honeydunce

In regards to the ordinance hearing…

Council hears debate on anti-discrimination bill
By Tim Puko
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

More than 100 people filled Allegheny County Council chambers Thursday evening for public debate on an anti-discrimination bill.

The bill would make Allegheny County the first county in Southwestern Pennsylvania with a broad-based anti-discrimination policy, including protection for gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.

At one time, nearly the entire council supported the measure, but several members dropped sponsorships in recent weeks as public pressure mounts.

Only one open seat was visible an hour into the 5 p.m. meeting, and people were lined shoulder to shoulder against the walls. Dozens had to wait outside or in hallways.

“We have a situation we’ve never had before in nine years here,” said Council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill. “It’s a testimony to democracy and people’s feelings, especially on such a cold night, that so many people would come out here.”

Debate over the bill became heated in mid-December when a Franklin-based group, the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, used 2,000 robocalls to spark local protest letters to council. Supporters responded Saturday with a rally in Oakland and had the majority of speakers through the first 90 minutes of yesterday’s meeting.

Anna Hegedus of Swissvale got the loudest ovation after she told council how she had been fired from the first job she enjoyed. A manager at her suburban employer fired her after finding out she was born with a medical condition that had caused gender ambiguity issues, she said.

“I want all the counselors in this room to look at me, look at my face and tell me I deserve that. As long as this law isn’t in place, there will be more people just like me,” Hegedus said, weeping as she left the podium to applause.

Opponents said the law would create a deadlocked conflict between the rights of religious people and gays, both of whom would be protected as workers, renters, homebuyers and users of county facilities. Religious businessmen and organizations legally would be required to make choices that betray their morals, they said.

“While this ordinance seeks to protect the rights of a certain segment of our society, it takes away the rights of others,” said Richard Gelfand, who said he is pastor of the 65-member Sewickley-Lighthouse Baptist Church. He was one of several men with religious affiliations among the 90 scheduled speakers at the meeting.

“People who are gay or lesbian can change their sexual orientation at will,” Gelfand said, drawing some boos from the crowd. “A person who wants to claim discrimination can claim they are homosexual without any way to verify that claim,” he added before leaving to loud applause.

Public urges county to form Human Relations Commission
By PATRICK CLOONAN, Daily News Staff Writer

“Make sure you are comfortable with what you do.”

That’s what McKeesport resident Alan Wakefield told Allegheny County Council Thursday as it pondered a bill to establish a county Human Relations Commission.

Bill No. 4201-08 also adds sexual orientation and gender identity to protected categories such as race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex and physical handicaps.

For 3 1?2 hours, the pros and cons of the bill were debated, with those who favor it outnumbering those who oppose, 49-16.

“Join progressive communities across Pennsylvania that have adopted it,” state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, urged council.

“This is not burdensome,” said Charles Morrison, director of a human relations commission formed in 1957 in Pittsburgh.

“Realistically, there is no need to set up a Human Relations Commission … except for the fact that the proposed ordinance is extended on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Patricia Weaver of Fox Chapel said on behalf of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

PFI’s stand is that the state already is policing discrimination.

But Peter Harvey, executive director of Fair Housing Partnership, said “housing discrimination is tragically underreported.”

“It is our chance to show the world that we accept and respect one another,” former council hopeful Kevin Acklin said. “It is the right thing to do - ensure and protect the rights of every individual.”

Acklin lost to former county and Homestead solicitor Charles McCullough in the 2007 Republican primary for a council at-large seat. McCullough was one of two councilors who did not attend Thursday’s hearing.

“Why should we continue to discriminate against those who were born lesbian or gay?” Jeanne Clark of Shadyside said. “That is no more than just discriminating by eye color.”

Others argued over whether someone is born with a sexual preference.

The long list of speakers and overflow crowd caused council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, to hail the hearing as “truly participatory democracy.”