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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 11,2005
<br />Ms. Liz Taylor, 1308 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, Indiana stated that she is
<br />receiving her BA in Sociology and due to the lack of acceptance in the area because of
<br />her sexual orientation has felt as though she has been discriminated against. She urged
<br />the Council to support an amendment to Article 9 making it illegal to discriminate against
<br />people based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity.
<br />Ms. Ellyn Stecker, 1036 N. Niles Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is
<br />representing the St. Joseph Valley NOW Chapter and stated that she is in support of an
<br />amendment to Article 9 of the Human Rights Ordinance, which would make it illegal to
<br />discriminate against people based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity.
<br />Ms. Maureen OKeefe, 739 Marquette, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is
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<br />representing Ms. Penny Hughes, Broker and Landlady, Hughes Investments, 1918
<br />Southernview Drive, South Bend, Indiana. Ms. OKeefe read in the record a letter signed
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<br />by Ms. Hughes. At your last meeting I rose to speak in favor of the amendment to Article
<br />9, the Human Rights Ordinance, which would make it illegal to discriminate against
<br />people based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity in areas of employment,
<br />housing, education and public accommodations. 30 seconds was too little time to voice
<br />my reasons and Id like to do so now. As a realtor and landlady over 27 years in South
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<br />Bend, Ive seen and heard a number of incidents of discrimination against people simply
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<br />because a landlord or seller didnt like the way someone looked or dressed or who they
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<br />dated. Since there is no ordinance against such discrimination she didnt say or do
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<br />anything to help the people deal with the obvious discrimination they were facing. She
<br />felt ashamed for not helping right these situations, but with no ordinance against the
<br />discrimination she felt helpless. She believes this amendment is good sound public
<br />policy and is long overdue. Our community has lost a number of well educated people to
<br />other more tolerant cities. She knows, that she has met them and heard their stories of
<br />discrimination and frustration. She would be happy to meet with any of you anytime and
<br />tell you some of these stories. It is in our economic interest to stand up and be counted as
<br />one city in Indiana who cares about all people being treated fairly. She urged the Council
<br />to support the amendment to the Ordinance as well.
<br />Ms. Bridget Hardy, 319 Navarre, South Bend, Indiana, External Affairs Officer for
<br />Planned Parenthood of Indiana, stated that she is in support of an amendment to Article 9
<br />of the Human Rights Ordinance, which would make it illegal to discriminate against
<br />people based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity in the areas of employment,
<br />housing, education, and public accommodations. At Planned Parenthood, our clinic is
<br />South Bend sees a diverse, largely low-income patient population. People come to us for
<br />medically-accurate information about sexuality, health care such as annual exams and
<br />infection screenings, and family planning services. We make it clear that no one will be
<br />discriminated against because of ability to pay, race, gender, gender identity, sexual
<br />orientation, familial status, age or disability. Fostering an environment of tolerance
<br />allows our patients to speak candidly with health care professionals, to feel comfortable,
<br />and ultimately, to make healthy, responsible decisions unimpeded by the complexities of
<br />prejudice. Many of our patients would not come to us without this policy. They would
<br />go somewhere else or forgo being tested for HIV or cervical cancer altogether, the
<br />outcomes of which come at great cost to both a community and an individual. Though
<br />not a perfect analogy, our city has a similar choice. Do we want hard-working fellow
<br />citizens to go somewhere else? Do we want them to forgo the most basic protections
<br />against discrimination protections that promote health and quality of life for our
<br />community as a whole? This amendment is clearly separate from the issue of gay
<br />marriage, civil unions, and other measures that would bring homosexuality into what
<br />some call the mainstream. Rather, its a basic assurance that people all people deserve
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<br />to be able to work for their living, to have shelter, to learn and study in institutions of
<br />learning and have reasonable public accommodation. This isnt a slippery slope. Its
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<br />solid, highly principled ground, and encouraged the elected officials to walk it proudly.
<br />She believes the progress of South Bends economy and human rights efforts are
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<br />critically linked to this decision. She has enjoyed very much seeing some of the
<br />important, often unrecognized, work the Council does. She hopes that this will be
<br />another instance where she is proud to say she is from South Bend.
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