On Tuesday, by virtue of a 4-3 vote, the Goshen City Council approved a controversial first reading of an amendment to its civil rights policy. The alteration would simply add four new words to the document.
Only it’s not that simple.
The four words are “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The gist of the amendment is to essentially include gay and lesbians in the city’s civil rights practice. It seems practical enough, but then again, equal rights has traditionally been a battle in this country. So, as expected, Tuesday’s first reading sparked passionate testimony from both sides of the gay-straight fence.
What became abundantly clear Tuesday is there is indeed such a fence that runs through Goshen. There are gay men who live here. There are lesbian women who live here. They work in our community, contribute to this society and in many ways strengthen the quality of life here.
The Goshen News believes that neither “sexual orientation” nor “gender identity” should factor into business decisions. That would be a clear contradiction of equal opportunity that should not be tolerated. As for personal and religious decisions, like it or not, those four words are fair game. The Constitution affords everyone the right to their chosen religion and the right to speak their own opinions. It also mandates the separation of church and state and protects one’s right to privacy. It would seem a person’s sexuality is covered by that umbrella.
Whatever problems Goshen may have had in the past accepting diversity cannot be erased. At one point not so long ago, blacks were essentially banned from the town after dark. We’ve gotten past that. Anybody who pulls their own weight in this community should be afforded the respect of their neighbors and certainly our city leaders. It shouldn’t matter if they are Amish or Catholic, black or white, gay or straight. It simply should not matter.
This newspaper doses not endorse homosexuality. Nor does it condemn it. Nor should it matter in issues of city, state or even private business. Many extreme circumstances were brought up during Tuesday’s testimony. Some believe including gays and lesbians in the city’s civil rights practice is laying the groundwork for gay marriage or civil unions. We seriously doubt it. Goshen is in no danger of becoming the gay capital of the world. Nor will the quality of life here be compromised with such language in its public policy.
We would like to commend city councilmen Jeremy Stutsman and Chic Lantz for cosponsoring this amendment and Councilman Everett Thomas and Councilwoman Julia Gautsche for supporting it. We would also like to commend Goshen residents Eric Kanagy and Michelle Marquis for having the courage to bring this matter to the City Council. It is a worthy conversation.
The amendment still has another hurdle to clear. The council must approve a second reading before it goes into the books. A vote is expected at the Council’s Sept. 1. meeting. The debate, we’re afraid, will only become more passionate and desperate. It is our hope that it will eventually pass with unanimous council support. Maybe then whatever struggles Goshen has had accepting diversity, can be put a little farther behind us.
