Marcie Sexton
09-14-2007, 03:19 PM
Below is an article that was published in the Huntington Hearld Dispatch,
in Huntington, WV...
Although not specifically stated, I got believe that we as transgendered people would be covered by this...Seems that West Virginia is finally starting to get with the program.
Would like to see what all you think of this. I would also suggest you all send an email to the paper in support of this new city ordinance. I have already sent mine...
Thanks Huntington for your support...
Join our conversation. Click here to add your view to this story
HUNTINGTON -- The Huntington Human Relations Commission voted Thursday to recommend to the mayor and City Council to support including sexual orientation into the protected classes in the commission's establishing ordinance.
In order for the additional language to be included, City Council must vote on it. All eight commissioners agreed that the inclusion of sexual orientation into their ordinance is a step toward protecting everyone in the community.
"All people have the right to be treated equally and fairly," said commission Chairman Richard Cobb. "It is a nationwide problem that people with different sexual orientations are being discriminated against."
"I think (its inclusion) is very important for the civil rights of every person in the city," Commissioner Martin Amerikaner said. "It is a message of acceptance and appreciation of diversity that is crucial to the growth of the city."
The ordinance currently prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, blindness, handicap or familial status. The inclusion of sexual orientation, Cobb said, would prohibit landlords from discriminating against someone for being heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
Cobb was quick to add that the new language is not a religious or moral issue, but a civil rights issue.
"This is a fairness issue," Cobb said. "This has nothing to do with hate crime legislation or religious legislation, it is about equality. We're in the business of protecting people's needs when it comes to their basic rights in life."
Though an issue of religion or morals may come up, Cobb said the main concern with the added language involves funding from the federal government and staffing limitations.
Currently, the commission receives $2,400 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate discrimination complaints stipulated in the federal Fair Housing Act. If the city decides to add sexual orientation into the ordinance, the commission will not receive any additional money from the federal government to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The commission only has one full-time employee to investigate all documented discrimination complaints in Huntington. Fortunately, Cobb said community lawyers and interested parties said they would donate money and time to investigating the complaints.
To support the changes, housing investigator Okey Napier Jr. volunteered during the meeting to investigate any complaints based on sexual orientation for free for the next two years. Napier said the topic is very important and is willing to help the commission's efforts any way he can.
Recently, Charleston became the first city in West Virginia to outlaw businesses and landlords from discriminating based on sexual orientation.
Kevin McCoy, president of the West Virginia Family Foundation, said their organization might be filing a lawsuit against the City of Charleston for their inclusion of sexual orientation to its human rights ordinance.
"Any city that follows the actions of Charleston could be in the same position," McCoy said. "We're certainly not going to let the city do an end-run around the Legislature. They're making laws at a local level which should be done in the Legislature."
Cobb said the next step is to meet with the City Council and to explain their views on the inclusion of sexual orientation into their ordinance. It was undetermined when the commission will be meeting with the City Council.
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in Huntington, WV...
Although not specifically stated, I got believe that we as transgendered people would be covered by this...Seems that West Virginia is finally starting to get with the program.
Would like to see what all you think of this. I would also suggest you all send an email to the paper in support of this new city ordinance. I have already sent mine...
Thanks Huntington for your support...
Join our conversation. Click here to add your view to this story
HUNTINGTON -- The Huntington Human Relations Commission voted Thursday to recommend to the mayor and City Council to support including sexual orientation into the protected classes in the commission's establishing ordinance.
In order for the additional language to be included, City Council must vote on it. All eight commissioners agreed that the inclusion of sexual orientation into their ordinance is a step toward protecting everyone in the community.
"All people have the right to be treated equally and fairly," said commission Chairman Richard Cobb. "It is a nationwide problem that people with different sexual orientations are being discriminated against."
"I think (its inclusion) is very important for the civil rights of every person in the city," Commissioner Martin Amerikaner said. "It is a message of acceptance and appreciation of diversity that is crucial to the growth of the city."
The ordinance currently prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, blindness, handicap or familial status. The inclusion of sexual orientation, Cobb said, would prohibit landlords from discriminating against someone for being heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
Cobb was quick to add that the new language is not a religious or moral issue, but a civil rights issue.
"This is a fairness issue," Cobb said. "This has nothing to do with hate crime legislation or religious legislation, it is about equality. We're in the business of protecting people's needs when it comes to their basic rights in life."
Though an issue of religion or morals may come up, Cobb said the main concern with the added language involves funding from the federal government and staffing limitations.
Currently, the commission receives $2,400 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate discrimination complaints stipulated in the federal Fair Housing Act. If the city decides to add sexual orientation into the ordinance, the commission will not receive any additional money from the federal government to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The commission only has one full-time employee to investigate all documented discrimination complaints in Huntington. Fortunately, Cobb said community lawyers and interested parties said they would donate money and time to investigating the complaints.
To support the changes, housing investigator Okey Napier Jr. volunteered during the meeting to investigate any complaints based on sexual orientation for free for the next two years. Napier said the topic is very important and is willing to help the commission's efforts any way he can.
Recently, Charleston became the first city in West Virginia to outlaw businesses and landlords from discriminating based on sexual orientation.
Kevin McCoy, president of the West Virginia Family Foundation, said their organization might be filing a lawsuit against the City of Charleston for their inclusion of sexual orientation to its human rights ordinance.
"Any city that follows the actions of Charleston could be in the same position," McCoy said. "We're certainly not going to let the city do an end-run around the Legislature. They're making laws at a local level which should be done in the Legislature."
Cobb said the next step is to meet with the City Council and to explain their views on the inclusion of sexual orientation into their ordinance. It was undetermined when the commission will be meeting with the City Council.
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