Equal protections are not "special interests"

Posted on by Patrick Ochsenreiter

I must take exception to Carl Mumpower's commentary in your Feb. 17 issue concerning domestic-partnership agreements for city employees. It was a predictable conservative response filled with sound bites we have all heard on the subject of conservatism and special interests.

The inclusion of the military officers and the local firefighters association as having special interests like the LGBT community is not logical. The LGBT community seeks interests that are constitutionally based in the equal-protection clause of the U.S. and N.C. constitutions. The others are bodies of persons seeking benefits or privileged treatment without a legal basis, i.e., special interests.

The manner in which the three are alike is that they share the virtue of valor. Whether it is stepping into battle, stepping into fire, or stepping onto a podium subjecting oneself to the slings and arrows of mean-spirited and misguided society, they all take courage.

My hats are off to the progressive liberals in the City Council who are in favor of this action. They are in good company.

— Patrick Ochsenreiter
Asheville

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One thought on “Equal protections are not "special interests"”

  1. Alan

    Kudos Patrick. If Mumpower were truly concerned about costs, he would support elimination of all family benefits, which would be just as fair to gays and fair to single and childless employees as well.

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