Discussion over such an ordinance began in February, after TriPride - an Eastern Michigan University gay and lesbian student group - was denied service by Hansen's Standard Printing, solely on the grounds of the group members' sexual orientation. The print shop's owners felt that accepting TriPride's business amounted to tacit endorsement of their sexual orientation, something they felt morally incapable of accepting. The print shop should not discriminate due to moralistic quibbles - the city should prevent such discriminatory beliefs from coming to fruition.
In response to the incident, the city council asked HRC to study the possibility of adding a gay-rights clause to the city's anti-discrimination ordinance, similar to one that already exists in Ann Arbor. Over the past few months, the committee has held a series of public meetings for Ypsilanti residents designed to gauge public reaction to the proposed law. While theoretically a good idea - such sensitive issues deserve as much discussion as possible - the meetings have degenerated into disaster. Rather than civil discussions over the issue at hand, the meetings turned into forums for outright slander based on stereotypical and religious condemnations of homosexuality. Furthermore, both sides accused the other of bringing in non-residents to speak at meetings in an attempt to influence HRC.
In spite of the continued attention focused upon the case, HRC has yet to issue a recommendation to the city council - in fact, it may not do so for two more months. As the process continues, each additional day brings the possibility of discrimination against a portion of the community based solely on prejudiced views of their sexual orientation. Some commission members felt the city council should not side-step HRC's job by taking up the issue without its recommendation. Given the issue's great importance, the city council should do whatever is necessary to ensure equal rights as soon as possible. In a time where equal status is available to so many minority groups, gays and lesbiand are still denied the most basic protections under the law against discrimination in matters of housing, employment and public services.
Ypsilanti has an opportunity to rectify this travesty, at least in its jurisdiction. City governments should work to end discrimination and promote an environment that is conducive to tolerance among individuals with differing beliefs. The threats of persecution faced by gays and lesbians must be removed by the enactment of the equal rights clause as soon as possible. If the HRC continues to drag its heels, the city council must take the matter out of its hands and craft the ordinance without its formal recommendation.