Rehoboth Beach Commissioners Go On Record Against Discrimination

Whereas, The City of Rehoboth Beach Commissioners would like to go on record against discrimination based on sexual orientation and believe that our actions speak as loudly as our words;

Therefore, The Commissioners of Rehoboth Beach resolve that it will be the Policy of the City that for actions within our authority, The City of Rehoboth Beach will prohibit discrimination against persons on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works contracting and public accommodations.

On May 19 the Board of Commissioners of the City of Rehoboth Beach passed a policy statement, which states the city leadership’s position in regards to discrimination based on sexual orientation. When it passed unanimously, many of those who attended the Commissioners meeting expressed their appreciation with a spontaneous standing ovation. The Board of Commissioners was surprised, but gladdened, by the heartfelt expression of gratitude. Additionally, I would like to thank Representative Pete Schwartzkopf for his unqualified support during this effort.

This is the first formal declaration made by our city leadership that recognizes how lesbians and gays fit into the larger context of the community. Many outside our community and perhaps even a few from within it can underestimate the significance of such a measure. This policy should change how the Board of Commissioners goes about its work when it involves discussion of the lesbian and gay community.

The statement declares that city leadership opposes discrimination, but it also allows discussion of any issue touching our community to be discussed more openly. Only by acknowledging that there are issues that particularly affect the lesbian and gay community can we move beyond that point. Then we can openly discuss concerns knowing they are based only on the advantages or disadvantages of proposed solutions and how they may affect the entire community.

A number of commissioners were concerned by a precedent setting move to express an opinion on legislation being considered by the General Assembly. This is why there is no specific mention of House Bill 99 (HB99). That bill would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation throughout the state of Delaware. However, no mistake can be made that city leadership is sending a clear message supporting statewide anti-discrimination efforts.

The Delaware legislative year ends on June 30. Consider helping with lobbying efforts by contacting local representatives. There are a few lawmakers who represent areas with significant lesbian and gay populations, who have not declared support for HB 99. For lawmakers’ contact information use the Delaware Web site at www.delaware.gov and choose the Government "Gov to Gov" option.

Locally, HB 99 is under consideration on the June 26 agenda of the Dewey Beach-Rehoboth Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Chamber is an influential organization and could help our statewide efforts to pass anti-discrimination legislation. We should expect that this organization, whose membership greatly benefits from the resources our community brings to it, should support HB 99.

Join and support local organizations that are leading efforts to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Delaware Stonewall Democrats are working to do so by encouraging Delaware Democrats to embrace ideals of equality and diversity already part of the platform of the Democratic Party of Delaware. The Delaware Liberty Fund is a political action committee which surveys candidates for state and local office, endorses candidates, and contributes money to their campaigns. The Lesbian and Gay Project of the American Civil Liberties Union-Delaware was organized to educate and advocate for civil rights when national and local conservative political groups were attacking the rights of many groups and using Lesbian and Gay issues to polarize the community.