Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Lots of discussion about equality in Asheville these days. Asheville City Councilman Gordon Smith says this resolution will be one of the biggest advances in Asheville’s civil rights history in decades:
On Thursday, February 17, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801 WNC for Change will host a public meeting to discuss the Equality Resolution being brought to Asheville City Council. Speakers include Rev. Joe Hoffman of the First Congregational Church of Christ, Asheville City Council member Esther Manheimer, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara with the Campaign for Southern Equality and Vice Mayor Brownie Newman.
As one of the most progressive and forward-thinking cities in America, it is time for Asheville to stand up for the equality of our LGBT friends and family members.
Forty-five faith leaders in Asheville have signed on in support of a resolution for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in our city. Asheville City Council Members Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Brownie Newman and Gordon Smith have each stated their support for the resolution as well.
The Resolution in Support of Full Equality for All Asheville Citizens calls for the following:
1. Extending the city’s employment discrimination clause to include “sexual orientation”, “gender”, and “gender identity or expression”
2. Enacting an anti-bullying ordinance for all city institutions and grounds
3. Creating a Domestic Partner Registry to recognize same-sex relationships for the purposes of providing documentation and offering a mechanism through which hospitals, businesses, and other entities will have the opportunity to recognize these relationships
4. Endorsing and supporting the rights of same-sex couples to share fully and equally in the familial rights and responsibilities of civil marriage
We believe that passage of this resolution by the Asheville City Council is the next step in helping Asheville achieve equality, safety, and respect for all its citizens. Furthermore, this action puts Asheville in the forefront of the national equality movement.
…but Gordon pushed big on the domestic partner benefits for city employees last year….never heard anything else about that!