City Hall overflowed with people who turned out to last night’s Springfield City Council meeting, in large part, to present or hear arguments related to the public hearing for two sexual orientation and gender identity measures.
By 6:15 p.m., the main council room and two overflow rooms had filled, leaving some to listen to the proceedings on loud speakers outside City Hall. The four-hour meeting featured 45 speakers on the SOGI bills, with 24 giving their support to the primary ordinance or its substitute, and 21 standing opposed to extending protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Council Bill 2014-189 was similar to the original SOGI measure brought forward by the Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights in August 2012 in that it offered protections in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations within the city based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill was amended, however, to broaden religious exemptions. Also introduced was a substitute bill, which had received the most support from the 16-month task force that studied the issue after the 2012 ordinance was tabled. That bill extended current protections of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age (40 to 69 years) or disability – in employment and public accommodations – to include sexual orientation and gender identity only in the area of housing.
The public hearing on both bills was held simultaneously.
At the center of the debate is whether religious business and property owners have the right not to rent to, employ or serve people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Those in favor of the bills consistently said discrimination is a reality for many and they wanted to see equal protection under the law. Opponents most often said the ordinances amounted to reverse discrimination against those with religious beliefs.
“I believe this bill is discriminatory against our liberties and freedoms as homeowners and business owners, who spend their lives working to build the American dream in this city,” said speaker Grant Bryan to council members. “I don’t think it’s just for a minority to come in and oppose its beliefs upon my business philosophies. I have a house that I choose to rent. I worked for that house. I own that house. I feel like I should have the right as an American to choose who I let into that house.”
Kathy Munzinger, president of the local chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays and co-owner of Springfield-based Munzinger & Co. Inc., a sales agency serving marine suppliers in the Midwest, said she has a gay daughter that doesn’t deserve to be a target of discrimination.
“We have two children raised, educated and nurtured in Springfield of whom we are very proud. One of our children is gay, and one is not. Should that make any difference? Both deserve equal access to employment and housing in their hometown,” Munzlinger said.
Speaking from the podium, former councilman Nick Ibarra said those opposed to the ordinances deserve council’s consideration, and supporters should show respect for those with religious views.
“Where is your tolerance for our way of life? Where is your acceptance for our differences?” Ibarra said. “If this is not the greatest display of hypocrisy this council has seen, then I don’t know what is.
“I hope as a council you will do what is moral and ethical and kill this bill.”
With the help of his son as translator, Mykola Illyuk said those with religious views shouldn’t have to choose between following their conscience and obeying the law. Soviet-born Illyuk is the pastor of Bread of Life Slavic Church in Springfield, which has a 200-member congregation.
“This ordinance would make it illegal for Christian businesspeople to practice their faith in the marketplace. In our church, we have many hard-working small-business owners including photographers, caterers and wedding planners. Our religious beliefs do not allow us to participate in events like homosexual weddings,” Illyuk said. “This ordinance would make it illegal for my church members to follow their religious beliefs.”
Doug Semling was among those who said supporting a nondiscrimination ordinance was not reverse discrimination.
“I don’t even know why we are having this discussion. It is so simple, when you deal with the public, you treat everybody the same. Fairly. No discriminating,” Semling said.
Former Mid-West Family Broadcasting radio disc jockey Jennifer Scott Stevens told council discrimination was real, and she was a local example. Steven was fired in August, after hosting Springfield gay-pride parade PrideFest and coming out publicly as a lesbian.
“The community did not have a high-profile name in which to represent them in the media. I took that mantle,” Stevens said. “No sooner did I do that, I was terminated from my job.”
Council is expected to vote on the issue when all nine members are again together to weigh in, which would be its Oct. 27 meeting.
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