News Release
For Immediate Release: March 8, 2017
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
Johnstown Tables Homosexual Special Rights Ordinance
(Johnstown, PA) — Tonight the Johnstown City Council voted 4-2 to table Amendment 5 to Ordinance 4174. Council members John Williams, Pete Vizza, Charlene Stanton and Marie Mock courageously voted to table this dangerous amendment, which would add ‘sexual orientation and gender identity or expression’ to the existing non-discrimination ordinance. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide advocate for the natural family and for the preservation of privacy rights, took part in a news conference prior to the City Council vote expressing concerns which included real examples of what has happened in other places that have added ‘sexual orientation and gender identity or expression’ to its ordinances.
During the news conference, Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA, noted that in a letter sent to the City Council the AFA of PA asked a few basic questions, “Our first question is: why?? Is there a problem in the City with those who identify as homosexual or transgender being discriminated against – have they been fired or thrown out of their homes simply because of the behavior in which they choose to engage or because of who they identify as? Where is the proof that such an ordinance is needed?”
No real examples of discrimination have been presented and the effort in Johnstown is simply another attempt to use the force of law to demand that the residents of Johnstown accept and affirm those caught up in the homosexual and transgender lifestyles. Their reasoning is that if someone does not affirm their lifestyle choices, then that individual hates them. This is absurd reasoning, but that is what these efforts to add ‘sexual orientation and gender identity or expression’ point to.
Gramley also noted, “Homosexuals have not faced real discrimination as African-Americans have in this nation – they have not been prevented from voting, forced to drink from separate water fountains or forced to sit at the back of the bus. That is real discrimination.”
Basing laws simply upon changeable characteristics such as how someone feels about themselves or who they identify as is dangerous and opens a door that should never be opened. The four Johnstown City Council members who voted to table the amendment to Ordinance 4174 are to be commended. The AFA of PA encourages the entire City Council to discard this amendment entirely and not be swayed by a miniscule, but vocal minority of sexually confused individuals.
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