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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNon-Discrimination Public Comment from Ginny Watts 4-28-14From:Ginny Watts To:Agenda Subject:NDO Date:Friday, April 25, 2014 8:13:49 PM Hello City Commissioners: Thank you for this opportunity to express mythoughts on the proposed Non-Discrimination Ordinance. My name is GinnyWatts and I reside and work as a psychotherapist in Belgrade. I felt Ihad a voice in this process because some of my Belgrade neighbors areamong those who have spoken up against the ordinance and I felt it isimportant to represent the many residents of the Gallatin Valley,outside of Bozeman, who support the NDO. Also, my subdivision has aBelgrade address but is zoned for both Belgrade and Bozeman schools. Mychildren went from preschool through to high school graduation inBozeman public schools and my younger son now attends MSU, Bozeman. Iam a graduate of the Masters in Mental Health Counseling program at MSU,Bozeman. And my family does 90% of our consuming in Bozeman. I alsoserve many people from Bozeman in my private practice. I appreciate the efforts you have made as a Commission to listenthoughtfully to the fears of those who oppose the NDO. Those fears needto be compassionately addressed. However, as I read the repeatedfrightened outcry from these individuals, I am reminded of the manytimes I have helped clients recognize the problems of making decisionsout of fear. I frequently tell my clients, unless you are face to facewith a grizzly bear, letting fear be the guiding force behind a decisionis not just misguidance but is regularly a recipe for tribulation. I understand that part of what would be helpful is for you all to havepersonal stories of how discrimination has affected Bozeman residents.Providing examples, however, is a difficult task. I have come torealize that a request for examples reflects a basic lack ofunderstanding and experience of the lives of those who arelesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered. LGBT individuals learn from a veryearly age to stay invisible. At the same time, they know just howothers feel about them. They hear condemnation as their family,friends, peers, teachers, preachers, neighbors, civic leaders speakcritically, derogatorily, fearfully, punitively about the LGBTcommunity. They watch their peers defensively deny being gay. Theyexperience bullying because they are too effeminate or masculine or notfeminine or masculine enough. Overt discrimination can be easier tocope with than subversive, tacitly agreed upon discrimination thatexists in our community. So I will share an anecdote that may help you understand a littlebetter. I belong to a local group called Chicks with Sticks, anall-women marching bucket band with a mission to support diversity ingeneral and the LGBT community in particular. We are an LGBTS community-- that is some of us are lesbian, some transgendered, and some of usare straight. In February, we presented at Pecha Kucha Bozeman and oneof our fearless leaders, Shaun Phoenix, spoke about our mission and whatit's like to be LGBT -- both the joys and the struggles. After thepresentation, several people from the audience, separately andunbeknownst to one another, approached one or another member of Chicksto say, I have a grown child who is gay or transgendered or lesbian andI wish my child could have seen this presentation. These parentsdescribed how their children had fled Bozeman as young adults becausethey did not feel safe or welcome. They also all indicated that their children hungered to come home but despaired of ever being able to do sosafely and happily. What is most compelling to me about this experience is understanding why these individuals chose to come up to totalstrangers and share the painful hidden experiences of their families.It is because Shaun spoke openly and confidently about acceptance andinclusion and support for the LGBT community. Her speaking up allowedthem to speak up. By enacting the NDO, in its current form without amendment, thatprotects all individuals including transgendered people, by making anofficial declaration that Bozeman welcomes diversity and protects theright for each of us to live and contribute to our community throughbeing our beautiful selves, you as the City Commissioners have taken thediscrimination out into the light and banished its power. Perhaps nowBozeman's estranged LGBT children can return to their homes andfamilies, with confidence and joy.Thank you for your consideration of my thoughts,Ginny Watts, M. Ed., LCPCBelgrade Counseling Clinic129 Village Dr. Suite 303Belgrade, MT 59714 -- Ginny Watts, M.Ed., LCPC The contents of this communication are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you arehereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictlyprohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately byreplying to this message and delete the message from your computer.