The Kalamazoo Referendum: Lots Going On; You Need To Care About This
by: Autumn Sandeen
Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 07:30:00 AM EDT
http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/13609/the-kalamazoo-referendum-lots-going-on-you-need-to-care-about-this (http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/13609/the-kalamazoo-referendum-lots-going-on-you-need-to-care-about-this)
With the marriage equality battles going on in Maine and Washington State, and the federal legislation involving hate crimes and employment non-discrimination (ENDA), as well as repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) No Or Both Gender Male Female Restroom Sign - Gender Neutral Restroom Bathroom Signand the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), it's hard to ask lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, along with their friends, family, and allies, to care about a local ordinance regarding LGBT people in city of roughly a hundred-thousand people.
And yet, I'm here to say that the collective you, dear blenders, should care about the battle that's right now going on in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
"The Kalamazoo City Council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance for their city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) population, and religious right opposition gathered enough signatures to put the new civil rights ordinance up for a referendum."
Again and again, it's the religious right who are waging a war against giving people basic human rights. This country was formed, among other things, because the people wanted freedom from religious persecution. Now, over 200 years later, we are still fighting for that same freedom.
Julie