AFA of PA Action Alert
July 1, 2011
Issue:
The City of Bethlehem MUST Revote on So Called Anti-Discrimination Ordinance!
Details
It seems Bethlehem City Council actually did not vote on a motion on June 21st and thus all motions following were negated! Click here for more information. A special meeting has been called for Friday, July 1st at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem. The meeting will be to revote on the first motion that they failed to vote on, the amendments dealing with the commission’s powers and exemption for religious organizations, as well as a revote on the entire ordinance.
Homosexual activists in Philadelphia are using their “anti-discrimination” ordinance to try to force the Cradle of Liberty Scout Council out of their headquarters because they forbid homosexuals from being leaders or members. A Philly Kmart had to allow a man who thinks he is a woman to use the women’s fitting room. Because the clerk acted too slowly in permitting this, all 140 employees had to go through sensitivity training. In Allentown St. Luke’s Hospital was forced to reinstate a podiatrist who said he was fired after he “became” a woman.
How much will this cost the city? Stephen Glassman, former chairman of the PA Human Relations Commission, has said that commissions “will not be overwhelmed with cases, but each case can take many, many hours to investigate.” He further suggested the council might want to hire someone to help residents file complaints and investigate them. He said council could expect to pay $30,000 for a part-time employee and $60,000 for a full-time employee, plus benefits, mileage and office supplies. The City of York’s Human Relations Commission deals with about 100 total cases per year, yet they have a budget of almost $500,000! Bethlehem must borrow $16 million this year to meet budget and laid off 50 employees. Can they afford a human relations commission?
Action Steps:
1.) Pray! This is the opportunity for the City Council of Bethlehem to right their wrong votes of last week. Pray that their minds will be opened to the tragedy of approving this ordinance.
2.) Contact City Council members (remember Karen Dolan is the one pushing this ordinance, so you may be wasting your time contacting her!) In addition to asking them to vote ‘no on Bill No. 12-2011’, also ask some other questions to individual council members: (a.) Gordon Mowrer is a former Moravian pastor who has a lesbian daughter and a granddaughter with “two mommies”! Ask him if Scripture has changed on the sin of homosexuality. (b.) Ask David DiGiacinto why the former human relations commission was disbanded and defunded in 1971. Did it cost too much? (c.) Ask Jean Belinski if she fully understands the ramifications of the ordinance – remind her of some of those listed above. (d.) Ask Eric Evans where the discrimination is within the City of Bethlehem.
Jean Belinski – JBelinski@bethlehem-pa.gov
David T. DiGiacinto – dDiGiacinto@bethlehem-pa.gov
Karen D. Dolan – KDolan@bethlehem-pa.gov
Robert J. Donchez – RDonchez@bethlehem-pa.gov
Eric R. Evans – eevans@bethlehem-pa.gov
Gordon B. Mowrer – GMowrer@bethlehem-pa.gov
3.) Also, call the City Clerk at (610) 865-7130 and express your concerns.
4.) Attend Friday night’s meeting to express your concerns – 5:00 p.m. in City Hall at 10 East Church Street in Bethlehem.
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