Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / Sept. 19, 2009, edition 1 / Page 15
Part of Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
PERSPECTIVE General Gayety by Leslie Robinson . Contributing Writer Doing the right thing In Utah it’s legal to fire someone for being gay. The state’s new governor has served notice he’ll change that the day the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Metallica. In his first montWy televised news confer ence, Gary Herbert said discriminating against gay people shouldn’t be illegal, but gosh darn, he sure would like it if everyone were treated with respect. The Republican said sexual orientation shouldn’t be a protected class like race and religion. Apparently, he feels some groups deserve more of that aforementioned respect than others. “We don’t have to have a rule for every body to do the right thing. We ought to just do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do and we don’t have to have a law that pun ishes us if we don’t,” he said. And, for his next attempt at straddling, the governor will try to balance atop the rock spires of Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s a lovely idea that everybody will simply do the right thing. If the world worked that way, we wouldn’t need laws at all. This country has gradually put laws in place guaranteeing the right thing for every one. Now it’s time to finish the job by extend ing fairness and freedom to the LGBT com munity. But, there’s a man in Utah standing in the way, his feet un-firmly planted on a couple of Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos. Herbert, formerly Utah’s lieutenant gover nor, got his promotion when Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman became U.S. ambassador to China. Last year Huntsman backed extending some rights to gays, but the bills failed. Huntsman also favored same-sex civil unions. Herbert, who’s in charge until a special election in 2010, looks to be a different kettle of annoying fish. In July the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission released a report showing discrim ination based on sexual orientation and other factors happens frequently in the city. The capi tal city js now eyeing an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against gays. Gov. Herbert said he won’t pass judgment on the ordinance until he’s read it. At last, there’s something he and I can agree on! But, he also said he doesn’t like the notion of pro tected classes in general. “Where do you stop? I mean, that’s the prob lem going down that slippery road. Pretty soon we’re going to have a special law for blue-eyed blondes.. .or people who are losing their hair a little bit,” said Herbert. “There’s some support for about anything we put out there. I’m just saying we end up getting bogged down some times with the minutiae of things that govern ment has really no role to be involved in.” So, how do you like being called minutiae? The tune of that old Dr. Pepper commer cial comes to mind. Instead of “I’m a Pepper,” try, “I’m trivial. He’s trivial. Wouldn’t you like to be trivial, too?” Equality Utah fights for gay rights in the Beehive State. Will Carlson, its public policy director, told The Associated Press he wants to meet with Gov. Herbert to explain a few things. “We don’t have an epidemic of blonde haired, blue-eyed people getting fired or evict ed. We do have a situation where gay and trans gender people are being evicted and losing their jobs, not for job performance, but because they’re gay or transgender,” said Carlson. It turns out gay rights aren’t the only area where Herbert holds a conservative opinion. He’s skeptical of how much humans contribute to global warming and he plans to host the first “legitimate” debate on the topic later this year. Okaaaaay then. The state of Utah is home to many fossils. Now Utahns have one in the governor’s chair. I . info: LesRobinsn@aol.com .www.GeneralGayety.com SSTSueedv Printing Typesetting High Speed Copying Binding Notary Resumes Invitations Laminatingt Business Cards Full Color Copies! Rubber Stamps Holy Union Announcements MUCH MORE! Fast, Friendly and Courteous Service 301 North CosweU Road (Aaoss from Mercy Hospital, comer of 5lh. St ) (704) 375-8349/FAX (704) 342-1066 ss7533@earthUnk.net Send your letter to the editor or any other thoughts to editor@q-notes.com or click on gyf,f fg gill- wcbsitc at www.q-notes.com and join the conversation there.Weh comments will be featured in each issue. Limit letters to the editor to 150 words or less and include your name, city and state and a phone number where you can be reached. We buy intereslinf & worthwhile used books & Compact Discs. Books Do Furnish A Room 1809 W Markham Avenue • 286-1076 (Beiween 9lh & Broad) Durham Perfect placement for your lifestyle Chris Jett, your rental/relocation specialist cjett@kluttspropertymanagementcom Direct Line - 704-409-7585 Over 300 more listings at www.kiutts.info $695 — East • 6600 Piney Path Road 2br,2bt, 1,000 sq. ft. House Awaiting your arrival! Great room with fireplace. Gas heat and central air. Ceramic tile in kitchen and bathrooms. Spacious corner lot. Convenient to Cedar Park. 50% off 1st month’s rent with this ad! $795 — South • 6545 Pineburr Road 2br,2bt, 1,075 sq. ft. Duplex Privacy abounds! Large deck, great room with fireplace. Adjacent to 350 acres of walking/running/biking trails. Convenient to Phillips Place and SouthPark. Full service agency with the best agents in the city waiting to assist you with your “Family” styled living KLUnS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 704.409-7585 www.klutts.info ^sJfJJsJl fJ f J 1j j Of L fLzJ/ O ^h:T06 722 1155 www.p-hou5c.com Rooms /» Nestled on 10 Acres of , Grounds Birthday Weekend October 23 & 24t.b Ge1 $210 Off Rf>ynu. t.cj:-/ ''j:-' :f; C'c'cb Aiveied Svaves full Moon Flip'Oiiv Weekend Octoh'-i 2 & 3 f I Onyx leather liiin ' ^#Blai;j(0iit Xiy Mirt«r,Mr:lerySMayfietn ^ % October 8, 9 & 10 r*ool-.idc^T p.ip' SEPTEMBER 19 .2009 • QNotes 15
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 19, 2009, edition 1
15
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75