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Tempers flare and emotions show during Nevada gay rights bill debates
Carson City, Nevada- Debate was intense, tempers flared and emotions ran high during committee hearings in the Nevada Senate and State Assembly on Friday as several bills dealing with same-sex domestic partnerships and discrimination based on sexual orientation and “gender identity or expression” were discussed.
Last week, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, introduced two of these bills into committee… Senate Bill 283, which calls for a new type of civil contract for domestic partnerships, in which domestic partners would have the same rights, protections and benefits as a married couple in Nevada and Senate Bill 207, which is designed to give protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations. Both came under fire from opponents.
Sen. David Parks
Richard Ziser, a former Republican nominee for the US Senate and a Nevada Concerned Citizen lobbyist, expressed strong opposition to Senate Bill 283, pointing out that 6 years ago the Nevada State Constitution was amended to define marriage to be between one man and one woman and contended the bill was a move to circumvent that amendment.
But in emotional testimony, Pamela Brooks of Reno, tearfully told the committee how she had been denied access to the body of her long-time partner after she passed away in a hospital, saying she was treated like a criminal and told to leave the hospital room.
“Since I was not next of kin, I had no rights to my deceased partner, could not have her final effects like her commitment ring, wallet or even an article of clothing to take away, I never saw her body again, and that was the last of our relationship,” Brooks told senators, adding that she “doesn’t want special rights, only equal rights.”
Things got heated during testimony on SB207 also when Sen. Parks, angrily responded to a critic of the legislation to prohibit discrimination in public places based on sexual orientation. Park who is openly gay, said he was “grossly offended” after Lynn Chapman of the ultra rightwing Nevada Families, alleged the bill would give “predators and pedophiles” opportunities to prey on children in bathrooms or locker rooms.
Lynn Chapman
Meanwhile, in the Nevada Assembly Commerce and Labor hearing on AB184, criticism of the bill prohibiting discrimination by employers with regard to gender identity or expression got vicious, and prompted another yet another lawmaker to say he was offended, and all but caused a fist fight among those in the assembly meeting room.
When Janine Hansen of Phyllis Schlafly‘s Nevada Eagle Forum condemned the bill on religious grounds, Assemblyman William Horne of Las Vegas retorted angrily that he found it offensive that someone would “use the shield of religion to support discrimination.” Then according to a witness in the committee chamber, after another man claimed the bill would force employers to hire “a girl using the men’s room,” a shouting match was set off that threatened to turn physical, prompting the committee chairman, Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, to slam down his gavel and shout at the crowd to restore order to the room.
No vote was taken on any of the measures Friday.
In a state that allows gambling, prostitution and proudly bills itself as the sin capitol of the world, it is ironic that there should be any controversy about protecting the rights of that states LGBTI citizens at all.
If God were going to smite Nevada, Nevada has given him plenty of other reasons to send the fire and brimstone.
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6 Responses to Tempers flare and emotions show during Nevada gay rights bill debates
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Emelye Waldherr
April 2, 2009 at 6:45 pm
In addition to having no examples of a trans person ever harassing anyone in a public restroom, it is also true that in the states, counties, cities and towns that include gender identity and expression in their non discrimination laws, no one, no matter how they are dressed, has ever gotten away with any criminal activity under such a law. That’s because criminal behavior by anyone, trans or not, is still criminal behavior, no matter what the non discrimination law says.
Right wing christianist propaganda will use religious rhetoric to fight bills such as this. Their dishonesty, however, betrays their moral and intellectual bankruptcy and shows it to the world, if the world has its eyes open. Non discrimination laws do not affect safety, they do not affect the legal practice of religion. Religious practice does NOT afford special rights to discriminate.
P call for the people and Senate of Nevada to support and pass this bill.
Emelye Waldherr
April 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm
In my opinion, domestic partnership rights are much less important than fully inclusive non discrimination law. While domestic partnership laws do affect trans people the ability to keep one’s job, or place to live in the face of unfair discrimination is much more vital in terms of people’s lives and survival.
Trans people can be any orientation. Straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual trans people exist in the world, and in Nevada. Being transgender has to do with identity, not orientation. In other words, it’s about who you are, not who you fall in love with. That said, trans people are the most visible representatives of the LGBT community and therefore suffer from most of the anti-LGBT prejudice and discrimination. This translates into lost jobs, unemployment, underemployment and often illegal attempts to make a living since legal avenues have been blocked.
The first inclusive non discrimination law, one that included trans people, was passed in Minnesota in 1976. Since then, 12 other states and almost 100 cities and counties have passed similar laws. In those 33 years, not one case exists where a trans person harassed or molested anyone in a public bathroom. The opponents of this bill raise a specter of fear and loathing in their arguments but have no facts at all to back up their case. The entire “predators in bathrooms” meme is a dishonest scare tactic used by people who have no real reasons except their own prejudice to inform their opposition.
Including GLBT people into the current non discrimination law is a good idea, one whose time has come and it should be passed as soon as possible.
Steve
March 29, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Good for the Nevada Legislature to fight this. You’re right that there is already lots of sin there but 2 wrongs (or multiple wrongs) don’t make a right.
Steve Leong
March 29, 2009 at 10:46 am
Lyn Chapman uses the same scare tactics that the Bush administration used to get their way. Thank God for our new president and his commitment to unite this country rather than divide. Had Chapmen did some research, she would discover that most of the “sexual predators and pedophiles” were heterosexuals (OH MY GOD!). Will she choose to take away the rights from heterosexuals because of this? People, please listen to your Gay friends and family… we did not choose to be this way…WHY WOULD WE, WOULD YOU?
WE WERE BORN GAY! With this truth, we have God on our side. God created Gays for a reason… curb the overpopulation, find good parents for children abandoned by straights…gotta trust in God’s plan. (OH MY GOD), if this be true, all you fighters of Gay rights, risk the fires of hell because you didn’t treat your Gay brothers and sisters as you would yourself. Oh well, it is in God’s hands …WHAT ONE SOWS, SO SHALL THEY REAP!
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elaygee
March 29, 2009 at 7:32 am
Imaginary god friends with a wicked book of rules are no reason to dicriminate against fellow citizens and taxpayers who hapen to be Gay