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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 26, 2012
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<br />welcome. Many other friends who go to Bloomington, Indianapolis, Chicago, some even
<br />New York are excited and come back different, refreshed with new ideas and that’s
<br />wonderful especially if they come back to South Bend and feel like they are welcomed to
<br />stay here, especially if they get a house. Also any religious implications of this,
<br />personally, she is an ordained minister and found some crazy website that would sign her
<br />up, because she had a name and an e-mail address and now she is an ordained minister.
<br />If that means anything to you, then she fully supports this and thanked the Council for
<br />listening.
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<br />Patrick O’Neil, 1135 Bissell, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he has lived here most of
<br />his live and attended IUSB and got his master degree from there. Also, in his past he was
<br />in the Army, fought in Iraq for year, saw some of his friends get hurt, people tried to hurt
<br />him. It is humiliating to have to stand here and ask for equal rights. He stated for any of
<br />the Council that is going to vote against this and say that he is not entitled to equal
<br />protection under the laws that he fought for, he got here early, he’ll be in the front row,
<br />and you can say it to his face.
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<br />Ryan Nell, 17615 Helper, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is currently a PhD student
<br />at Notre Dame, studying in civil engineering and geological sciences department, an
<br />Eagle Scout. He stated that he was very reluctant to come to South Bend because of what
<br />he had heard in the national news. He had made the decision willingly because it was a
<br />great school and when he came to visit this area he felt it was a welcoming environment.
<br />He has since purchased a house and plan to live here for the next number of years.
<br />Knowing this and had no idea until today that there was no such clause in the ordinance
<br />for his equal right to own such a house, as well as lease out his property to others and
<br />their right be protected. He stated that he appreciated the person who spoke before him
<br />and to show that there are people in his age bracket not just their parents talking about
<br />this. This is a real issue and he appreciates the Council’s time.
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<br />Chris Williams, 1623 S. Scott, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he has lived here his
<br />entire life. He grew up in Mishawaka, a stone’s throw away. He stated that he wants to
<br />live here for the rest of his life. He stated that he is currently a student at IUSB. He
<br />stated that his professor got up and spoke earlier. He wants to continue a legacy here, he
<br />would love to come back and be a professor at IUSB in English, which is what he is
<br />going to school for. He doesn’t see a reason why we aren’t all equal yet. We are all
<br />human beings, this is not anything that should have been discussed but here we are. He
<br />reiterated that he wanted to stay here, please pass this so he has a reason to be proud of
<br />living here and he can tell his kids that he is proud to live here.
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<br />Evan Grantham-Brown, 5735 Ottawa Court, (2B) Mishawaka, Indiana, stated that he
<br />works in South Bend and has many friends who live in South Bend. He wanted to say to
<br />everyone here tonight that someone you know is gay. Someone you know is gay and you
<br />don’t know it because they are afraid to speak. It maybe a friend, a family member, or a
<br />co-worker who is afraid to speak because they know what can happen if they do. He
<br />stated that we are surrounded by people who live in fear and we don’t know about it. He
<br />asked the Council to lift that fear tonight.
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<br />Councilmember Varner made a motion to recess for ten (10) minutes. Councilmember
<br />Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
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<br />The meeting reconvened at 9:50 p.m.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to the bill:
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<br />Patrick Mangan, P. O. Box, Notre Dame, Indiana, Executive Director of Citizens for
<br />Community Values of Indiana presented a report in binder form heavily documented with
<br />evidence citing over 150 incidents citing over 150 incidents of the violation of the
<br />constitutional rights of freedom of speech, religion and assembly where homosexual
<br />rights are passed. He argued that the law was “unnecessarily, unfair, unjust
<br />unconstitutional and unenforceable.”
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