Petition 'Rights' Law Likely To Face Repeal

By Charles Sercombe

      Opponents of Hamtramck’s “Human Rights Ordinance” fell seven signatures short toward repealing the law.

      Last Tuesday, opponents of the rights law submitted a petition with 523 signatures from people saying they are opposed to the law. However, only 410 signatures were deemed valid.

      Petition organizers have until July 30 to submit the remaining signatures to force the City Council to do either of two things: repeal the law or have voters decide on the issue in the November General Election.

      Objection over the law just arose in the last couple of weeks when a group from Midland, Mi, called American Families Association, contacted Fr. Andrew Wesley of St. Ladislaus Church. Gary Glenn of AFA made an issue of gays being given anti-discrimination rights.

      Fr. Wesley, who said he was familiar with AFA and is a supporter of the group, agreed that gays should not be given rights because it may open the door to forcing organizations to accept them.

      He said he was concerned that it could eventually force the Catholic Church to perform marriages between gays.

      A number of residents reported receiving pre-recorded telephone messages saying that Hamtramck’s law would allow male transsexuals to use women’s restrooms.

      City Councilmember Scott Klein, who has identified himself as being gay, said the AFA is distorting the law and is guilty of gay-bashing.

      “It’s vicious homophobia,” Klein said.

      However, Klein said he is in favor of allowing the community to vote on the matter.

      “Four hundred people shouldn’t decide for the whole city,” he said. “People need to decide if Hamtramck is friendly to everyone – including gays.”