04-27-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 27, 2009 Adam Kaler, 1202 S. St. Rd. 39 LaPorte, Indiana, stated that he attends IUSB. He stated that the Council may think that this topic is unnecessary. He stated that some people cannot think of someone verbally, economically or physically discriminate against a person based upon sexual orientation or gender identity. Some people think that gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals or transgenders need protection, he stated that he is here tonight to hopefully give the Council a face to apply to an often overlooked population effected by this amendment. A group that has an astronomical rate of suicide and depression, a group that lives with the constant underlying fear of both physical and verbal abuse. He stated that tonight he stands here as a man, just shy of 30 years old, a husband, a member of the community, a member of the economy, a volunteer, a student, and a victim of hate. Mr. Kaler stated that in his short life he has suffered verbal abuse, physical abuse, lose of employment, and been a constant victim of fear, all because he was not born the way he is seen today. He stated that he is transgendered. He realized that when the rest of the world looks at him today, he seems like any other man, but it took years of struggle and self discovery to get here. He stated that he hoped the Council can see the internal struggle he went through to stand here tonight. He hoped that the Council can transfer that struggle and consider the fear and self-loathing so many in his position go through everyday. There is an ever present underlying fear that follows them into every situation, the fear for their safety and the safety of their families. He questioned whether this amendment would stop that fear, probably not, but it is a step in the right direction. This is a step in the direction of telling the children of this community that they do not have to be outsiders, it is a step in letting them know that they are protected. He stated that the Council can take this simple step in the right direction and save countless lives, lives that you otherwise would never see, but desperately need the Council’s help. Joel Bazel, 8694 E. 850 N., New Carlisle, Indiana, thanked the Council for giving him the opportunity to come and speak in tonight. He stated that he is a junior at IUSB. He urged the Council to consider amending the human rights ordinance to include language for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. He advised that in a few years he and his classmates will be graduating from IUSB and moving out into the working world to establish careers and lives for themselves. He can honestly say that he is afraid of graduating, not because he is uncertain of what the future holds, but because he knows that he can be legally dismissed from a job simply because he is gay. He stated that he would consider moving to another area that has an ordinance already in place to protect someone like him. He stated that if the Council does not take action now it will put the City of South Bend at risk of losing qualified employees such as himself and his fellow classmates. He stated that this will hurt the City of South Bend both economically and socially. Sociologists refer to this as “brain drain.” He urged the Council to consider amending the South Bend Human Rights Ordinance. Zach Duncan – IUSB Equality Vice-President, asked the Common Council to consider amending the Human Rights Ordinance to include language for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. He stated that without adding language for GLBT people to the ordinance, he doesn’t think he would be protected by the law if he was fired from a job for being gay. He stated that after he graduates he would consider leaving South Bend for a job market that has GLBT protections. Kathleen Shurcliffe - 306 Baden Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana, stated that she is a student at the University of Notre Dame. She stated that she is the Vice-President of the Notre Dame College Democrats Chapter and the Finance Director of the Indiana College Democrats, and a young member of the South Bend Community. She stated that a governing body has the legal responsibility to uphold the rights and liberties upon which it was founded. It is the obligation of the South Bend City Council to protect the freedoms of its citizens. Freedoms which promote a strong economy for the City, freedoms which foster a spirit of equality and community life and freedoms which bolster the very integrity of the City of South Bend in itself. An ordinance that excludes and promotes injustice by its narrow scope is a fisher in the legal foundation that legitimizes every right and every freedom we enjoy as citizens of South Bend. She calls upon the South Bend City Council to amend the South Bend Human Rights Ordinance, extended the measure to ensure protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for all members of the community. 12