"...Traverse City (Ypsilanti, Huntington Woods, Kalamazoo) Citizens Voting YES for Equal Rights not Special Rights are committed to ensure that all citizens of our community are treated equal under law..."

" ... They [homosexuals] already have equal rights. What they are attempting to get is special rights. As Citizens, homosexuals already have the basic rights guaranteed to all Americans ..."

AFA proponents claim that homosexuals have all the same rights as everyone else and demonize gays through false and deceptive information to justify restricting their constitutional rights and freedoms. The "real" gay agenda is to benefit from the same rights that every other law-abiding citizen of this country takes for granted — a reasonable concept. "Special Rights" in the rhetoric of the religious right means no equal rights for gays.

The fact is that gay and lesbian people (or people who are perceived to be gay) can be denied the right to stay in a hotel, to be served in a restaurant or store, to rent an apartment, to be hired for a job, or in many cases raise their own children.

A man and a woman who have been married for only one minute have an estimated 1,047 more rights and protections than a gay couple who have lovingly shared their entire adult lifetime together.

The "Special Rights" argument is used to justify legalized discrimination against gays and lesbians in an attempt to render them powerless in their struggle for true equality under the law. The AFA is pursuing a campaign of intolerance against lesbian and gay people to deprive homosexuals of basic rights.

If we want to live in a free country, we have to accept that people are different. You are not free if you are only free to be like everyone else.

Lesbian and gay people simply want the right to be treated fairly in the workplace, in public accommodation, in family matters — the same rights everyone else has. There is nothing "special" about that. How would legislating a "heterosexuals only" policy in Michigan be all that different than the "whites only" special rights blacks suffered under a couple decades back?

Where is equal protection under the law for gays against extremist assaults on basic civil rights?

Lesbian and Gay people are asking for Equal Rights ... no more ... no less.

"Bring Family Values Back"

"Real" family values include loyalty, love, trust, and putting family first. The AFA appear to use the code words family values to imply that homosexuals are too sexually promiscuous and socially irresponsible to care about family, and would just as soon see family life disappear.

In reality gays go to a lot of trouble to have children and form family units. Gays cherish their families, and celebrate the values of loyalty, love, trust, and putting family first. Read More

Those who argue for the right to discriminate against homosexuals, and who claim that being gay is a learned behavior, rather than an inborn disposition, apparently choose to ignore the reality that the overwhelming majority of homosexuals are born into and raised in heterosexual families. Even our socially conservative vice president and his wife managed to produce a homosexual child from their two-parent, heterosexual home.

A recent study completed this summer, is from Australia and it concluded: "... lesbian couples made better parents because their children were more tolerant of diversity and more socially skilled. Children of lesbians were also found to suffer far less parental sexual and physical abuse and incest than their peers (June 2001). Read More

The most recent study to date is published by the prestigious American Psychological Association, and it states, "gay and lesbian couples make as good parents as heterosexual couples ... the data suggests lesbian and gay parents are more responsive, child-oriented and egalitarian" than heterosexual parents." (September 2001) Read More

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 159,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students.

Say “NO” to Discrimination

"People with same sex desires have no visible or distinguishing attributes ... evidence strongly suggests these practices do not follow natural law."

" ... [the homosexual] claim for "rights" is based solely on a voluntary choice of participation ..."

Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Some people report trying very hard over many years to change their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual with no success. Psychologists and The American Psychological Association do not consider sexual orientation for most people to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed. However, if this argument is valid then why is religion which also is clearly a choice, protected under existing anti-discrimination policies?

Same-sex behavior is natural, according to the book "Biological Exuberance." Penguins and porcupines and porpoises do it. Giraffes and elephants and monkeys do it. Of the 2,000 species whose full range of sexuality has been observed, same-sex activity has been seen in 450 species, or about 20%. The activity can be brief or last for years. Female bears co-parent cubs, and greylag geese bond in same-sex pairs for their 16 year lifespans. Wait, it gets more complicated. Some fish — angelfish, for example — are born one sex, and turn into the other as they mature. Even the common jewel weed, a popular poison ivy itch remedy, changes sex as a normal part of its life. Male wrasses (a genus of fish) have harems, but if the male is killed, a female will change her sex and become the male leader. Mother Nature is keeping an open mind.

"Educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is especially important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to understand their sexuality—whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. Fears that access to such information will make more people gay have no validity—information about homosexuality does not make someone gay or straight." Quote from the American Psychological Association

Dear Ann Landers: I recently learned that our 20-year-old daughter, a beautiful and talented college student, is in a lesbian relationship. I am heartbroken and shocked by this. If her father finds out, it will kill him.

I am hoping and praying that this relationship will not last and that she will straighten out and get married. I love my daughter, but if she is truly a lesbian, it will be hard for me to love her as I did before. Can you help me? - A Suffering Mother in the Southwest

Dear Southwest Mother: If your daughter is a lesbian, be aware this is not something she chose. She was born to be attracted to members of her own sex. It's the way she is emotionally "wired." I urge you to accept her partner with grace and hope other family members will also. (Sep 28, 2001)

Dr. Joyce Brothers: "Usually, extreme homophobia is an indication of a deep fear of one’s own homosexual feelings. In any case, Americans tend to be much more threatened by the presence of gays than do people in other industrialized nations."

Say “NO” to Discrimination

"Because we care about our "gay" friends and neighbors, we decline to affirm their unhappy and destructive lifestyle. We also care deeply about our Community's health and happiness, especially our children."

We find it especially contemptible when the radical right utilizes children to further their political agenda — exploitation of children is wrong!

Homosexuals, just like heterosexuals, love and cherish their children and grandchildren. Most people deeply care about their family's health and happiness and wish to protect them from harm.

Predatory crimes against children are nearly always committed by "heterosexual men." A much larger risk to youth, than the handful of people who are living with AIDS inMichigan, are the registered Sex Offenders. Sex Offender Registry

Most homosexuals live successful, happy lives. Some homosexual or bisexual people may attempt to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so.

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health professionals.

According to the American Psychological Association homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and it is not changeable. Read what the American Psychological Association says on the subject

The American Medical Association's long-standing policy affirms that there is no basis for the denial to any human being of equal rights, privileges, and responsibilities commensurate with his or her individual capabilities and ethical character because of an individual's sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, national origin, or age. Read what the American Medical Association says on the subject

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the The American Psychiatric Association have this to say on the subject of homosexuality.

The American Academy of Family Physicians supports Gay parents
The American Academy of Family Physicians approved a resolution Oct. 16 supporting legal rights for gay parents. The measure approved by the academy’s Congress of Delegates says the group should work to “establish policy and be supportive of legislation which promotes a safe and nurturing environment, including psychological and legal security, for all children, including those of adoptive parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation.” The group approved support for medical and life insurance coverage for domestic partners. “As family physicians who care for all ages, we believe the health of American’s children is one of the utmost importance,” Dr. Warren A. Jones, president of the academy, said in a written statement. “Children deserve to be raised and protected in a safe and nurturing environment. This policy advocates for the family in all its complexities and particularly for children.”

Psychiatrist's Group Supports Gay Adoption Rights
Joining a host of other psychological and medical organizations, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) on Friday issued a statement endorsing the right of gay and lesbian couples to adopt.

American Bar Association Supports Equal Protections For Children Of Same-Sex Parents
The American Bar Association (ABA), the nation's largest legal group, approved a policy on Tuesday that supports equal protections for all children, regardless of the sexual orientation or marital status of their parents. The 410,000-member group may now lobby for laws that would permit both members of a same-sex couple, or unmarried heterosexual couple, to establish a legal relationship to the children they are raising together.

Study asserts gay folks OK
The children of gay and lesbian parents do just as well as kids of heterosexual parents, the author of a study on homosexual marriages shows. But Anne-Marie Ambert, a sociologist for York University who did the report for the Vanier Institute of the Family, said once kids get to school-age, the main problem they face is the stigma of others.

Say “NO” to Discrimination

"And because we care about all citizens of Traverse City (Huntington Woods, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti) we oppose any city policy that encourages or enables behavior proven by medical research to be a deadly threat to the health and even lives of individuals who engage in it. According to Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology. "life expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality continues, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 will not reach their 65th birthday." It is not compassionate to "tolerate" behavior that kills those who practice it."

The Oxford University"life expectancy" study took place nearly 20 years ago. The AFA is seriously abusing the facts when they use —non-regional, irrelevant, out of date information— to support their heartless political campaign to amend the Traverse City (Ypsilanti, Huntington Woods, Kalamazoo) Charter (our city's constitution) to legalize discrimination against anybody who might be perceived to be gay, bisexual or lesbian.

The AFA is attempting to use AIDS data that is not relevant, current or regional; in their attempt to frighten the people of Michigan.

The citation used by The AFA quoting Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology (Volume 26, Number 3) "medical research" study was initiated in 1987 — yes that was nearly 20 years ago, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The estimates in the study were derived from an exclusively male homosexual population sample participating in the AIDS care group program at St. Paul's Hospital. This ancient information from a city 2,329 miles away from here, has no relevance whatsoever to Michigan in the year 2003. Furthermore, no heterosexuals, bisexuals, or lesbians participated in this study.

In the words of Robert Hoggs, (the lead author) of the Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology (Volume 26, Number 3) study:

"Regarding the paper I am actually getting very disappointed in terms of the way it is being used. This the second time that this paper has been used in the wrong way. It was never ever intended to be used to discriminate against gays and bisexuals.

It was a way of measuring the health of the population at the time when the epidemic of HIV was very large and there was no treatment. Basically what we were trying to say is that we didn't know the size of the population and we wanted to get an estimate of the number of people who were affected by this instead of just generalizing to see the affect of HIV. What it showed is that it had a great effect on the quality in terms of the quality of life expectancy and the health of individuals on the West end of Vancouver. We used that to show the need for antiviral to therapies. Over the past five to ten years the mortality has declined dramatically and the life expectancy of gay men has improved over that time period."

"This is never intended from the research. It just shows that people don't read for one thing because they are just taking one quote out of the paper. And the other thing is it shows that even with the greatest intentions sometimes the research that you do is used in the wrong way."

"I think it is a disservice to me as a researcher. I am saddened that a very good paper that I wrote is being used against the community that I work for."

"Whatever I can do to make that known I would like that to be known that I am very disheartened that my research is being used this way. I never intended it that way when it was wrote many many years ago." Read more

The truth: HIV/AIDS affects everyone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual and all points between). More than 20 million people worldwide have died of HIV/AIDS. Every day 14,500 people are newly infected with HIV. Every day 8,200 people die from AIDS.

The AFA initiative is not so much about homosexuals (they are merely a convenient and often maligned group) … but about the political agenda of an extremist group known as the American Family Association (the Michigan chapter president is Gary Glenn).

Say “NO” to Discrimination

This is the language as it appeared before voters on November 6, 2001.

" ... AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER TO PROHIBIT THE CITY FROM ENACTING, ADOPTING, ENFORCING OR ADMINISTERING ANY ORDINANCE, REGULATION, RULE OR POLICY WHICH GRANTS SPECIAL MINORITY OR PROTECTED STATUS, QUOTA PREFERENCE OR OTHER PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT BASED UPON HOMOSEXUAL, LESBIAN, OR BISEXUAL ORIENTATION, CONDUCT, OR RELATIONSHIP."

The AFA's "hit and run" tactics are effective, but they exact a heavy toll by, among other things, depriving our electoral process of one its most essential ingredients, accountability. Politically nomadic, the AFA's operatives have little incentive to tell the truth; since they don't live here, they don't have to worry about what the neighbors might think.

The American Family Association is using Michigan as a testing ground to repeal human rights law and going even further by changing city charters to keep it legal to discriminate against gay and lesbian people forever.

This amendment objectionable because (quoted from TCCAD) :

1) "It singles out homosexuals and lesbians for discrimination. The other side claims they want equal rights for everyone, yet single out these individuals."

2) "It uses misleading terms in an attempt to trick voters into voting in favor of discrimination. Terms like "quota preference" and "preferential treatment" surround the heart of the amendment: no "protected status" for gay people — ever."

3) "It strips our elected officials of part of the job for which we elected them. This amendment proposal was forced onto our community by one man from Midland, MI. He wants to establish the laws in our city while he sits in his home 200 miles away."

4) "The City of Cincinnati is currently the only city in the United States with this provision in its charter. Their Bureau of Conventions and Tourism reports losses of over 63 million dollars, primarily due to the fact that many large corporations and organizations feel that such an amendment would subject their employees to a hostile environment. They agree that this is wrong!"

"In the coming weeks, pay attention to the arguments from our opponents — Listen to what they say — Watch what they do! You will see that none of their literature relates to the amendment proposal. It is all based on scare tactics and promoting fear against gay and lesbian people."

The American Family Association, the Klu Klux Klan, David Duke, Fred Phelps, and the Aryan Nation, along with their "I'm a better Christian than you" misguided political crusade actually appear to be directed against anybody who does not worship, think, and look just like them … and that would be most of us! They are insulting our community and our faith.

The AFA amendment to the Traverse City (Ypsilanti, Huntington Woods, Kalamazoo) Charter will serve one purpose, and one purpose only. It will create the special right to unfairly legislate discrimination.

'Equal Rights, not Special Rights' has unfortunately become a slogan of the Christian Right. However they do not mean it. They are really demanding "the Special Right to discriminate against people they don't like," at the expense of lesbians, gays and many other minorities.

1. they must be universal, applying to every human being , wherever and whenever they lived,
2. they are absolute, except when they come into conflict with each other,
3. they are inalienable, and so cannot be surrendered, e.g. no-one can sell themselves into slavery. These human rights were expressed by John Locke as 'life, liberty and property', in the French Declaration on the Rights of Man as 'liberty, property and security', and in the American Declaration of Independence as 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'.

“... My husband understood that all forms of discrimination and persecution were unjust and unacceptable for a great democracy. He believed that none of us could be free until all of us were free, that a person of conscience had no alternative but to defend the human rights of all people. ... I want to reaffirm my determination to secure the fullest protection of the law for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation ... it is right, just, and good for America.”

Say “NO” to Discrimination