REGULAR MEETING JULY, 10, 2006
<br />her husband were having some problems, maybe she should try out being a lesbian. Like
<br />it was something to try on, like a piece of clothing. She noted that when she did not
<br />respond to her advances, her attitudes toward her changed. Where previously they had
<br />worked well as a team. Now, she was frequently angry and argumentative in her dealings
<br />with her. Previously where they easily each stepped up and shared the work load, due to
<br />her seniority, now, she was expected to carry a greatly percentage of the work load.
<br />Where previously they would step in for each other when a task needed done, she would
<br />still allow her to help her co-worker. But when she needed assistance, the co-worker
<br />would not assist her, because she was always to busy. If a task was done late or
<br />overlooked, the co-worker would report the incident to the manager. She stated that she
<br />was very lucky in this situation, her superior knew her work ethic. The supervisor knew
<br />that the co-worker was being unrealistic. The complaints were overlooked, and at her
<br />request a shift change and a change of where she worked was granted. She never brought
<br />up the cause of these problems with her manager. The reason that she tells this story, is
<br />that there are many people in authority, who have preconceived ideas about sexual
<br />identity. Where is she was to reveal the cause of these problems to her manager at this
<br />time, she could have easily decided that this way to get rid of her and cost her her job.
<br />The fact is, that there are many people like her, doing their days work, with the fear of
<br />losing their jobs, when co-workers or superiors, find out their sexual identity. She would
<br />like the Council to step into their shoes for a moment and picture what it is like to live
<br />everyday working in fear. Imagine, how much more engaged employees they could
<br />become at their workplaces without that fear lurking in the background. This is what she
<br />is asking the Council to do tonight for the community. Help GLBT’s become the kind of
<br />workers the Community needs them to be.
<br />Henry R. Mascotte, 17989 Edgewood Walk, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is a
<br />member of South Bend Equality and PFAFLG, Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians
<br />and Gays. Mr. Mascotte stated that he has a lesbian sister and a gay step-son. He stated
<br />that one of the issues mentioned tonight and spoken of in the newspaper over the last
<br />couple of years which faces both Indiana and South Bend is the loss of talented and
<br />creative Hoosiers who choose to live elsewhere, the so called “brain drain.” He asked his
<br />step-son, to share with him some of the reasons for leaving South Bend, Indiana. He
<br />step-son told him that his decision to pursue a life and career away from South Bend and
<br />Indiana was the result of many factors. Chiefly, was a desire to be able to be himself, in
<br />an accepting environment. Mr. Mascotte stated who would not want that. South Bend
<br />was not that environment, he noted that he had to cover his homosexuality for fear of
<br />ridicule, violence, the fear of being fired or not hired, simply for being who he was.
<br />When thinking about a future in South Bend, it looked bleak. The idea of having to live a
<br />live to stay closeted, was horrible enough. If he had to hide so did everyone else, and that
<br />meant that it would be extremely hard to find a partner and build a home together.
<br />Ultimately, like many gay people he opted to live in a large metropolitian area where
<br />both businesses and social environments are typically more accepting or at least tolerant.
<br />There were even anti-discrimination laws in the big cities to protect his livelihood and
<br />domestic partnership laws to protect any family that he might build. He felt like the cities
<br />were behind him, he felt safer and more importantly respected. He wasn’t the only gay
<br />person from South Bend, who felt this way and moved away from South Bend to a large
<br />city. His first job with Anderson Consulting, he ran into a high school classmate, who
<br />was in his advanced classes who finally felt comfortable to come out to him. He was a
<br />bright talented guy, who family had done very well in South Bend. He too left as well.
<br />His step-son graduated Suma-cum-laude from John Adams High School, BS in finance
<br />from Indiana University, Bloomington, Magna-cum-laude, IBM Corporation, finance
<br />internship, Andersen Consulting, Chicago, IL , Continental Bank, Chicago, IL; Chicago
<br />Title & Trust Co., Chicago, IL; Planet U, San Francisco, CA, a dot com corporation in
<br />the dot com era. Presently, employed Fidelity National Financial, Santa Ana California.
<br />His step-son lives in Rancho Mirage, near Palm Springs, California, who makes six
<br />figures and play a lot of taxes and owns his own home and has just brought property
<br />outside of the Joshua Tree Area outside of Palm Springs. He noted that his step-son lives
<br />alone, with his two dogs, in a diverse neighborhood. This is just one gay persons reasons
<br />for leaving the South Bend and the State of Indiana. This gives you some idea why South
<br />Bend would do well to pass this amendment. If South Bend wishes to attracted talented
<br />and creative Hoosiers to stay in the state and city and feel welcome and respected.
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