HomeMy WebLinkAboutNon-Discrimination Public Comment from Betsy Danforth 4-25-14From:Danforth, Elizabeth
To:Agenda
Cc:Jamee Greer (jamee@mhrn.org); kiah.abbey@gmail.com
Subject:Bozeman"s Proposed Non Discrimination Ordinance
Date:Thursday, April 24, 2014 1:51:22 PM
Attachments:image001.png
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners;
It is with urgency that I am writing this letter to the City Commission to urge you to consider and
pass a Bozeman Non Discrimination Ordinance (NDO). Clearly, the topic has been on the minds of
many of our citizens and the adoption of an ordinance has some very vocal opponents.
The two arguments I have most commonly heard in opposition to such an ordinance are: 1) we
don’t need an NDO because no discrimination against GLBTQ populations currently exists in
Bozeman; and, 2) an ordinance will force religious groups to hire and serve members of the GLBTQ
(Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer) population whose “lifestyle” they consider to be
against their religion.
It seems quite clear to me that these two arguments cancel one another out. If discrimination
against GLBTQ folks is non-existent, then how is it that members of conservative religious groups
are worried about hiring and serving GLBTQ folks in their businesses and organizations? The
expressed opposition to and distaste for hiring and serving GLBTQ people IS discrimination, and
therefore proves its existence.
I’d like to point out that hatred and discrimination clearly do, in fact, exist here in Bozeman. As a
staff member at Montana State University, I served as the faculty advisor for MSU’s QSA (Queer
Straight Alliance) student organization for 13 years. We housed their phone in our office and often
collected messages for them. The number of shockingly virulent and hateful messages they received
on their voicemail was alarming and enormously disturbing. Topics such as why they should not be
engaging in gay/lesbian sex, why they should not enjoy any human rights, why they should not be
allowed out of the closet, and indeed, why they should not be allowed to exist at all (i.e. death
threats), were readily addressed by frequent callers. Threats to their organization, their meetings,
their gatherings and events, as well as to them personally, were an everyday occurrence. If any of
you are interested, or still question the existence of hate and discrimination against GLBTQ folks, I
still have some of these messages on tape.
As far as religion is concerned, I cannot imagine a God or deity that would look at discrimination
against any group of humans with a favorable eye. Religion (including Christianity which seems to
be the common religion practiced by the most vocal opponents of the NDO), as I understand it, is
meant to be the very basis from which unconditional love stems; the very tenants of Jesus’ teaching
are love, respect, and acceptance; not judgment, hatred, discrimination, and oppression.
Obviously, these are philosophical arguments that may not concern you. The point here is that you
are representatives of the entire population this town—a town with a wonderful mix of citizens--
gay and straight, people of all nationalities and races, people of all social strata, as well as people of
all religious beliefs. Surely, protecting and providing for all of these folks is your job-- passing the
NDO is the only sensible decision that you, as representatives for all of us, can make.
Thank you,
Betsy Danforth
1021 South Tracy Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-585-2274
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