Anti-discrimination redux

While still in session, the 64th Legislative Assembly needs to right this wrong

North Dakota’s LGBT anti-discrimination bill down in flames. People in an uproar. Family members fighting on social media. Finger pointing rampant. Some threatening to leave the state. Others forewarning we are now seen in the same light as Indiana. Young people starting online petition drives. Hints of an initiated measure.

Surprised? Absolutely not. Disappointed? Beyond words.

Where we go from here, and how we get there, should now be the discussion. God knows, there’s enough vitriol already.

Leaders on both sides have shown muster and courage. Yet, there are attack dogs who would still go for the other’s jugular. That’s not the North Dakota we want, is it?

Does anybody win when there are losers numbering in the hundreds of thousands? Does anybody win when we’ve tarnished our state image in the minds of our youth and in the eyes of others? Does anybody win when might prevails over right and marginalizes others truly at risk? How can we in fact win anything in this quagmire?

Perhaps our leaders can still guide us through this mess. Fargo leader Doug Burgum pragmatically addressed the business side of the discussion. He focused on jobs and bringing creative, talented people to the workplace. He benchmarked best practices in the business world such as Microsoft’s. His advice was sage.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple declared discrimination is not a North Dakota value, albeit late in the game. But he did say it. We need him in North Dakota’s leadership corner now more than anyone.

Dina Butcher, point person fighting Measure 1’s recent constitutional vote, spoke up for equality and fairness. Karen Stoker, one of Fargo’s most visible and respected downtown business owners, pled for doing what is right. Robert Harms, state Republican chair, asked the GOP at their last convention to not discriminate against gay sons, daughters, brothers and sisters of families in our state. Former State Sen. John Andrist passionately wrote an opinion piece saying we ought to let people love whom they want and to not do them harm.

The Forum newspaper has been a champion in this debate. Its front page depiction of the faces who voted for -- and against -- LGBT discrimination was courageous and on the money. The Red Raven Espresso Parlor then posted The Forum’s front page and brilliantly announced that legislators opposed to equal rights were not welcome in its coffee shop. Though a parody, the Red Raven’s Facebook page was soon flagged and shut down, likely sparked by folks who’d prefer to squelch their speech and who could not take the joke.

The 64th Legislative Assembly is still in session. This issue needs to come back to the table. Lawmakers owe citizens a more respectful, amicable resolution to this emotionally charged issue. They owe it to themselves and their place in history to get on the right side of modern day human rights protections. They owe it to their family members, friends and home towns to not marginalize any people thereby leaving them at risk.

SB2279 was a start. Apparently the bill had some editorializing that gave fodder to further disagreements.

We all need to go back to the drawing board. Keep it simple.

Simply add sexual orientation to Section 14-02.4-01 of the North Dakota Century code, along with “race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, the presence of any mental or physical disability, status with regard to marriage or public assistance, or participation in lawful activity off the employer’s premises during nonworking hours which is not in direct conflict with the essential business-related interests of the employer, to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment relations, public accommodations, housing, state and local government services, and credit transactions; and to deter those who aid, abet or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.”

No more. No less.

Now!