Springfield commissioners pass anti-discrimination ordinance
After nearly a year of discussion, the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 Wednesday to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance in front of a full room of mostly supportive community members.
“The people who are for this really want to protect their rights, and they’re looking to their government to do that. That’s our responsibility,” Commissioner Baird Standish said before the vote. “Really what this is about is doing what’s right in your heart, and that’s the only thing that’s important to me. For me it’s a no-brainer.”
The ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing, commercial property, employment and public accommodations for the same classes protected in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act but adds protection for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“People in state-protected classes who have [discrimination] claims would have recourse under state law,” commission President Jeff Harbison said. “The LGBT would not have recourse under state law. Our intent is to provide some protections for the LGBT community.”
The ordinance also establishes a human relations commission to be staffed by volunteers, appointed by the board, who will mediate discrimination complaints. Should the two parties involved not come to an agreement through working with the commission, the next step would be the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, where a judge would decide whether to issue a penalty.
“If you’re a member of the LGBT community, under this act you could bring a suit at your own expense in the county court,” Harbison said. “This would give you the same protections [as the state act] in a slightly different form. That would be a civil action, and as a township we would not be involved in that. The township has no enforcement ”
Before the vote, community members and commissioners shared their opinions of the ordinance.
The Rev. C. Richard Cox of Wyndmoor compiled a list of Springfield Township clergy who support the ordinance, even though churches are exempt from it.
One by one, clergy men and women stood as Cox said their names, and when he reached the end, nine were on their feet.
“These faith leaders in our township stand together in support of this ordinance,” Cox said. “It would be a wonderful thing to pass it and bring to reality the hands that are a part of our logo in this community.”
Since consideration of the ordinance began, the board has listened to those in favor and those in opposition to it. A few people who attended Wednesday’s meeting expressed concerns about whether the board was able to tell them how to run their business, but overall, the audience was in favor. Many expressed gratitude to the board for its work in passing the ordinance.
“We are not promoting a particular lifestyle. We are promoting the freedom to live the lifestyle of your own values,” Harbison said. “I have been accused of being part of the ‘gay agenda,’ told that my real endgame is to foster bestiality, sadomasochism and child molestation. But this is not the ‘gay agenda.’ The ‘gay agenda’ is safe streets, good schools, equal opportunity, efficient trash pickup and exemplary snow removal.”
Commissioners Bob Gillies and Glenn Schaum cast the dissenting votes. Gillies said he believes the ordinance is not constitutional.
“We swore to follow the Constitution of Pennsylvania, and that’s solely where I’m coming from,” Gillies said. “This board, while we may not agree with current law, we do not have authority to pass a law knowing that it supersedes state law.”
Schaum said he disagreed with ordinance’s exemption for churches.
“I believe we can do better as a group,” he said. “I don’t believe that you can pass legislation and say that everyone who stood up in the room is exempt.” Schaum made a motion to table the vote and continue to work on the ordinance, but only he and Gillies voted in favor of it.
Following the vote, Harbison thanked all of those in support of the ordinance and those who helped make it possible, especially Commissioner Doug Heller, who, he said, was the one who first brought it up to him.
“For me this is a proud moment,” Heller said. “I feel honored to be here at a time where I can vote for this.”