THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050191
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
City hiring policy on homosexuals questioned
I was surprised to find in the Dec. 17 Beacon (``Working for acceptance of gays brings police officer an award'') a report that the City of Virginia Beach has added ``sexual orientation'' to its list of protections against discrimination in the workplace under the city's Equal Employment Opportunity policies.
While working for compassion for all is admirable, it does not follow that what all do is correct. Homosexual behavior is not acceptable to a large segment of the population. In fact, public opinion polls show that a majority disapprove.
Other categories included in protection against discrimination - race, sex, ethnic background - are based on immutable conditions. Protection of homosexuals, based on sexual orientation (or is it disorientation), is the only category based on behavior. Furthermore, the statutes of the Commonwealth of Virginia proscribe homosexual acts by making them a felony offense.
The City of Virginia Beach is out of compliance with state law and out of touch with its citizens by adding homosexuals to the list of protected anti-discrimination categories.
The City Council should vote to withdraw the award of these special rights to homosexuals. Otherwise, citizens should be afforded an opportunity to vote on the issue through a referendum.
Bill Nimmo
Virginia Beach by CNB