"We know the way. We need only the will."

Amanda made this comment on our earlier post, "We know the way; we need only the will." She said:

"I realize I'm a little late on this thread, but I have some things to add.Mr. Cobb, thank you so much for your work and constant promotion of fairness and equality. This is an important ordinance for Huntington (and the rest of the US, but we'll take baby steps). Just one comment - lesbians are homosexuals, too. ;) I am one, I wouldn't steer you wrong.

To anonymous: I know that for my homosexuality is a characteristic that I can't change about myself. I tried to fit the mold for a long time - I certainly didn't want to be different than all of my friends. But the truth is I was miserable and resentful that I had to hide who I was for fear of being outcast. Maybe some people choose their sexuality, I'm not saying it's impossible, but it really shouldn't matter anyway. My point is, it isn't necessarily a choice. If this hasn't changed your mind, let me ask you this: Who decides whether you are Catholic or Methodist or Buddhist? Religious freedom is protected, and that most definitely a choice.

tanstaafl: You would be right if we lived in a Utopian society and everyone understood that "all people" means exactly that. However, we don't, and there are those who would refuse to hire someone because of their race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation, and their defense would be that there was nothing in the Civil Rights Act that said specifically that they couldn't do such a thing. I don't know how old you are, but there was a time when it was perfectly legal for people to put up help wanted signs that said "men only." The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission didn't legally prohibit sex-segregated help wanted ads until 1968. You keep expressing concern that white males are specified under this ordinance, but neither are black males or white females. It includes RACE, which can be white, black, Asian, pacific islander, etc. It includes gender: male OR female. It does not include sexual orientation yet, which would protect heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals (and I don't know, but I'm assuming transsexuals? That is if we truly want it to be all-inclusive...which I do.) You seem to think these things are only for the benefit of minority groups, but it would protect a heterosexual white male from being fired by a homosexual black woman simply because of his race, gender, and - you guessed it - sexual orientation. I'm not trying to attack you by any means, I'm just trying to show you the other side of the coin, so please don't be offended. It's OK if you don't agree with homosexuality. But I think we can all agree that every American should be able to earn a living and keep a roof over their head."