04/21/2008
CO Senator Pulls "Short People" Stunt to Mock Gay Discrimination
The Colorado Senate debated a bill on Friday that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, places of public accommodation, consumer credit, labor unions and school enrollment. It became heated when Republican Senator Greg Brophy offered up a 'stunt' amendment to the bill that would ban discrimination against short people:
"The debate on the Senate floor over a bill that would expand the prohibition of sexual orientation-based discrimination became personal and emotional this morning after a senator offered a rhetorical amendment to ban discrimination against short people. Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, withdrew the stunt amendment after arguing that there is no need for the bill because he has not seen evidence that gays and lesbians are discriminated against when seeking a job or a home. 'What I'm talking about is economic discrimination, political discrimination, employment discrimination,' Brophy said. 'I find no pattern of any of those.' Brophy's comments outraged Democrats, who took turns at the lectern denouncing his argument with angry and sometimes shaking voices.
Said Jennifer Veiga, a gay Denver Democrat sponsoring Senate Bill 200: "It must be nice, as a white male to sit back and mock the real discrimination that occurs in our society, especially on the basis of sexual orientation."
Lawmaker uses short people to question gay-bias bill [denver post]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:45 AM EST by Andy in Colorado, Discrimination, News | Permalink
Comments
Seriously. Why, oh why, would you use that picture as your official photo?
Posted by: Acolyte | Apr 21, 2008 10:55:52 AM
Maybe someone else should have proposed a law banning discrimination based on haircuts that look like they were done by a blind 5-year-old.
Posted by: Yeek | Apr 21, 2008 11:03:41 AM
He looks like a closet queen herself.
Posted by: Thom | Apr 21, 2008 11:11:02 AM
We need a stupidity tax! Just tax the stupid people!
Posted by: Edina Margaret Monsoon | Apr 21, 2008 11:23:41 AM
How about one to stop discrimination against ugly stupid people, just for him?
Posted by: Stan | Apr 21, 2008 11:26:58 AM
Would Sen. Brophy's amendment prohibit clothing stores from putting size S garments on the highest shelves? If so....
Posted by: jeem | Apr 21, 2008 11:28:20 AM
"Said Jennifer Veiga, a gay Denver Democrat sponsoring Senate Bill 200: 'It must be nice, as a white male to sit back and mock the real discrimination that occurs in our society, especially on the basis of sexual orientation.'"
--O.K., this is where some of the white, gay male Republicans jump in and defend Brophy and scream that there is no need for "hate crime" laws, there's no need for "special rights" laws, and that "racism is dead," blah, blah, blah...
Posted by: noah | Apr 21, 2008 11:29:07 AM
Maybe a law proposing discrimination against assholes should be put on the ballot.
Posted by: Maverick69 | Apr 21, 2008 11:33:25 AM
Let's face it. This type of legislation is worthless and a waste of time. If someone wants to discriminate, they will and will use other excuses (i.e.: bad credit, more qualified candidate etc.)
Posted by: Marc | Apr 21, 2008 11:55:56 AM
Short guys creep me out! I would never hire one, give housing or let my children go to school with one! Oh... BTW: I'm serious!
Posted by: jeff | Apr 21, 2008 12:04:32 PM
The paultards miss you, Marc.
Posted by: Dan | Apr 21, 2008 12:06:47 PM
"Short guys creep me out! I would never hire one, give housing or let my children go to school with one!"
Actually, they really turn me on.
Posted by: Mike in the Tundra | Apr 21, 2008 12:32:35 PM
Republicans are human filth and this obscene stunt just adds more evidence to the pile...
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Apr 21, 2008 12:33:52 PM
The Republicans killed Jesus!
Wait! What were we talking about?
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Apr 21, 2008 12:57:02 PM
THanks, MIKE IN THE TUNDRA. Bet you a real good-lookin' man.
JEFF is mean...tall people fall too much.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Apr 21, 2008 1:10:12 PM
If we're banning job discrimination based on race, religion, and sexual orientation, then why NOT include height?
Posted by: DCN | Apr 21, 2008 2:03:38 PM
The addition of 'sexual orientation" includes everyone in society, while "short people" singles out one segment only. If someone were asking to add teh phrase "impertinent physical characteristics," then that could be very much valid. But the fact that he is trying to make a joke out of this shows that he just doesn't get how real the experience of discrimination is.
Posted by: GregV | Apr 21, 2008 2:36:19 PM
Butch it up and you will have nothing to worry about Dan!
Posted by: Mark | Apr 21, 2008 3:08:17 PM
And that's the attitude of the Republicans. As long as nobody dies (and even that minimal commitment to empathy seems questionable sometimes), discrimination is funny and cute.
Homosexuals getting fired from their jobs?
HAHAHAHAHA!
Hanging nooses on a tree to scare off black teenagers?
IT WAS ONLY A JOKE!
Exploitation of immigrants and third world workers?
HILARIOUS!
Posted by: John | Apr 21, 2008 5:42:47 PM
Jennifer Veiga can suck my mostly-white gay male dick. Comments like hers don't help the situation.
Posted by: Shane | Apr 22, 2008 7:56:34 AM
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