Oh city of Fayetteville. I just don’t understand you.
The city that the Husbear and I got married in this May, a city less than 30 miles from us, has just repealed a civil rights ordinance that would help protect LGBT citizens. The ordinance would have prohibited local businesses and entities from discriminating against employees and customers based on gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and other factors. The City Council of Fayetteville passed the ordinance in August, but several groups opposed it and gathered enough signatures to force a special election today.
Those in favor of repeal got 52% of the vote with 7,523 ballots cast. Those in favor of keeping the ordinance got 48% of the vote with 7,040 ballots cast. I’m disappointed that so few people voted–only about 29% of the registered voters of Fayetteville. Had this not been a special election, I am inclined to think the repeal would not have happened as more people would have, in theory, voted. Even with the small turnout, I am surprised at how close the vote was.
But with backers like many of the churches in the area (politics from the pulpit, what?!) and the Duggar family, I can honestly say I’m not surprised at all that the repeal happened.
I guess I’ll no longer be spending my money in Fayetteville.
Until next time...
Those were our thoughts as well.
On a side note, I’m still waiting for the inevitable day when all the people who are now pushing for exceptions to laws based on “sincerely held religious beliefs” have it tossed back in their faces.
Also…will this “sincerely held religious beliefs” bullshit become a get-out-of-jail-free card for pretty much anything now? “Yes, your honor, I killed the dirty faggot because the BIBLE told me to, and I sincerely believe in the BIBLE.”
“Okay son, you’re cleared. Have a nice day.”
Truly mind-boggling that this is the 21st Century and we are STILL basing laws on the mythology of bronze-age goat-herders. MIND. BOGGLING.
I can honestly see the “Yes, your honor, I killed the dirty faggot because the BIBLE told me to, and I sincerely believe in the BIBLE.” happening in these parts easily. Pretty much the “gay panic” defense. 🙁
It is disheartening. It always upsets me when ignorance and demagogy overrule reason and logic. Oh the sorrow.
I’m hoping there is major financial backlash for the businesses down in that area. Money tends to talk more so than people’s beliefs do when one boils it down enough.
The vote in the recent national elections was very low also. Presumably, that poor turnout reflected the public’s disgust with D.C. and the dysfunction of government. But the government will never be cleaned out unless the electorate takes a strong part in throwing deadheads and troublemakers out and replacing them with reasonable people.
I’m saddened when my clients tell me they didn’t bother to vote (in the last few elections), because they felt it didn’t matter any more. 🙁