FAST FACTS:
( Memphis 5/30/2009) The raging debate has been going on all week and one group says the civil rights battle won't stop until Shelby County's newly proposed anti-discrimination law is passed.
"What difference does that make for how you do your job. How you do your job is what is important and that's where we need to protect everybody so that everybody can have a job," said Lisa Kurts-Crume.
Crume is personally involved in this issue. Her daughter is gay. She believes it's foolish to think sexuality is a matter of choice.
"You can choose your religion. You can choose your politics and those things are provided in for in that your not allowed to discriminate for those reasons but yet you can discriminate something that they cannot choose," said Kurts-Crume.
Pastors and politicians opposed to the ordinance say it gives gays special rights because they're not born that way. Pastor Tim Meadows argues that's not what this is about.
"If they don't want to perform gay marriages. If they don't want to ordain, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, this ordinance has nothing to do with that. This ordinance has everything to do with how are we going to be in the public square," said Meadows.
Hundreds of other cities have passed ordinances like the one before the County commission. With no federal or state discrimination laws for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, the group believes it is time to vote "yes" for equality.
"Most major cities have already done this. Atlanta did it in 2000. Eight years ago. Huh, we don't need to be last place in the country that says this isn't right," said David Upton.
A really in support of the ordinance is planned for Sunday at First Congressional Church. The County Commission is set to vote on the ordinance Monday.
- Shelby County Commission To Vote On Discrimination Ordinance
- Supporters Say Gay Is Not A Matter Of Choice
- Big Rally Planned For Sunday
( Memphis 5/30/2009) The raging debate has been going on all week and one group says the civil rights battle won't stop until Shelby County's newly proposed anti-discrimination law is passed.
"What difference does that make for how you do your job. How you do your job is what is important and that's where we need to protect everybody so that everybody can have a job," said Lisa Kurts-Crume.
Crume is personally involved in this issue. Her daughter is gay. She believes it's foolish to think sexuality is a matter of choice.
"You can choose your religion. You can choose your politics and those things are provided in for in that your not allowed to discriminate for those reasons but yet you can discriminate something that they cannot choose," said Kurts-Crume.
Pastors and politicians opposed to the ordinance say it gives gays special rights because they're not born that way. Pastor Tim Meadows argues that's not what this is about.
"If they don't want to perform gay marriages. If they don't want to ordain, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, this ordinance has nothing to do with that. This ordinance has everything to do with how are we going to be in the public square," said Meadows.
Hundreds of other cities have passed ordinances like the one before the County commission. With no federal or state discrimination laws for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, the group believes it is time to vote "yes" for equality.
"Most major cities have already done this. Atlanta did it in 2000. Eight years ago. Huh, we don't need to be last place in the country that says this isn't right," said David Upton.
A really in support of the ordinance is planned for Sunday at First Congressional Church. The County Commission is set to vote on the ordinance Monday.
