Get SOGI law facts, then vote no repeal

As a member of the SOGI Task Force, I wish to dispel some of the myths associated with this issue.

In his March 17 Voice of the Day, Calvin Morrow wrote, "The Mayor's Task Force study found no discrimination." Actually, that is not quite true.

We heard testimony from members of the LGBT community that described horrible acts of discrimination in area hospitals, workplaces and public restrooms. An extensive study presented by Promo contained additional and explicit anecdotal accounts of discrimination.

How then can Morrow say, "There are no verifiable cases of discrimination in the Greene County courts"? Simple. That would be impossible. You see, before the city council passed a nondiscrimination ordinance, it was legal to commit the awful acts of discrimination that were described to our committee. No law, no verifiable cases before our courts.

But will evidence of discrimination really matter to proponents of repeal?

A survey conducted by the Task Force Faith Subcommittee, of which I was vice-chair, asked area churches whether evidence of discrimination would change their opposition to the nondiscrimination ordinance. Ministers and faith leaders of 44 churches responded that evidence of discrimination would not change their opposition.

Morrow admits that men and women already can, legally, use one another's restrooms as long as they don't act inappropriately. Law will be based on behavior no matter the result of the vote in April; and, if you scour the Internet, you will not find examples of inappropriate behavior in bathrooms by members of the LGBT community.

Finally, we have the misconception that businesses will be inconvenienced. As our fact sheet in the Task Force report states, "There will be no quota or affirmative action, and employment will not be guaranteed due to sexual orientation or gender identity. The ordinance allows for qualified applicants to have equal opportunity without fear of discrimination because of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Individuals will be able to file complaints about employers if they believe they have been discriminated against, but employers will not be required to participate in such investigations." The court case Yellow Freight Sys., Inc. v. Mayor's Commission on Human Rights in Springfield guarantees that employers do not have to fill out forms or be forced to testify before the Commission.

Finally, I crafted the religious exemption for churches in the Task Force proposal that with some changes by the City Attorney became law under this ordinance. As our Fact Sheet points out, "Religious institutions are exempt from all nondiscrimination laws — they can choose to hire and fire whomever they want."

To see more Task Force findings, go to the City of Springfield website, then to Task Forces, then SOGI and the "Final Report to the City Council Nov. 19, 2013." I especially encourage you to read the Fact Sheet at the very end of the report, which dispels more myths about SOGI. Though you may respect someone who has given you different information, please read our Task Force Report and make your own informed decision.

David Trippe is a member of Springfield's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force.