Members of the Anchorage, Alaska Assembly fought back tears as they announced their votes on an anti-discrimination ordinance which had inspired months of debate and testimony from over 600 people. The ordinance passed 7-4 but there is the possiblity of a mayoral veto:
"The vote came down, to the dismay of many [protesters] in red. 'I think it sucks, the whole thing sucks, we haven't had any problems here in town, how many people were shipped in from out-of-state to stand up here and protest,' ordinance opposer Mary Morgan said.
But it might not be over. The descision (sic) is one majority vote short of reaching the 8-vote supermajority necessary to override a mayoral veto. Mayor Dan Sullivan has seven days to potentially veto the ordinance that took nearly three months to pass.
Sullivan declined a request for an interview immediately after the decision.
If that's something the mayor wants to do, he's got seven days to do it."
Video here.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Jersey and live in California but I can't understand why something like this shouldn't pass. Protesters? protesters against banning discrimination? huh?
Posted by: Ray | Aug 12, 2009 9:57:50 AM
Ray, I was wondering that too. What on earth are the grounds for not wanting anti-discrimination?
Posted by: lis | Aug 12, 2009 10:16:26 AM
I guess in today's world it is O.K to discriminate against gays because they hide amongst the crowds, and people might have a hard time visually distinguishing them from others...
However, in today's world it would be wrong to discriminate against blacks, based on the color of their skin, or Mexicans based on their race.
Are you FUCKING kidding, Anchorage?! People were actually upset that a vote deciding whether or not it's O.K to discriminate against a group of HUMAN BEINGS was actually put to vote?! Now the mayor has the power to allow it to pass or veto it allowing discrimination to continue?!
Really people?!
WTF!!!
Posted by: D | Aug 12, 2009 10:30:57 AM
Wait a minute. Since when did the anti-gays sour on the idea of shipping people in from out of the area to campaign for a cause. Have they so soon forgotten California, Maine, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, Washington D. C. and just about every city and county in America that has ever considered banning anti-gay discrimination or giving the most minimal of benefits to gay couples?
The ONLY thing you can count on with these asshats is 100% HYPOCRISY 100% of the time.
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 12, 2009 10:40:43 AM
Yes, Mary Morgan, how sad for the people who were "shipped in from out-of-state to stand up here and protest".
Don't you think that the fact you had to SHIP IN BIGOTS is part of the problem?
Go Anchorage!
Posted by: Strepsi | Aug 12, 2009 10:47:26 AM
Ray and Lis-
It stems from the right's lies that people will be arrested for *thinking* gay people are filthy, immoral animals. No amount of testimony can make these homophobes understand.
What part of that map shows where Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house?
Posted by: K | Aug 12, 2009 10:47:50 AM
"No amount of testimony can make these homophobes understand."
Unfortunately, no amount of ass kicking can do it either.
Seriously, it's time for us to take a cue from our militant lesbian friends: butch up and fight back with a vengeance.
Posted by: Attmay | Aug 12, 2009 11:14:18 AM
Yeah, I for the life of me can't figure this one out. I especially don't get this part:
"We need to treat each other well in this world, and we don't, and I wish we did," assembly chair Debbie Ossiander said.
Yet she went on to vote NO!!!! WTF?!? Seriously, what I am missing here?!?! What kind of fucking backwards town is Anchorage?!
Posted by: Matt | Aug 12, 2009 11:43:07 AM
It is pretty obvious that it is coming from far right lies...
But I'm curious what they actually presented as evidence against anti-discrimination. And then I'm amazed that they could do so with a straight face.
Posted by: lis | Aug 12, 2009 11:43:13 AM
@MATT - a less backwards one than the largest cities in the majority of States at this point. Tragically.
Posted by: Strepsi | Aug 12, 2009 12:04:43 PM