Apparently, a new species of men has been uncovered in Dayton Ohio, closely related to the Neanderthal Kneejerk Conservutus species who is best exemplified by Rush Limbaugh et. al.
Dayton City Commissioners Dean Lovelace and Joey Williams, who have both benefited from the civil rights movement of the sixties, chose to show that they answer to a lynch mob of African American Ministers first, and the people of Dayton second.
Dayton commission passes anti-discrimination law [1]
The City Commission voted 3-1 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected groups. Commissioner Dean Lovelace was the sole “no” vote. McLin and Commissioners Matt Joseph and Nan Whaley voted for the measure. Joey Williams requested additional dialogue and did not vote.
With both Williams and Lovelace members of the Democratic party, this shows that either the party really isn’t that important to them, or they are Dems in name only. Both should be kicked out of the party for this.
I always laughed when the buzz against our sole Catholic president, JFK, was that he would be the Popes mouthpiece- but, I guess Williams and Lovelace prove that there isn’t a true separation of Church and State right here in Dayton Ohio.
Hopefully, this vote is the beginning of the end of their political careers. Williams can squirm on this all he wants, but, I find his kind of fence sitting particularly lame. Leaders make decisions when the time comes, not when it suits them.
Equal protection and equal rights are fundamental rights that this country was founded on. There is only one way to vote on this.
What do you think?
Bravo to Dayton (belatedly)! This is arguably as much about econocmic development as civil rights. As urban guru Richard Florida put it:
“Research has spelled out the connection between prosperity, competitiveness, and the
three Ts of economic development: technology, talent and tolerance…It’s time for our politicians to stop moralizing and start listening to what works for our best
companies, our regions, and our national economic competitiveness. As we’ve hunkered
down into an internal cultural war on the domestic front and grown more outwardly
protectionist, it has apparently become necessary for our business leaders to come to
Washington (or Dayton) and tell the political class how and why diversity, tolerance and openness works for them.”
What are they gonna do next, give sheep the vote?
Dean Lovelace voted no?
That dude sends my gaydar into outer space! Puuuuuleeaze.
Back in the mid 1990s some local gay activists had a candidates forum at some church out on Salem, and Dean Lovelace was there. At that time he was open to the idea of a gay rights ordnance. So Lovelace has moved to the right on this issue, which is sad as he is often the most progressive commissioner.
Rhine McLin gets a ration of shit, but she suprised me last night with her vote, and her statement. Unlike Lovelace and Williams, she came right out and said the politically expedient thing for her to do was to vote no, but she voted on principle not expediency.
But what about the “process” issue that was raised?
Would it have been better if this would have went to referendum (which I think was suggested)?. And didn’t this come up pretty fast, without much political discussion (and apparent media blackout, as the DDN now reports this was cooking for a few months before the vote).
It seems there was less now controversy then back in 1999, but maybe because the issue surfaced and was voted on so fast this time?
Gosh Jeff:
Obviously you are the ONLY person in Dayton who doesn’t realize that the Mayor is a lesbian…
My video blog commentary on this issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KqfkiE-sfc
David,
Re: your comment of >>>Dayton City Commissioners Dean Lovelace and Joey Williams, who have both benefited from the civil rights movement of the sixties, chose to show that they answer to a lynch mob of African American Ministers first, and the people of Dayton second.>>I always laughed when the buzz against our sole Catholic president, JFK, was that he would be the Popes mouthpiece>>Equal protection and equal rights are fundamental rights that this country was founded on.
David,
Your blogging software only posted the parts of my comments that I cut/pasted from the body of your original post.
Juan.
Sorry Juan- it sometimes strips things that it thinks may be code-
try again.
I applaud Lovelace. He took a stand, even though he knew his vote wasn’t going to be popular.
Joseph threw out some half-baked comment about cities who have a similar ordinance thriving and never gave any facts to back it up.
Oh and for those who keep referring to those ministers as the “Religious Right wingers” – last I checked, those same ministers who spoke out against the ordinance and the process that the city took that lead to last week’s vote, are from the Democratic party.
The city gave no documented evidence as to why this ordinance was needed. It’s a sad day when laws are made based on personal agendas and not for the well-being of society.
Just like those who take the Bible out of context, our society has made up its own interpretation for what the civil rights movement was and is all about. The civil rights movement was birthed initially because of the unfair treatment of African-Americans. It had nothing to do with sexual orientation.
This is not a civil rights issue. It’s a personal agenda issue.
Go to Columbus, Ohio and see if progressive social climates help the economy.
Or try Portland, Oregon
Austin, TX….the list goes on.
Lovelace and the ministers are only basing their no votes or opposition to said ordinance upon good ol’ fashioned hatin’.
Don’t be a hater.
Later tater,
DD
Again the conceptual problem that there can be more than one civil rights movement just as there are more than one type of discrimination or prejudice.
The gay/lesibian movement has its own history and its own historic figures and leaders and key events, and the prejudice it was, and is, fighting is different than racism as it has, nowadays, a strong religous rationalization.
In some ways the GLBT movement is pretty radical and revolutionary, and the jury is still out on whether or not it will suceed.
OK, let’s try this again…
Re: your comment of >>>Dayton City Commissioners Dean Lovelace and Joey Williams, who have both benefited from the civil rights movement of the sixties, chose to show that they answer to a lynch mob of African American Ministers first, and the people of Dayton second.>I always laughed when the buzz against our sole Catholic president, JFK, was that he would be the Popes mouthpiece>>
You must have been pretty politically astute before you were born!! Kennedy died in November of 1963. When were you born, David? 1964 or ’65?
>>>there isn’t a true separation of Church and State right here in Dayton Ohio.>>Equal protection and equal rights are fundamental rights that this country was founded on.>>Hopefully, this vote is the beginning of the end of their political Re: your comment of >>>Dayton City Commissioners Dean Lovelace and Joey Williams, who have both benefited from the civil rights movement of the sixties, chose to show that they answer to a lynch mob of African American Ministers first, and the people of Dayton second.< << How do we know that they didn't answer to the people of Dayton? The only way to truly find that out is to put it to a vote and let those who care enough one way or the other cast their vote. Personally, I have to hand it to Lovelace and Williams for not buckling to the pressure of political correctness and not voting for the change. David, you're always saying that people need to have balls. I think that Lovelace and Williams showed that they do have balls by not going with the (maybe) politically safer vote. These guys are only being chastised because they voted differently than you would have. >>>there isn’t a true separation of Church and State right here in Dayton Ohio.< << NOWHERE in the Constitution is that phrase used. >>>Equal protection and equal rights are fundamental rights that this country was founded on.< << You are absolutely correct on this statement (finally!). But it's equal protection and rights for ALL PEOPLE, not just blacks, gays or whatever group wants to have special protection. Quite frankly, this law is not needed. My experience has been that most small business owners just want good employees - regardless of their race or sexual preferences. As a small business owner that would probably be branded as a conservative by most that read this blog, I have hired whites, blacks and a gay (although never a black, gay person). I didn't care about any of that - just as long as they treated my customers (and each other) with respect and provided great service to my customers. If a business is going to discriminate against someone due to their sexual preference, they're going to do it regardless of the law. Think about this...Suppose a job seeker walks into PizzaBill's place of business after he sees a "help wanted" sign in the window. This person is rude, obnoxious, has poor hygiene and does not appear to be the stuff that a good employee is made of. This person fills out an application and leaves. PizzaBill does not want to hire him and throws the application away. The person comes back a week later and wants to know the status of his application. PizzaBill tells him that the position is filled. This person then demands to know why he wasn't hired. It turns out that he's gay and he then claims that's why PizzaBill didn't hire him. Now, because of this law, PizzaBill has problems. Even if the gayness had nothing to do with him not hiring this person, he now has to defend himself against these alligations. That's time consuming and expensive. >>>Hopefully, this vote is the beginning of the end of their political careers. Williams can squirm on this all he wants, but, I find his kind of fence sitting particularly lame. <<< Does this mean that Joey won't be at your annual party in January??
Juan-
I was born in 1962, but I am capable of reading history books. It’s a novel concept- learning from past mistakes so we won’t repeat it. Too bad many of our current “Leaders” don’t do it. I believe that the gap between rich and poor may be the end our our run as both a world power- and a free and open democracy. We will see.
As to Joey and my party- I don’t know you Juan- how do you know about Joey and my party? Joey called me yesterday- we had a long talk about this- off the record. We’ve been friends for a long time, and can agree to disagree. I called it a punk move on his part- and he explained his reasons. I respect him for taking the heat on this- and trying to juggle a family, a demanding high profile job- and the thankless position of commissioner.
“I guess Williams and Lovelace prove that there isn’t a true separation of Church and State right here in Dayton Ohio.”
The seperation of church and state? Where does this phrase come from? It is not in Our Constitution nor in Our Declaration of Independence, or for that matter, it is not in anything official in regards to our government. Even though I think there should be a speration, I don’t think it is official.
I think Williams and Lovelace wimped out – but if it is becasue “religion” we have to respect their views – we voted for them, well maybe not all of us. It seems liberals forget what the word bigot means, and often liberals are bigotted towards Christians, and not neccessary other religions. It is a two way street. Look in the mirror Zack ( a friend who reads this blog :) !!!! )
Joey has finally posted his response to this vote on his site: http://joeydwilliams.com/platform_faq4.asp
Still placing the blame on the African American Clergy- and his inability to take a stand without their support.
Better late than never, but not good enough to those who deserved the protection, no matter what the clergy thought.
That guy Pizzabill who posted that sarcastic comment upthread. He owns the South Park Tavern, right?
@Jeff – yes, PizzaBill owns the South Park Tavern.