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REGULAR MEETING JULY, 10, 2006
<br />understanding that it was conducted in a way that democracy was supposed to be
<br />conducted. Part of democracy assumes that there is going to be disagreement. A part of
<br />democracy assumes that decisions will be made and people will live with those. He takes
<br />exception at this point and time, to Councilmember Pfeifer oversimplification to what we
<br />are doing here tonight. He had his suspicions that there have been more involved with
<br />the legal aspect of this, than that was actually understandable by himself, who is not a
<br />lawyer. He thinks that Professor Rice lends a great deal of credence after his explanation,
<br />that there is more here than just adding rights or providing status for discrimination cases.
<br />However well intended, its turned out to be something a little bit different. Emotion
<br />which has been a great deal this evening, on both sides, is great for pleading a case a
<br />rallying a cause, emotion is not a good way to make a decision. It’s not a good way to
<br />consider a decision. The decision which is what we are being asked here to which is to
<br />create, a protected status of the GLBT population. We have throughout the history of the
<br />discrimination, through the Civil Rights Movement and Human Rights Movements,
<br />created a process through the courts and through legislation which is created a systematic
<br />means by determining if and when the status of a people or an organization or group of
<br />people who request special status, its not quick, its probably not pretty, involves a lot of
<br />meetings like this, but the process as he understands it, simply before the status is
<br />recognized they must meet three or four criteria which have been established by courts
<br />over time. The next step will be legislation be formulated on a Federal level and has been
<br />done in the past, it goes from the Federal level which makes it uniform and if it is
<br />uniform, he thinks that it is more fair than if 350 cities or counties write 350 different
<br />ordinances. It is certainly more understandable. It will also be better researched, it will
<br />be better documented, it will be better tested, for all of the information that he has
<br />received, and tried to cover as much as possible, can walk away with a lot of questions of
<br />the validity of it. The Council does not have the time, nor the staff or the effort. He
<br />believes that if the Council does not have good information, a good decision cannot be
<br />made. He believes that the Council has the responsibility to make a decision that is good
<br />not an emotional decision. He stated that he took a lot of notes, that got him thinking,
<br />that despite the fact that it won’t be quick or easy, if in fact that it is determined that gay
<br />and lesbian status should be protected, it will proceed down the normal pathway, it will
<br />happen, we will have it, and we will move on from there. Because it will be more
<br />specific and thought through legislation.
<br />Councilmember Kirsits thanked everyone for attending tonight’s meeting, he thanked Mr.
<br />Mangan for the nice book. Councilmember Kirsits stated he did read most of what is in
<br />the binder tonight. It was an overview of everything that the Council got. He wondered
<br />about the subtle rainbow tab, if that meant anything? He reiterated a lot of information
<br />has been received by the Council. He gave great consideration to Mr. Uebbing, and his
<br />incredible writings and kind of got to know him through the meetings and really respect
<br />what he has written. On the other hand, he appreciates everyone with their comments
<br />being lovingly opposed, however, he thinks that every Councilmember here can state that
<br />some of the e-mails and contacts that they received were way out there, almost to the
<br />point of hatred. A voice mail was received today, on his recorder at home, that he had
<br />investigated to see if it was a plant to get him to go to the other side of the issue. This
<br />voice mail thoroughly disgusted his son, who he thought was old enough to listen to it.
<br />As a member of this city, a lifelong resident, one who was educated both in the public
<br />schools and the catholic schools and was fortunate enough to attend a public school that
<br />had a great diverse population on to a catholic school that had no idea of what it was to
<br />have minorities. He found himself very fortunate, as someone who has chosen schooling
<br />for his children here, based on its diverse population representing African Americans,
<br />Hispanics and even Asians. What he worries about with the City is that when you are a
<br />resident of the corporate City limits of South Bend, you get the benefits of the City and as
<br />well all know you get the challenges to. Often times it takes a special person and when
<br />he breaks this down to a simpler issue of his neighborhood that he loves dearly, he looks
<br />at neighbors and friends there that have celebrated in the triumphs and outright tragedies
<br />in his neighborhood. That quite possible that wouldn’t be his neighbor because just
<br />because they are gay or lesbian. Because they would be discriminated against in
<br />employment and would not have the financial means or wouldn’t have been able to buy
<br />that house. As someone who has lived all his life in this City, who has worked twenty
<br />eight years on the Fire Department to protect its citizens and have represented its citizens
<br />as a Councilmember for seven years, he finds that wrong. He certainly feels that a pubic
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