Hite: Vote for bill protecting gays was most difficult decision

[madinmaryland]

This is where I grew up.

Edited to add comments: Notice how the author refers to "preference" and "life-style". Those are the points of the author and not the Mr. Hite, though he does not correct the author on those points. It's really amazing to see stuff written like this

http://www.kentontimes.com/localnews.html#Hite

By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
COLUMBUS - Tuesday's vote in the Ohio General Assembly was the most difficult cast by Rep. Cliff Hite since taking office, he said.
The Findlay Republican, whose district includes Hardin County, voted for House Bill 176, which would make it illegal for people in Ohio to be discriminated against due to their sexual preference.
While the proposed law addressed only discrimination in housing and the workplace, said Hite, opponents had expressed concern it would extend rights to gay marriages. There was also rumors the bill would require employers to hire a quota of gays or use affirmative action when hiring based on lifestyles.
That was never the case, said Hite.

"When this was brought to the House State Government Committee, on which I serve, I was shocked to find in today's world in Ohio, someone can be fired from their job simply because they were gay," said Hite. "That got the attention of the old government teacher in me. I taught my students for 30 years to respect all people and discrimination was wrong. My position on this was consistent with those tenets."

But the residents in his district were divided. While he received more support for the bill, there were some who were vocal in their opposition to the legislation, said Hite. He met with groups and individuals to discuss the bill.
"I have discussed this with a lot of people," he said. "Some respectfully disagreed with me. Some disrespectfully disagreed and some people agreed. The bottom line was, this was a huge decision. There were mixed feelings, but I will just not be a party to discrimination. A decision of this type was way past due."

[Zoeisright]

1. On some things, it doesn't matter if your constiuents are for it

or against it.

Discrimination is one of those things. It shouldn't be hard to vote to make discrimination illegal.

[madinmaryland]

2. One would think it would be easy to vote to make discrimination illegal.

But apparently it's not.

[bullwinkle428]

3. Does the official language in the bill actually use the phrase "sexual preference"?

Jeeze...does that ever explain so much of the mentality that needs to be overcome, in order to end discrimination these days.

[madinmaryland]

4. I don't know. Here's an artical from the Cleveland Plain Dealer..

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1253089919175500.xml&coll=2

Columbus- Ohio House lawmakers moved to shield gay and transgendered Ohioans from being discriminated against in housing and employment issues in a historic vote Tuesday afternoon.

By a vote of 56-39, the anti-discrimination measure passed the House with five Republicans, including Rep. Matthew Dolan of Russell Township, joining all 51 majority Democrats present in the House chamber in approving the measure. It now moves to the Senate, where Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican, has told reporters the measure is not needed.

Supporters painted it as bringing fairness to the workplace by adding protections for gay and transgendered Ohioans, while opponents said it forced people to endorse a lifestyle that many object to on religious grounds.

..snip

The Bill did pass the House, but it doesn't look good in the Senate.