DC Council tables GLBT Office bill opposed by GLAA
| From: | Rick Rosendall |
| To: | GLAA Members |
| Sent: | Tuesday, November 01, 2005 11:09 PM |
| Subject: | DC Council tables GLBT Office bill opposed by GLAA |
Friends,
The D.C. Council legislative session on November 1st included First Readings on a number of bills on which GLAA has taken positions:
Bill 16-169, "Walt Whitman Way Designation Act of 2005" - GLAA supports
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2005/waltwhitmanwaytestimony0712.shtml
Bill 16-405, "Domestic Partner Health Care Benefits Tax Exemption Act of
2005" - GLAA supports
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2005/glaaondptaxexemptionbill0928.shtml
Bill 16-235, "Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Act
of 2005" - GLAA opposes
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2005/glaaonofficeofglbtaffairsact0707.shtml
Bill 16-389, "Human Rights Clarification Amendment Act of 2005" (adds
"gender identity or expression" to list of protected categories in DC Human
Rights Act) - GLAA supports
http://www.glaa.org/archive/2005/glaaonhumanrightsclarificationact1017.shtml
Of these, the only disputed one was 16-235, the Office of GLBT Affairs Act, which GLAA has opposed. (Our message to Councilmembers on the bill, sent the night before the November 1 legislative session, is copied below. [See Related Links box.]) This bill was tabled by a vote of 8 to 4, which effectively kills it.
Here is a summary of the Council debate on bill 16-235:
Patterson spoke against it. Mentioned GLAA objections and said that she
supports agency level units like the GLLU.
Evans agreed with Patterson. Mentioned GLAA objections specifically.
Gray asked what support there was for the bill at the hearing on it. Orange
mentioned three people who testified in favor of the bill; he noted that
only GLAA testified against it.
Graham said that GLAA's opposition was irrational, but he did not specify
how. Invoked Wanda's memory.
Mendelson agreed with Evans and Patterson. Said it shouldn't be about a
single individual.
Catania called the bill a solution in search of a problem. He said, "I don't
want to be seen as different or other." He said that the Council members who
were opposed to the bill had unassailable records and shouldn't be seen as
insensitive to the community.
Orange said the bill was to honor Wanda. He likened Wanda to Rosa Parks.
Evans moved to table the bill. The motion passed by a vote of 8 to 4.
Voting to table (GLAA's side): Ambrose, Catania, Cropp, Evans, Gray,
Mendelson, Patterson, Schwartz.
Voting not to table: Brown, Fenty, Graham, Orange.
Barry was absent.
GLAA is pleased that our positions prevailed, and we thank the Councilmembers who voted with us. Of course, the bills that passed their first readings must now pass Second Reading (expected December 6) before going to the Mayor for signature.
Rick Rosendall
Vice President for Political Affairs
GLAA
