Although, I was pleased with the city
council voting 6-2 to include sexual orientation
protection against discrimination in housing and
employment for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexuals. I am
disappointed that the transsexual, cross-dresser and
transgender citizens were extended the same protections. This may be
a step forward to equality
and fairness to the citizens of
St. Peterburg, an great opportunity to take a
giant step forward for equality for "all of citizens"
was sadly missed. St. Petersburg City Council may
feel this compromise was fair, but, they don't seem to
realize they denied protecting those who do suffer
dearly from discrimination, verbal/physical abuse and are
in dire need of being protected. We can only
hope, this decision isn't written in stone and in the very
near future they will receive equal protection as
all other citizens of St. Petersburg.
What I did also find to be extremely disturbing,
were the comments made by Mayor Rick Baker. First he says, ``I do not
support discrimination in any form,'' and adds, ``But I believe the city has a
responsibility to balance the rights of all our
citizens.'' If he is honestly against discrimination in any form and believes
the
city has a responsibility to
balance the rights of "all" it's citizens. Then by protecting the gay, lesbian
and I assume bisexual's, from discrimination is "equally balancing" the rights
of all it's citizens.
But, it is certainly plain to see, he knows not of what he
speaks. Meaning, that doesn't really mean what he
said, as far as when Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual's are
concerned. As quoted in the Tampa Tribune, the
mayor said, ``the city is
requiring that a portion of our community must support and protect a lifestyle
which
is expressly rejected by the tenets of their religious
beliefs.'' This shows that he believes that a citizens
religious beliefs is what he balances the rights of others
upon. How hypocritical can he be, to require others
lives and or lifestyles to conform
to his personal religious beliefs or be denied their equal rights. This
he
believes is acceptable. You supposedly are against
discrimination in any form, except when it's religious
discrimination.
Please Mr. Mayor, your hypocrisy is not only
reprehensible, it goes against the United.States.Constitution's principle of the separation of church and state. You
Sir took an oath, on a Bible no less, to be responsible
for the well being of "all" the citizens who live in St.
Petersburg. That doesn't mean, only the white or black, Italians, Jewish, Catholics, old, young, homosexual,
heterosexual, etc:. You do not or should not think you have the right to pick
and choose, although, you seem to believe you do. Shame on you Mr.
Mayor
One who believe in God, his word and his teachings.
Cares for all his children, period. They do not choose
and misinterput selective verses of the Bible to justify intolerance, mistreatment or for denying
others their basic equal human rights.
We will no longer go quietly in to that good night. Nor
allow those to ignore the principle set forth in our Constitution
that their be a seperation of church and state. If those who would deny us
our equal right are
forced to abide to this principle. They would have no
other reason to jusitify denying equality of civil rights
to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens. It
is time they were are made to do so and it is up
to us to make them.
R. Zeke Fread
Coordinator & Organizer
Tampa Bay Coalition
San Rafael Street
Tampa, Florida