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Blake Ringsmuth Special to the Record-Eagle

September 28, 2010

By BLAKE RINGSMUTH ---- The Record Eagle Tue Sep 28, 2010, 07:22 AM EDT

On Monday, the Traverse City Commission will formally consider adding sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination ordinance. It would make it a civil infraction to discriminate against a man or woman in employment, housing, or public accommodation because they are gay.

Currently, the ordinance bans discrimination based upon race, sex and age. There already are many cities in Michigan and across the country that have such laws. The hard truth of the matter is this: in Traverse City, it is currently legal to fire someone simply, and only, because they are gay. It is also perfectly legal to maliciously harass someone at work because of their sexual orientation. Likewise, it is legal to deny someone housing because they are homosexual.

The question squarely facing the commission, and as a result the entire community, is whether we are all right with this.

Those who have spoken against the ordinance have sidestepped this question. Is it OK to fire someone because they are gay? Instead, they question whether there is really a need for such protection, saying they are not aware of any problem.

But how would they be aware, unless they inquired? As many who work with the gay population know, the discrimination problem is real and damaging to our community. Professionally, I have met with many who have been harassed out of a job, fired or told there is no place for them to work simply because they are gay.

The economic and emotional damage is debilitating to these families. Some of these brave souls told their story at the City Commission meeting a few weeks ago, but many more live in fear and keep their sexual identity hidden for fear of reprisal.

Most of us cannot imagine being denied the basic right to earn a living or a place to live simply due to one's sexual orientation, but this happens in our community. Imagine living in fear that you will be "found out" as gay, with the threat of being fired, harassed or threatened?

Do we stand for or against that practice in Traverse City? The opposition will not answer the question directly. Rather, they try to characterize the right to work and live free of discrimination as some sort of "special right." Since when is making a living or having a safe place to live a "special right?"

They resort to fear tactics about the "cost" of such ordinance. It will cost business nothing more to comply. In fact, local business already has to comply with the existing anti-discrimination ordinance. Just don't let sexual orientation (in addition to race, sex, age, etc.) be a basis of your decision. It does not require an employer to hire an inferior applicant that happens to be gay. Nor does it prevent the firing of a sub-par employee because of their sexual orientation. Read the proposal for yourself.

The ordinance makes a strong statement about our community's beliefs, including that fear is not a basis to deny our neighbors basic rights.

About the author: Blake Ringsmuth is a local civil rights attorney and former chair of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission. He was raised in Traverse City, and lives here with his wife and two children.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.