LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
A Community Comes Out to Lobby Dover for HB 99 |
Several Rehoboth Beach area residents spent a week in January lobbying Senators at Legislative Hall in support of House Bill 99 (HB 99). The bill, sponsored by Representative Oberle of Newark and Senator Henry of Wilmington, would protect gays and lesbians in the areas of employment, housing, and accommodations by adding "sexual orientation" to anti-discrimination code. Marcia Maldeis of Maryland Avenue, and Hoyte Decker of Laurel Street, joined members of the gay community, Mark Aguirre of Sussex Street and Andy Dorosky of the Royal Rose Inn for the effort. Milton resident Doug Marshall-Steele, Sussex/Kent County Coordinator for the Gay and Lesbian Project, coordinated the lobbying effort. He said, "Speaking with the lawmakers one-on-one is extremely important. For one thing, it allows them to see us gay people as human beings rather than just an issue: this creates empathy. Also, speaking with each senator helps us address their individual concerns, assess their position on the issue, and personally thank those who support us. With so many benefits to this type of lobbying, I am saddened that more gay people are not involved. I want to say to them, 'Where are your priorities? Where is your anger in being forced to the back of the bus?'" Nearly all of the dozen Senators spoken to assured the contingent that they were firmly against discrimination towards gays and lesbians. Eight of the twelve Senators went even further to pledge their support for HB 99. They most often expressed their support by wanting to convey to thousands of gays and lesbians the same kinds of basic legal protection that the majority of Delawareans have. A few of these Senators, including our own Senator Bunting and Senator Sokola of Newark, related stories of threats, harassment, and hate expressed in response to their co-sponsorship and support of the legislation. Four of the twelve Senators said that they were inclined not to support HB 99. Of these Senator Venables of Laurel, and Senator Still of Dover, were the most significant. They are the tie-breaking votes of the Small Business Committee that is keeping HB 99 from reaching the Senate floor for a vote. The other two members of the committee are Senator Bunting and Senator McDowell of Wilmington, also a co-sponsor of the bill. They both would like to move the bill out of committee and to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The fate of the bill looks precarious at best. There were a number of reasons expressed by the Senators for their reluctance to support the bill. The most surprising came from Senator Venables who claimed that discrimination against gays and lesbians did not exist in Delaware. He also stated that the religious views of his constituents prevented him from supporting HB 99. At one point Dorosky said that before he and his partner, Greg Oliver, purchased The Royal Rose Inn the previous owners had admitted to them that they would falsely claim that there were no vacancies to potential customers they suspected as being gay or lesbian. The Royal Rose Inn now welcomes all visitors. Another anecdote told of two women denied an apartment on Baltimore Avenue last year once the landlord determined that they were lesbians. The two examples occurred on a street considered to have more gay and lesbian owned businesses than any other in the entire state. Another reason not to support the bill given by both Senator Still and Senator Bonini of Dover involved the definition of sexual orientation in the new code. They claimed that the current definition might encourage unjust litigation that would raise legal costs to businesses. HB 99 defines Sexual orientation as meaning "heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual orientation, whether real or perceived." The definition helps prevent discrimination based on a mistaken impression of another's sexual orientation. It also protects one from unfairly having to declare his or her sexual orientation in order to file a discrimination lawsuit. This ostensibly would decrease litigation costs by eliminating the need to prove sexual orientation as well as discrimination. The Rehoboth group was unable to speak to nine of twenty-one Senators. Of these Senator Simpson of Milford was the most noteworthy. One redistricting plan currently being considered would have Simpson representing the Rehoboth Beach area. Later, Senator Simpson said that he does not support HB 99 because, "we should not support an unhealthy lifestyle." HB 99 passed a House of Representatives vote in a 21 to 20 vote taken last year. The other co-sponsors are Representatives Joe DiPinto, Stephanie Ulbrich, Helene Keeley, and Dennis Williams, all of New Castle County. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Gay and Lesbian Project please contact Doug Marshall-Steele by phoning 302-684-1032 or via e-mail at CoreyAndDoug@hotmail.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 01, February 1, 2002. |