Disgusting — that's the word that leaps to mind to describe Mayor Bellamy's vote on the same-sex domestic-partnership benefits measure before City Council and her subsequent rationalizations reported in Mountain Xpress. Who would have thought that less than 50 years after the civil-rights struggles and the women's-equality struggles — which allowed this politician to even have a chance of holding public office — that she would be the one voting from a seat of power to deny another group their basic civil rights.
Shame on you, Bellamy — your vote is immoral, as is your feeble justification that you are just representing all voices in the community. You are, in this case, the representative of voices that seek to divide, oppress and legislate morality — and that fact will be remembered come election time. Thankfully, I am convinced your vote will not prevail on this issue. Not in a city like Asheville.
One hundred, 50, even 20 years from now, this will be a non-issue. Politicians like Bellamy and her ilk will be viewed in the same light as we now view segregationists, white supremacists and any number of other groups that sought (and still seek) to encode their bigotry into American law. Don't like that analogy? That is, unfortunately, the role she is playing in history — and as always, history will be the judge.
— John Yelton
Asheville
Just how many “local voices” voted for Ms. Bellamy in the last election … as I recall less than 10% of the registered voters in the City of Asheville even came out in the entire election.
So clearly she represents a minority of the “local voices” ….. maybe when one of her own children comes “out” later in life she will see the other side of the argument … of course since she is a FEMALE and a BLACK american one would think that she would have enough experience already.
Mr Yelton, I agree with your letter. However, even though her position is lame, in the first paragraph you unfairly lable and impose expectations on an elected official due to her race and gender. There was another white male on the council who voted no, and he was granted immunity from your letter. This is kind of hipocritical, and Martin Luther King said something about being judged by the content of our charachter, NOT the color of our skin. Dont fuel the fire, my friend.
Why are you surprised by Bellamy now??? Everyone knew she has been keeping domestic partner benefits off the agenda for many years and thereby opposed them. Anyone who didn’t know that last November was neglecting their duties as a citizen.
citizens against Loveless Marriages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVeGUSGkhfw
In response to the comment by ‘self’…
You are exactly right, I “lable[sic] expectations” on the mayor based on her GENDER and her RACE, without apology. I also “lable[sic] expectations” on members of the clergy who are black and also work to deny civil rights to others… as long as they have theirs ensured. I “lable[sic] expectations” on gay elected officials as well who remain in the closet while actively working to deny and harm other gay citizens. If that’s fuel on your fire, so be it.
So i guess the white guy on the council who voted no has more of an excuse, or right, to fly under the radar for his actions?
If you want equal rights, start treating people with equal rights and dont judge people and their decisions based on race and gender.
Just because Bellamy’s race gained equal rights in the 60’s, and her gender gained equal rights, doesnt mean she owes anybody anything. She is a human being with an opinion. Even though her opinion, in this case, sucks.
Its not my fire. Its the fire that burns anyone that has these expectations thrown on them because of past history.
The problem though is it’s not just Bellamy. No African american women, or men, spoke in favor of same sex domestic partner benefits at the council meeting.