[From the Values Reporter , Winter Edition]
WASHINGTONIANS SAY NO TO INITIATIVE 677 - "COME OUT" FOR WORKPLACE CIVIL LIBERTIES INSTEAD by Sidney Turbyfill
The sense of relief was palpable as the first voter returns being filed at the Clark College election night headquarters predicted the outcome -- Initiative 677, the Employment NonDiscrimination Act of Washington, would be defeated. The evening wore on and the margin fluctuated, but by ten o'clock the Associated Press had called it. It was all over for the initiative that would have gagged every worker and employer in the state -- except those who were totally affirming and never critical of "sexual minority" persons. End of story - or is it?
In a later news release, I pointed out that "Ever since the O.K. Boy's Ranch scandal rocked Washington with revelations of preferential treatment (failure to prosecute) for homosexual abuse of children in the state's 'care,' Washingtonians have become increasingly suspicious over the official government policies which favor "sexual minorities." Ergo, this drubbing of the preferences for sexual "minorities" advocates.
Years of speaking out and exposing the tragic consequences of caving in to sexual 'minority' lobbyists' demands, seems to finally be paying off with this victory for THE PEOPLE. The already powerful bisexual, transsexual, lesbian, etc. activist community tried to grab even more political power at the expense of everyone else's workplace freedoms. It backfired. We can be thankful for that. But, there is still plenty of work needed before state government workplaces, many municipal and a growing number of private businesses will be free from special provisions for "sexual minorities" that deprive all others of their freedoms of speech, conscience and association.
Washingtonians know that so-called "sexual minorities" already have as good a shot at the American Dream as anyone else -- without government intrusions. Now, they need to know more about the unintended consequences of current pro-sexual "minority" policies in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and other government and private workplaces. The citizens at-large haven't the foggiest notion of just how far current policies go to promote bisexuals, lesbians and the like, nor do they understand who the victims are or how these policies have devastated people's lives.
By the time most of you read this, even more of the dots will have been connected but my briefing on Initiative 677 crosses through a lot of them already. Take a look at it on the WEB site at <http://www.e-z.net/wtv/> or order a copy by mail (address below).
I, and several others from the winning team in this contest, personally believe that now, while we are organized, we should press the offensive to stop the advance of sexual 'minority' politics and reverse the trend. At WTV Coalition, we are intent on [from the news release] "researching, reporting on and advocating for the perpetual stream of complainants who are victims of governmental and private business policies of preference for bisexuals, lesbians, homosexuals and others of a 'non-traditional' sexual orientation." With the light of day shed upon these policy-driven abuses, given the outcome of the I-677 brief debate, the public opinion may force justice back into the workplace. Most of us would settle for some old fashioned common sense.
[Sid is co-founder (along with
Bob Larimer) of
Washington for Traditional Values Coalition. He lives in Kirkland]