Haverford Township Petition
UPDATE: On January 10, 2011 the Commissioners voted 5-3 with one abstention to approve the first reading of the ordinance. It is the original version Larry Holmes introduced in November with a few blanks filled in. There will be a board work session on February 7th.
NOTE: On December 13th the Board of Commissioners voted to table the ordinance. Commissioner Holmes once again tried to capitalize on the suicides of students who identify as homosexual. As the AFA of PA has pointed out numerous times, most recently in the December 13th e-mail to the Haverford Township Commissioners, it is wrong to use these families’ tragedies to further one’s personal agenda. Those pushing this ordinance have vowed to re-introduce it in the next session.
Haverford Township Board of Commissioners has been approached by Lou Devecchis, a longtime resident, (who) asked commissioners last month to consider adopting such a(n) [“anti-discrimination”] ordinance due to harassment he personally experienced, as well as anti-gay bullying stories in the news.” He goes on to explain that 15-20 years ago people found out he was ‘gay’ and began to spread rumors about him and more recently he was harassed this summer and he called the police.
Apparently Mr. Devecchis wants this ordinance, if passed, to be used as a no-name calling ordinance. In reality it is an ordinance that will impact employment, commercial property, housing and public accommodations. It will include the words "sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression" and create a township human relations commission to enforce the ordinance.
When Mr. Devecchis approached the board on October 18, “Board President Bill Wechsler agreed to look into the request, while Commissioner Larry Holmes said he would gladly champion this cause.” The Board of Commissioners is moving extremely fast on this ordinance.
In real life this means men who think they are women must be permitted to use the women's restroom in all pubic accommodations and the women's locker room/shower facilities at the local Y or health club. Businesses would be forced to hire such sexually confused individuals. In places where such ordinances have passed, the Boy Scouts have been prohibited from using government facilities or local parks because of their ban on open homosexual leaders or members. Christian photographers have been fined for not wanting to photograph a homosexual 'commitment' ceremony and a church camp ground lost tax exempt status on part of its property because it refused to allow two lesbians to use its gazebo for their 'commitment' ceremony.
Does Haverford Township need such an ordinance?
Sign the petition and the AFA of PA will deliver your concerns to the Board of Commissioners. In the meantime, give Commissioners President William F. Wechsler and the Commissioners a call at (610) 446-1000.
(Remember if you do not want your name to appear on our webpage, then check the box beside "Do not display name on website.")
xxxxxxxx, No
xxxxxxxx, Yes
xxxxxxxx, No
xxxxxxxx, No
xxxxxxxx, Yes
xxxxxxxx, No
xxxxxxxx, Yes
xxxxxxxx, Yes
Joanne Landman, Yes
xxxxxxxx, No
