Samantha Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
Just after the close of the academic year last May, Proposition 1 was placed on the ballot for voters in Pocatello.
Proposition 1 was an attempt to repeal Ordinance 2921, the ordinance that prohibits discrimination for housing, employment and public accommodations based on someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
I am happy to say the attempt to repeal this ordinance failed.
I am less happy to say that the margin by which it failed was slim—less than a full percentage point, and less than 100 votes.
Regardless of whether or not you, or I or anyone else agree with someone’s lifestyle, it is wrong to discriminate based on that disagreement or disapproval.
I don’t care if that disagreement comes from religious reasons, personal reasons or otherwise.
The fact of the matter is, at one time people disagreed with women working outside the home and with colored individuals integrating in our schools, and I firmly believe that sexual orientation and gender issues will be looked at in similar ways in the future.
To be cliché, to argue that someone’s sexual preference, gender identity or gender expression goes against your beliefs is the same as arguing that the donut I had for breakfast this morning goes against your diet. It simply does not affect you.
Human rights and the right to be treated with respect should be extended to everyone. The struggle of the LGBT community is a real issue that needs to be recognized and addressed.
Recently, one of my good friends from throughout grade school, middle school and high school came out as transgender. This means that my friend, who was recognized as a female throughout our time together in school, is now identifying as male.
When I sat down for coffee with him the last time I visited, he confided in me that he was bullied, threatened and even mugged during high school by a group of individuals but was afraid to tell anyone. Prior to this conversation, I was ignorant to the struggles and pain he was dealing with, even before he came out as transgender.
His best friend recently informed him she did not want him in her life because of his transition. He walks out his front door and has more than once heard screams and yells from across the way calling him a “dyke” among other slurs. He does not consistently feel safe in his own community.
What part of any of this could ever be considered right, fair, or justified? Why do so many people feel this discrimination is somehow “okay” so much as to try to repeal an ordinance protecting this community from it?
I do not understand what he is going through or where he is coming from, and there is a chance that I never will. Regardless, I support him entirely.
I support his right to safety, love and respect; I support his right to be himself; and I support his right to live his life.
He should not have to live in fear or face discrimination because of his lifestyle, orientation or identity—no one should.
The things he goes through on a daily basis are things that, I would hope, no human being would wish on anyone.
Personal views, beliefs or reasoning do not give anyone the right to stand by and allow any individual to be treated so poorly. They do not give anyone the right to discriminate and cause pain in the lives of the LGBT community or in the lives of anyone else.
We are all human and deserve to be treated as such.
