My comments follow. For Daniel Suddeath's newspaper account of other developments in the chatty three-hour meeting, go here. For my Twitter comments while attending the meeting, go here.
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I’m here tonight to speak wholeheartedly in favor of G-12-18, an ordinance to establish a human rights commission in New Albany.
Now, the best way I explain my support is to tell you about the varieties of discrimination I’ve faced in my life.
Actually, there haven't been any.
I’m a straight, white male. I was born right here in Floyd County, and grew up in a single family dwelling with a mortgage. I don’t have HIV, my ID usually isn’t checked just because I’m standing on the street corner, and I’m not disabled.
In short, I’m not discriminated against in any way I can tell, and in fact, I’ve lived a mostly privileged existence.
But: I’m bright enough to know that just because there’s no discrimination against me, it doesn’t mean that there’s no discrimination against others.
I favor this ordinance because it’s the right thing to do according to any moral perspective one cares to attach to it, but there’s a significant bonus. New Albany’s openly stated commitment to human rights is the best economic development strategy we could have, and it’s also the best community-oriented marketing strategy we could possibly undertake.
It is a good first step toward improving the lives of people already living here, and it lets people elsewhere know that we want them to come live and visit here.
Earlier today, you may have heard that journalist Anderson Cooper has come out as a gay man. This is an excerpt from what he told blogger Andrew Sullivan:
It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.
I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible.
I think Cooper’s thoughts are precisely relevant for all aspects of the intent of G-12-18. As a city seeking a positive view toward the future, we want to be on the right side of that tide of history, promoting equality and inclusiveness and respect, and letting it be known that in this town, human rights matter, every single day.
Thank you.
I’m here tonight to speak wholeheartedly in favor of G-12-18, an ordinance to establish a human rights commission in New Albany.
Now, the best way I explain my support is to tell you about the varieties of discrimination I’ve faced in my life.
Actually, there never have been any.
I’m a big, Anglo-Saxon, straight, white male. I was born right here in Floyd County, and grew up in a single family dwelling with a mortgage. I don’t have HIV, my ID usually isn’t checked just because I’m standing on the street corner, and I’m not disabled.
In short, I’m not discriminated against in any way I can tell, and in fact, I’ve lived a mostly privileged existence.
But: I’m bright enough to know that just because there’s no discrimination against me, it doesn’t mean that there’s no discrimination against others.
I favor this ordinance because it’s the right thing to do according to any moral perspective one cares to attach to it, but there’s a significant bonus. New Albany’s openly stated commitment to human rights is the best economic development strategy we could have, and it’s also the best community-oriented marketing strategy we could possibly undertake.
It is a good first step toward improving the lives of people already living here, and it lets people elsewhere know that we want them to come live and visit here.
Earlier today, you may have heard that journalist Anderson Cooper has come out as gay. This is an excerpt from what he told blogger Andrew Sullivan:
It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.
I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible.
I think Cooper’s thoughts are precisely relevant for all aspects of the intent of G-12-18. As a city seeking a positive view toward the future, we want to be on the right side of that tide of history, promoting equality and inclusiveness and respect, and letting it be known that in this town, human rights matter, every single day.
Thank you.
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