KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Hundreds more sign up to testify at hearing

Hundreds more sign up to testify at hearing

by Jason Lamb and Ted Land
Tuesday, June 16, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A second round of testimony regarding a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance consumed the Anchorage Assembly again Tuesday night during a special session at the Loussac Library.

But by the time the meeting adjourned, the Assembly had actually lost ground in the push toward a vote -- hundreds more people signed up to testify after last week's initial round.

Tuesday evening started with about 250 people left over from last week wanting to testify and ended with about 350 still on the list.

The Assembly will hold another special session on Wednesday as it tries to hear from everyone with an opinion on an ordinance that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation.

Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander offered a new version of the ordinance before the meeting, asking for detailed information about discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"The main difference in it is it asks the Equal Rights Commission to catalog complaints as they come in so we have something concrete to use to measure how much discrimination is out there," Ossiander said.

Revisions aside, the same battle lines were drawn Tuesday night as they were a week ago.

Peter Goldberg is a landlord and he doesn't want the city telling him who can or can't live on his property.

"I should have the freedom to choose a normal heterosexual couple or single parent, I should have the freedom to reject anyone whose behavior I find objectionable on the grounds of morality, or any other reason that might hurt my rental business," he told the Assembly.

But others had a different view.

"I come before you tonight on behalf of my friends who have been discriminated against, even fired from their jobs, and who are not here tonight for fear of losing their jobs or their homes," Christina Talbot-Clark said.

And so it went for several hours, and given how fast the Assembly has been getting through the list it doesn't appear they'll be finished even after the continued meeting Wednesday.

Ossiander said that means they'll continue discussion further on Monday and, if necessary, Tuesday of next week.

While the debate resumed inside the Assembly Chambers, demonstrators again filled the areas outside the Loussac Library, both in support and in opposition of the ordinance.

And those demonstrators expect to be back Wednesday evening as well. People say they will keep returning until this ordinance is settled one way or the other.

Crowds started gathering late Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds took to the lawn on both sides of the argument.

"Over there by where the Assembly is it's kind of dour and serious and you know we're just having a good time," said Kerri Dowd, who supports the ordinance.

Dowd's group wore blue in a show of solidarity. Another nearby gathering clad in red was opposed.

"We're not trying to be hate on anybody, we're just trying to share the truth, you know, that it's not right to be homosexual. There are morals," Tim Brandon said.

"I'm hoping that the Assembly realizes there's a lot of people out here that don't want this particular wording," Laurie Riley said.

The rhetoric of the last week has turned the mood of at least one demonstrator.

"I have to admit when I came here for the first rally I was angry, but now I'm just kind of amused and disappointed," ordinance supporter William Gibson said. "There's so much hate."

For the most part the gatherings have been peaceful, and police were again out in force.

"If last week was any indication, people will respect each other and it's a real good example of how laws are made," Anchorage Police Chief Rob Huen said.

The Anchorage Baptist Temple is a driving force behind much of the opposition that has gathered at both hearings. Some members of that church have been circulating a rather strong e-mail alerting parishioners that regular church service is canceled Wednesday night.

They want to be here instead, "showing Assembly members the voters of Anchorage will not tolerate this scourge."

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com and Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com