Category: Anti-discrimination
Level: Local
Concerning: An “enacted” policy that has been passed to help
with a problem/issue that individuals/families face.
Why is this important/how does it affect
families/individuals? This ordinance is extremely important and strongly
affects individuals. Now, San Antonio institutions, commissions, restaurants
and businesses can no longer deny services to the public on the basis of sexual
orientation of gender identity. This provides individuals in these categories
with a small step towards full equality.
My Views: Although I am in strong favor of this ordinance, I
am outraged at the opposition and negative reactions that have occurred in
response to it. The ordinance simply added “sexual orientation and gender
identity to the list of classes protected from bias, including race, religion,
age and disability”. Meaning that a person’s sexual orientation or gender
identity cannot be grounds for discrimination from services available to the
general public. This ordinance by no means requires anyone to endorse or
encourage any individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, so why are so
many San Antonio citizens and officials so adamantly against it? It is
ridiculous that elected government officials are speaking out against an
ordinance that protects their constituents from discrimination. By publicly
opposing it, they are encouraging public institutions and business to treat particular
members of the San Antonio community differently and negatively. What is even
more unsettling is that many of these government officials are publicly
opposing the ordinance due to next spring’s primary elections. Despite their
true beliefs on the matter, some of these officials are ignoring what is best
for the citizens of San Antonio and are selfishly acting in favor of those who
are funding them. It is a disgraceful fact that numerous citizens and government
officials believe in taking away rights of individuals based on their sexual orientation
and gender identity, and are in support of subjecting them to discrimination.
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