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Recognition
of LGBT Pride Month
Todd Smith,
Lancaster City Council member
“I want to
start out this evening by thanking Councilman Roschel for allowing me
to co-sponsor this resolution recognizing June as Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgendered pride month this year.
I think it
is important that we recognize all those involved in the pursuit of
equality and during the month of June we celebrate the notable
achievements and outstanding service that lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender Americans make to our city, state and nation. The
resolution references the Stonewall Rebellion which started on June
28th, 1969 in the West Village of New York City and is the
first
instance in American history when people in the homosexual community
fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted
sexual minorities. As we know from history the government is
certainly not always correct in its policies and we have seen this in
past discriminatory behaviors that were based on race, gender, and
religious affiliation. In the end those on the wrong side of history
always seem foolish and oppressive…and there is no doubt that this
will be the case at some point in the future when the gay and lesbian
community obtains the same protections, rights and privileges as any
other American.
While
today is certainly meant to recognize those leaders, many in this
room, for the hard work and sacrifices they are making not just for
themselves, but for others who may not be in a position to speak up
for themselves. I thought it was important to address one other issue
and why this issue is so important. Over the past months we have
heard numerous horror stories of gay and lesbian youth being victims
of bullying and in many cases that bullying being so severe that many
have chosen to take their own life. I have a few quick stats here:
According
to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network 2007 National
School Climate Survey of more than 6,000 students...
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Nearly 9
out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in
the past year because of their sexual orientation
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Nearly
half (44.1 percent) reported being physically harassed
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About a
quarter (22.1 percent) reported being physically assaulted
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LGBT
kids are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide then their straight
peers.
As a
parent I get infuriated thinking about how any kid can think it is ok
to treat another individual in such a harmful way and when it does
occur there is very little reprise. I often wonder where the parents
are, where are the role models, and where are the community leaders
who should be more outspoken and determined to stop such hateful
behavior. Then I realized why so many children find it acceptable to
treat others like this…because this is exactly the example that is
being set by so many of our elected leaders. Our own congressman:
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Voted NO
to HR3685: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act prohibiting job
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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Voted
YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman.
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Voted
YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
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Voted
YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
And let’s
not forgot about one of our own County Commissioners who went on to
say after repealing the Lancaster County HRC that he “just wasn’t
there yet on the gay issue” as far as extending them the right to be
included as a protected class against discrimination. These are the
people setting the example for our community and our children and
sending a message of exclusion and that it is ok to discriminate on
the grounds of sexual orientation and that this group of individuals
don’t deserve equal protection under the law.
With all
these challenges we continue to face I remain very optimistic about
the future. I remain optimistic because this is the fourth year in a
row that City Council has recognized June as LGBT pride month and I am
sure we will continue to do so, as well as do whatever else we can to
make sure these rights are granted. I am optimistic because we have
an administration enlightened enough to extend benefits to domestic
partnerships. And although this was an HR policy and didn’t require
Council approval I would bet my first born that it most certainly
would have passed. And finally in a recent Gallup poll it was found
that 70 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 support
gay marriage, compared to only 39 percent among those 55 and older.
And so I thank you all for your continued effort and am honored to
stand beside you for the entirety of this fight. I thank you on
behalf of myself, City residents and my own Children because the
progress we make now will allow them to live in a much more tolerant
society where they will not be judged for any reason, especially as
some not innate and physiologically determined sexual orientation”.
Comment on this
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