|
REGULAR MEETING JULY, 10, 2006
<br />and rights more fully. The original documents establish the right of freedom and religion,
<br />because these settlers had experienced persecution and discrimination in that arena.
<br />Since then, other protected classes have been added. This has been a growth process,
<br />people who had not been seen as fully human, had been given that respect and given their
<br />rights. He stated that peopled are called to see common humanity in one another, to
<br />respect it, and to protect human rights. He urged the Council to support this amendment,
<br />and take a stand against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, to
<br />provide protection, provide a forum, and means of redress. These are our neighbors, our
<br />friends, our brothers, our sisters, our children, where will there go to ask for assistance,
<br />where will they go to seek protection, they should be able to go to the Human Rights
<br />Commission in the City of South Bend. He encouraged the Council to adopt Bill 29-06.
<br />Isabel Gonzalez, 232 S. Holiday Drive, South Bend, Indiana thanked the Council for
<br />taking the time and especially to Councilmember’s Charlotte Pfeifer and Roland Kelly
<br />for having the open forum and allowing the public to speak, pro and con on this issue.
<br />She stated that she arrived in this great City in 1992. In the past 14 years she has seen
<br />how this City has grown and diversified and faced many, many challenges. She stated
<br />that she has gotten to know many of the members of the City Council, some of whom she
<br />has worked closely with. She stated that she speaks very little on the issues, but tonight
<br />she felt compelled to let her feelings be known. She stated that the Council has a
<br />responsibility tonight to look into their hearts and look at the facts. She advised that she
<br />has attended the meetings and forums held on Bill 29-06 and there are many emotions on
<br />this topic. A lot of letters, e-mails, and phone calls have been made. Ms. Gonzalez stated
<br />that she too is a member of the South Bend Human Rights Commission, however, she is
<br />speaking on behalf of herself and not the Commission. She stated that she has 30 years
<br />of Human Resource Management background and noted that she sees discrimination, in
<br />housing in South Bend. She urged the Council to vote favorably on Bill 29-06.
<br />Councilmember Varner made a motion to recess for ten (10) minutes. Councilmember
<br />Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill.
<br />Patrick Mangan, P. O. Box 552, Notre Dame, Indiana, stated that being at this late point
<br />and time in the evening, he feels a little like the professor at the time of the course
<br />evaluation, when he was reading through those evaluations and had one that stopped him.
<br />It said that if I had only ten minutes to live, I would want to spend it in your class. And
<br />as the Professor started to feel puffed up, he read the words, because it would seem like
<br />an eternity! Mr. Mangan stated that he trusts the loving opposition side of this
<br />presentation will race by quickly and not seem like an eternity. He stated that he
<br />appreciates the opportunity to respond this issue. As you know, its not a simple issue, it
<br />has many facets to it. And, to that end, he has collected a lot of information which he has
<br />presented to the Council. He asked the City Clerk, John Voorde, to pass out the binders
<br />that they have complied information for the Council to have tonight. Some of the
<br />material the Council has seen before, some of it is new, it will give the Council a
<br />convenient place to refer to the material. The binders will allow the Council an
<br />opportunity to review the many documents that have come to Council. Mr. Mangan
<br />stated that he will be referring to several tabs in the binders during his presentation. Mr.
<br />Mangan stated that he would like to begin his presentation by showing a DVD entitled
<br />“It’s Not Gay” Mr. Mangan stated that he spent time with the individual in the DVD, Mr.
<br />Kermit Rainman, he recently met with him and discussed issues of former homosexuals
<br />who have for one reason or another come out of homosexuality to live very successfully
<br />heterosexual lives.
<br />Video – Kermit Rainman – (A copy is on file with the Office of the City Clerk)
<br />Mr. Mangan advised that there are others who have left the homosexual life style, and are
<br />afraid to come forward to speak in public for fear of being harassed by those whose life
<br />style they have chosen to leave. He asked the question of what really is being done here,
<br />why are we here. Many others have suggested what we are here to do and not to do. He
<br />would like to suggest that at such a late hour this evening in an elongated discussion that
<br />has been going on for a few years, because people matter, and the truth matters. Because
<br />19
<br />
<br />
|