Has City Council person Jean Stothert become a new age Earth Mother to the GLBT community?
No.
Well, probably not.
But. . . Maybe!
That was the suspicion, anyway, after this February 15th World Herald article about the anti-bias resolution she helped introduce.
“All people possess an innate human dignity that must be acknowledged and respected,” the resolution says. And Ms. Stothert is quoted as saying “What we really need to do at this point in time is say all people are important to us”, and “It's a positive statement. … Positive messages are always a good thing.”
One can almost hear the theremin: “She’s giving me excitations! Good – Bop bop! – good vibrations!”
Ms. Stothert, of course, seemed quite opposed to the idea of codifying protections for the GLBT community when it was proposed in 2010. So if Jean Stothert was about to accept that “girls will be boys and boys will be girls”, if she was about to take a walk on the wild side – that would be great news. That would be an indication of a generosity of spirit, of a willingness to put ideology aside for the benefit of some of her own aggrieved constituents – rare qualities, these days, in a politician.
So we asked her (via email): Do her inclusive statements ”indicate you intend to vote in favor of Councilman Gray's change to the anti-discrimination ordinance?”
She replied: “No, my Resolution did not state that I will be voting for Councilman Gray's change to the anti-discrimination ordinance. I never have, nor will I ever commit to how I am going to vote for ANY City Ordinance - until it is written and I have a chance to read it and understand it and determine if it is good public policy.“
That wasn’t exactly the question, of course, but it’s a fair enough position to take this early in the process.
But then . . . the World Herald article said: “Stothert said the resolution was intended to ‘rise above the rhetoric’ of the ongoing debate.”
That sounds great! So we asked her: “Does this mean you will be condemning extreme statements and distortions from such groups as ‘Family First’, which in 2010 called Mr. Gray's effort ‘Omaha's Bathroom Ordinance’ and promulgated alarmist messages about gay transvestite sexual predators in girls' bathrooms?”
To which Ms. Stothert replied: “No, my Resolution does not mean that I will be "condeming (sic) extreme statements and distortions from such groups as ‘Family First’.”
Uh oh! Again – not quite the question that was asked, but pretty close to saying that any alarmist, distorted message about gay people is all right with Jean Stothert.
Follow-up questions were discouraged, as Ms. Stothert lectured “Perhaps you should read the Resolution - and not make inaccurate assumptions.” And we’re just not smart enough to understand how questions can be “assumptions”, and how directly quoting her word-for-word constitutes being “inaccurate”.
So -- kind of a mixed message. People are important, and positive is good; but "rise above the rhetoric" doesn't actually mean elevate it.
Meanwhile, , two more state legislatures have voted to allow same sex marriages (though New Jersey’s was vetoed by its governor); and the federal government has announced it will no longer try to block same sex military couples from receiving benefits hetero military couples enjoy.
If those gay military couples live in Omaha, though, they’d better watch it when they try to rent an apartment, or hold hands at the office party. Welcomed, embraced and legally protected as they may be elsewhere. . . Well, to quote an Omaha City Council woman: "Positive messages are always a good thing.” So we'll be positive:
Perhaps after Councilman Gray submits his proposal and it’s voted on, Omaha will welcome, embrace and protect them also. And maybe Jean Stothert will help.
Mr. Gray’s Equal Employment ordinance will be introduced to the City Council February 28th. The public hearing will be Tuesdasy, March 6th. There will be a rally at Memorial Park Saturday, March 3rd. For more information, click here: Equal Omaha
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