Decatur Ordinance passes 6-1
Residents, clergy line up for chance to
weigh in on sexual orientation* amendment to city code
By AMY HOAK Decatur H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR, IL -- The line of people who wished to speak to the Decatur
City Council on Monday night stretched past the doors of the council
chambers.
More than 50 people spoke on an amendment to include sexual
orientation in the city's unlawful discrimination code, providing
council members with nearly two-and-a-half hours of opinions on
the measure. Some had to turn around and exit when they finished
speaking because there was no room for them to sit or stand.
Advocates wore pink "vote yes" stickers on their shirts,
while opponents quoted the Bible and questioned the legality of
a law they said would force Christians who believe homosexuality
is a sin to give up their religious rights.
In the end, the ordinance was approved by a 6-1 vote, with only
council member Betsy Stockard voting against it. The recommendation
the city's Human Relations Committee made to the council three
weeks ago was approved despite the drawn-out discussion, making
it illegal to deny someone such things as employment, housing,
credit or public accommodations based on their sexual orientation.
Before voting, Stockard read a prepared statement in opposition
to the amendment, at one point evoking the Biblical story of Adam
and Eve to support her view that homosexuality isn't biologically
predetermined but a choice.
Her speech echoed the ideas spoken by some of the opposition
-- some of them members of the clergy and others who said they
were Christians who didn't want to be forced to advocate a lifestyle
they felt was sinful. One opponent said the law would force her
to choose between breaking the law and going to hell.
Many arguments of proponents, including Bobbi Karch, dealt with
personal experiences and framed the amendment as a civil rights
matter. Karch said the reason she chose not to work in Decatur
is based on prejudices she encountered here. Other arguments in
favor of the amendment came from pastors, who advocated acceptance
over literal Biblical interpretation.
"I've heard a lot of my brothers in the clergy quote scripture.
I have some problems with some of that, because some of the passages
they quote come from the same code that tells us we can't eat
pork. I like my bacon," said the Rev. Martin Eckert, of Holy
Cross Lutheran Church. "The savior I know is one of love
and forgiveness."
Decatur's code already prohibits discrimination based on race,
color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status,
handicap and unfavorable discharge from military service. There
is no state or federal protection against the discrimination against
someone based on their sexual orientation.
Before voting, Howley said giving the public the opportunity to
speak on the issue was the right move for the council.
"This is democracy in action. We should be thankful we live
in a country where we can do this, we can assemble -- with the
help of the Decatur Police Department and the Fire Marshal over
here," Howley said.
In other business, the council approved a three-party agreement
with the Decatur Housing Authority and East Lake Management &
Development Corp., officially spelling out the expectations of
each party during the first phase of the near northside redevelopment
project.
But the vote didn't come without some resistance, due to the fact
that the council received the final document just before the meeting
began. Council members Edwards and Michael Carrigan said they
couldn't vote on something they hadn't completely read.
Carrigan also said that by not making the document available sooner,
the city was circumventing public review of the document.
"Generally those documents get circulated on Thursday. People
come up, they talk, they have input. I've seen five or six clergymen
come down the steps and postpone an item -- in the end it was
right that we did," Carrigan said.
The DHA is due to vote on the agreement later this week.
Amy Hoak can be reached at 421-7972.
*Note: Sexual orientation is defined in the ordinance as "having or being perceived as having an emotional, physical, or sexual attraction to another person without regard to the gender of that person; or having or being perceived as having an orientation for such attraction; or having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one's biological maleness or femaleness. 'Sexual Orientation' does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult."