provisions but not the rest is shown as being a hypocrite.

As I recall, you are one of the very active Australians on this site.  I enjoy hearing your perspectives, coming from a different political system.

When James Madison (sometimes called the "Father of the Constitution") introduced his proposal for a bill of rights, in the 1st Congress, he suggested this:

The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.

That clause was re-worked and re-written in the Congress, and parts eventually found their way into the 1sr Amendment.  I think, however, the original proposal was superior.