Showing posts with label gay rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay rights. Show all posts

Friday, February 27, 2015

The Straight Answer about Gay Marriage

Unless you live under a rock, you know gay marriage is today's hot button issue. A few lawsuits are pending at the US Supreme Court which will decide the issue.

Basically, Plaintiffs allege denial equal protection law because of discrimination based on sexual preference. Meanwhile, states claim they are allowed to enact legislation governing who may marry.

These cases reached the 6th circuit, which upheld the bans on gay marriage. Now it rests in the hands of the US Supreme Court.

That's the current legal situation. You could read that anywhere. I'm interested in the current public opinion.

Most know I drafted the Fairness Ordinance for the City of Vicco, which made national headlines. Most also know I'm a straight man in favor of gay marriage. So people often engage me in debate/discussion about gay marriage. In the end, people almost always find they don't oppose the legal concept of gay marriage.

Almost every objection to gay marriage is based on religious or moral concerns. But really that doesn't matter in terms of equal treatment under the law.

Most everyone agrees throwing someone out of a restaurant based on their sexual orientation, gay or straight, would be wrong. In fact, many people think that's already illegal; although its generally not. People almost always see the issue with this scenario; and why it isn't fair.

Apply that to marriage. Its the same scenario. Certain states, including Kentucky, refuse to issue marriage licenses to certain people; based solely on sexual orientation. This is inherently wrong, just like the restaurant example.

Once opponents realize there is a separation between the religious/moral objection and the legal objection; they gain clarity. Maybe they don't become proponents of gay marriage. But they stop being opponents; which is a huge step.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Vicco...a small town with BIG plans...

As many now know, Vicco, the small city of 334 people, recently enacted city ordinances that made it illegal to discriminate against ANYONE based on their sexual orientation. The ordinances protect BOTH heterosexual and homosexual individuals. The ordinances simply mean everyone will be treated equally, no matter how they choose to live their life.

What people may NOT know, is the passing of these ordinances is only one of many positive changes in Vicco in recent months. Previously, Vicco was a financially struggling small town in rural eastern Kentucky. The water and sewer infrastructure was old, and getting older. The service, which was the only form of income for the city had become a financial liability. Lay-offs were levied. Grant funding had dried up. The city was in danger of having to dissolve its incorporation.

Today the city is running on a profit; mainly due to the infrastructure improvements. The water loss is now only 1%; down from 47%. Grant funding is flowing. The city has acquired a parcel of land to build a park and community center. Now, the city can afford a police officer to aid in local law enforcement. There is now plans to revitalize and improve the cities sewage treatment plant. There was also a curfew enacted in an attempt to ensure public safety. All of these ordinances/plans were also part of the same meeting which passed the equality ordinances.

Although we believe the fairness ordinances are good; we believe they are only one good thing in a litany of good things going on in the city of Vicco.