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REGULAR MEETING JULY, 10, 2006
<br />mouths. The reason his brought up this book tonight is because this book is located in the
<br />children’s section of the South Bend Public Library, and he is not saying that it should be
<br />banned, but to say that this book was actually used for second graders, in Massachusetts
<br />this past year. He urged the Council not to pass this amendment tonight. (Time limit was
<br />invoked)
<br />Dr. Phil Sutton, PhD, 528 Ostemo Place, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is a licensed
<br />clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, school psychologist in Indiana, and
<br />an licensed psychologist in Michigan and Ohio. In that capacity he serves as part of his
<br />work children, children from pre-school age to high school and he is also the father of
<br />four and at last count a grandfather of three. Dr. Sutton said that when he spoke last on
<br />May 10, 2006, he closed with the comments with the following words: “Offering special
<br />rights to persons acting in ways that are harmful to their own medical, psychological and
<br />relational health would only enable their risk of harm and prevent there receiving the
<br />hope and the help in which they may need. He also said that such an ordinance would
<br />also disaffirm our children. Presenting to them the GLBT lifestyles as healthy ways to
<br />live when they are not. Dr. Sutton referred to a research study in the NARTH brochure
<br />that he delivered to the Council at their office last week. In a 1992 study, of over 34,000
<br />Minnesota teenagers, one-fourth, roughly 26% of twelve year olds reported that they
<br />were uncertain if they were heterosexual or homosexual. This compared with the only 2-
<br />3% of adults who self-lable as homosexual. This means by his calculation that roughly
<br />90% of the twelve year olds who may be uncertain about their sexual orientation would
<br />be falsely identified as persons who would label themselves as gay when they became
<br />adults. With that study in mind, he offered three points: 1. The earlier that a young
<br />person begins a mood altering behavior the more likely it is that he/she will develop a self
<br />defeating habit, compulsion or addiction. Whether smoking tobacco, using drugs or
<br />engaging in sexual behaviors, whether the same or opposite sex, the younger a person
<br />starts, the harder it is to stop. Many adult men regret that they ever began viewing
<br />pornography over the internet, when they were younger. The behaviors typically of the
<br />GLBT lifestyles all to commonly become habitual, compulsive and frequently addictive
<br />to those who practice them. The younger a person starts the more difficult to stop. What
<br />may feel fun and free in the beginning all too soon entraps. 2. The proposed ordinance if
<br />passed would give young people the false message that the GLBT and lifestyles are not
<br />as dangerous as unbiased research shows them to be. He has spoken previously about the
<br />medical, psychological and relational dangers of these behaviors along with the NARTH
<br />brochures that he distributed last week. 3. In other parts of the Country after ordinances
<br />like Bill 29-06 have been passed, local school systems have been petitioned to provide so
<br />called gay affirming teaching and also counseling programs in the schools. In such
<br />programs students who are not confident that they are heterosexual too often are
<br />encouraged to explore the homosexual lifestyle. Again, what feels fun and free in the
<br />beginning often entraps. He asked the Council again, not to approve Bill 29-06, it is not
<br />in the best interest either of our current or future children, or of those who currently live
<br />one of the lifestyles.
<br />Dr. Dave Jenkins, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, 50596 Mayfair, South Bend, Indiana,
<br />commended the Council for addressing this issue. He appreciates Mr. Kelly and Ms.
<br />Pfeifer’s passion for this and this issue needs to be resolved. Dr. Jenkins agreed that this
<br />is a critical issue of discrimination and as a Pastor he preaches against this. He wishes
<br />that everyone could embrace what Confucius, Moses and Jesus taught us, to do unto
<br />others, as we would have done onto us. He opposes this for two reasons, in spite of the
<br />fact that he is a preacher he will keep them brief. First of all spiritual, what concerns him
<br />in this issues is when you begin to enter into the area of sexuality and try to legislate it,
<br />what he does not hear is issues of right and wrong, or to quote a famous book from a
<br />psychiatrist Dr. Meneger “whatever became of sin” we don’t address that issue in this.
<br />As a pastor, this concerns him, he appreciates Bishop D’Arcy addressing it in the South
<br />Bend Tribune, and as a protestant he says this is something that has to be considered. It
<br />is a critical issue and need to be careful, when you go into these areas. Whether it is
<br />heterosexual or homosexual those are issues that need to be explored. As a pastor he has
<br />counseled with people in homosexuality and he has shown them respect and
<br />consideration in that process. The second issue why he is opposed to it is politically.
<br />Fifteen years ago, he was in Palm Springs, California, pasturing, he was on the Human
<br />Rights Commission there. They made history there as well as he hear what was going to
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