Scout Leadership Angered by this Card

Huh???

One thing we know absolutely for sure — Proposal 1 is NOT about Boy Scouts, bathrooms, death and taxes. It is about asking Traverse City's registered voters to decide if we should amend the Traverse City Charter (our city's constitution) to make it legal to permanently discriminate against people who are, or who may be perceived to be, gay, lesbian or bisexual.

We agree with the statement, "Traverse City's laws are fine just the way they are!"

If you agree, and think that "Traverse City's laws are fine just they way they are", you will need to VOTE "NO" on Proposal 1 this November 6. Anything other than a "NO" vote will create a "new" Traverse City law known as Proposal 1.

Your "NO" VOTE will mean:

“NO” New Laws for Traverse City
"NO” Changes to our City Charter
“NO” to Legislating Discrimination
“NO” Special Rights for Anybody
“NO” Proposal 1

Behind the TC Yes / AFA smokescreen you will find that they are using confusing language in an attempt to amend our city charter so that TC Yes may have the "special right" to discriminate against people who they feel may appear to be gay, lesbian or bisexual.

TC Yes isn't being very honest with the people of Traverse City. Cincinnati now bemoans their decision to follow the deceptive rhetoric of their "Equal Rights, Not Special Rights" organization. If you have any doubts about what you are reading here, please check out the problems this same proposal language created in Cincinnati (the only city in the United States to amend their city charter).

Since passing "Issue 3" [ TC Proposal 1 ] the Cincinnati City Council has attempted to overcome this grievous "Jim Crow for Gays" legislation. The Cincinnati City Council argues that changes are needed to help address growing violence toward gays and lesbians.

The biggest hurdle for people who want to bring the Olympics to Cincinnati in 2012 might not be a matter of hotel capacity or transportation, but "Issue 3" [ TC Proposal 1 ] . Most people in Cincinnati are concerned that they may be overlooked for the 2012 Olympics because of "Issue 3." Of the eight cities under consideration by the Olympic Committee, only Cincinnati has an anti-gay City Charter Amendment.

Julie Harrison, Director of Communications at the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau states that the anti-gay "Issue 3 has cost the CVB $45.5-million as the direct result of cancelled convention and business contracts since 1993." Call them at Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau Information: 1-513-621-2142

Proposal 1 goes well beyond merely depriving people who may be perceived as being lesbian, gay, or bisexual, of any special rights. It imposes a broad disability upon those persons alone, forbidding them, but no others, to seek specific legal protection from injuries caused by discrimination in a wide range of public and private transactions.

U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel who ruled Issue 3 [ TC Proposal 1 ] unconstitutional said, "Thus, under its very language, Issue 3 completely excludes an entire group of citizens from all areas of city politics with respect to issues of vast importance to that group.". "Issue 3 [ TC Proposal 1 ] completely cuts off gay, lesbians and bisexuals from the normal and accessible avenues of political action and political participation, and ... violates even rudimentary notions of fundamental fairness, and undermines the integrity of our nation."

The sponsors of Proposal 1 say they favor "equal rights not special rights," but their slogan is misleading. Proposal 1 seeks to define persons of a minority sexual orientation as a "special class" for the sole purpose of 'officially' discriminating against them in Traverse City. Proposal 1 should offend the sensibilities of every person!

As to "Supporting American Values" — Proposal 1 — is blatantly unpatriotic and quite possibly unconstitutional.

Support "Life, Liberty and Justice for All" Americans.

Vote "NO" on Proposal 1 this November 6

[ TC Yes states ] Homosexual activists used Ann Arbor's "gay rights" law to remove the Boy Scouts and the United Way from city employees' charitable contribution forms. They threatened to sue Detroit, saying it's special rights law requires the city to stop funding local Scouts and cut off access to city parks and facilities.

PROTECT Traverse City's existing equal rights laws.

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: Traverse City has NO "equal rights laws". There are, however, equal rights laws at the federal and state level (see below). Proposal 1 doesn't change any of these laws, no matter how you vote. Prop 1 Legal Info
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (United States) — Nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex in all areas of employment.
  • Elliot-Larson Civil Rights Act of 1976 (Michigan Law) — Prohibits discrimination in employment, education, housing, public accommodation or public service based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, or handicap. Persons denied equal opportunity based on these conditions may file a complaint with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.

STOP homosexual "benefits" that will raise our taxes!

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: You will find that there are 'no' homosexual benefits, or planned benefits, or affiliated taxes in Traverse City. State and Federal laws govern employee benefits. Just more TC Yes smoke obscuring the truth ...

STOP discriminatory laws that force churches, faith-based businesses, and charities to hire individuals openly involved in homosexual behavior!

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: Remember the civil rights laws mentioned above? In the United States and in Michigan there are already laws that protect religious belief or expression in the work place (see below). Nearly every business today "hires" and "fires" at will. Some more TC Yes smoke, folks, obfuscating the truth!
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — Nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex in all areas of employment.
  • Elliot-Larson Civil Rights Act of 1976 (Michigan Law) — Prohibits discrimination in employment, education, housing, public accommodation or public service based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, or handicap. Persons denied equal opportunity based on these conditions may file a complaint with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.

STOP unfair laws that force employers to pay for increased liability, risk of lawsuits, and new "transgender" restrooms!

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: When we first read this we laughed out-loud at its absurdity. Where does TC Yes come up with this weird stuff! Unisex / Omnisex restrooms are quite common (most of us have one at home), but what on earth is a transgendered restroom, and where might we actually see one in the state of Michigan? Michigan law expressly provides for separate-sex rest rooms and locker rooms. Tell you what. If TC Yes sends us a picture of one, we'll post it here for all to see. E-Mail transgendered restroom photos here

STOP new laws giving special protection to homosexual behavior that's medically proven to dramatically increase risks of domestic violence, disease, and premature death.

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: The centerpiece of the AFA claim is, or rather, was an obscure study conducted at a gay men's AIDS clinic in another country nearly 15 years ago. The Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology study was originally written as an argument to secure additional funding for their program at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver British Columbia. In any event, this outdated study has no relevance, validity or statistical value anymore. However the well respected and internationally known American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the The American Psychiatric Association, as well as the American Psychological Association have this to say on the subject of homosexuality.

STOP laws threatening Traverse City with expensive lawsuits if our mayor refuses to conduct homosexual "marriages"!

• BEHIND THE SMOKE & MIRRORS: Our new Mayor could NOT perform a homosexual marriage even if she wanted to. Michigan already has several laws that prevent homosexual marriage, or for that matter, the recognition in Michigan of a homosexual marriage performed elsewhere (see Michigan Compiled Laws below).
  • 551.1 Marriage between individuals of same sex as invalid contract. [M.S.A. 25.1 ] — Sec. 1. Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman. ...
  • 551.2 Marriage as civil contract; consent; license; solemnization. [M.S.A. 25.2 ] — Sec. 2. So far as its validity in law is concerned, marriage is a civil contract between a man and a woman, to which the consent of parties capable in law of contracting is essential. Consent alone is not enough to effectuate a legal marriage on and after January 1, 1957. Consent shall be followed by obtaining a license as required by section 1 of Act No. 128 of the Public Acts of 1887, being section 551.101 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or as provided for by section 1 of Act No. 180 of the Public Acts of 1897, being section 551.201 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and solemnization as authorized by sections 7 to 18 of this chapter.
  • 551.271 Marriages solemnized in another state validated. [M.S.A. 25.15 ] — Sec. 1. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, a marriage contracted between a man and a woman who are residents of this state and who were, at the time of the marriage , legally competent to contract marriage according to the laws of this state, which marriage is solemnized in another state within the United States by a clergyman, magistrate, or other person legally authorized to solemnize marriage s within that state, is a valid and binding marriage under the laws of this state to the same effect and extent as if solemnized within this state and according to its laws.
    (2) This section does not apply to a marriage contracted between individuals of the same sex, which marriage is invalid in this state under section 1 of chapter 83 of the revised statutes of 1846, being section 551.1 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
  • 551.272 Marriage not between man and woman invalidated. [M.S.A. 25.16 ] — Sec. 2. This state recognizes marriage as inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman, as prescribed by section 1 of chapter 83 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, being section 551.1 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and therefore a marriage that is not between a man and a woman is invalid in this state regardless of whether the marriage is contracted according to the laws of another jurisdiction.

Find your way through all the smoke, mirrors, tricks and deceptions. Visit AFA Unplugged