Scenario #1: You and a high school pal have come to BGSU from a small Ohio town. You rent an apartment in
the city. In November, right before finals, your landlord breaks your lease and you have no fall-back
options. Reason: Your landlord rents only to gay couples and has learned that you and your roommate are
just buddies, not partners. You have no recourse and no place to live.
Scenario #2: You get a job in a graphic arts company in Bowling Green. You’re doing good work, and your
supervisor is pleased. One day you get called into the owner’s office and you are fired. Your boss
prefers to hire only gays and lesbians, since he himself is gay, but you are heterosexual. You have no
recourse and no job.
Scenario #3: You’re at a restaurant celebrating your birthday with a group of friends and one of the guys
gives his girlfriend a big hug and a smooch. The maître d’ comes over and asks them to leave, because
the restaurant does not tolerate public displays of affection by opposite sex couples. You now have no
recourse and no party.
Now, reverse the designated sexual orientations in the above scenarios: a gay couple is denied housing, a
homosexual employee is fired, and a same-sex couple is kicked out. All of these revised situations are
entirely legal in Bowling Green. They are also entirely antithetical to our values of equality and
fairness.
These are not necessarily situations involving morality; many faith and spiritual traditions do not find
homosexuality to be in opposition to religious beliefs. These situations do, however, deny dignity and
equality to a designated group of persons who pose no threat to the common good.
My Christian belief in the rule of love of neighbor and my belief in the American tradition of the rule
of law tell me that now is the time for change.
Now is the time for Bowling Green City Council to pass ordinances banning discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in the areas of housing, employment, public education, and public
accommodation for all our citizens.
This city already extends such protection to its own employees, as does BGSU. Failure to expand this
protection to all citizens is unconscionable. I respectfully urge the council to pass the pending
ordinances on these protections.
Marcy St. John
Bowling Green