Nashville city council considering “gender identity” protections
staff - Mar 14, 2011 - comment -
A trio of Southern Baptist entity heads took aim at a proposed Metropolitan Nashville ordinance addressing “discrimination” on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in an opinion piece in the Tennessean. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Tom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources; and Frank Page, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, authored the piece.
In the commentary, the three SBC executives wrote that homosexuality is not in the same class as immutable characteristics as race, gender and disability. Discrimination on the basis of these characteristics is “immoral, has no place in our society, and is prohibited under both federal and Tennessee law,” the article notes, warning the proposed ordinance would elevate “gender identity” and “sexual orientation’‘ to the same status.
The proposed measure will expand the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. It would require companies and other organizations, with some exceptions, who contract with the city to also have in place policies which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Land and two other local notable Southern Baptists also sent a letter to all Metro council members, warning that “imposing this ordinance could lead to disastrous moral and ethical conflicts including trampling on the conscience protections of many residents of the Metro area.” Randy Davis, executive director and treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and Robert B. Sumrall Jr., executive director of the Nashville Baptist Association, joined Land.
The city’s Metro Council is expected to vote on the measure at its third reading March 15.
What are your thoughts on this ? Let me hear from you!!
staff - Mar 14, 2011 - comment - ShareThis
ReplyDeleteA trio of Southern Baptist entity heads took aim at a proposed Metropolitan Nashville ordinance addressing “discrimination” on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in an opinion piece in the Tennessean. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Tom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources; and Frank Page, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, authored the piece.
In the commentary, the three SBC executives wrote that homosexuality is not in the same class as immutable characteristics as race, gender and disability. Discrimination on the basis of these characteristics is “immoral, has no place in our society, and is prohibited under both federal and Tennessee law,” the article notes, warning the proposed ordinance would elevate “gender identity” and “sexual orientation’‘ to the same status.
The proposed measure will expand the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. It would require companies and other organizations, with some exceptions, who contract with the city to also have in place policies which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Land and two other local notable Southern Baptists also sent a letter to all Metro council members, warning that “imposing this ordinance could lead to disastrous moral and ethical conflicts including trampling on the conscience protections of many residents of the Metro area.” Randy Davis, executive director and treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and Robert B. Sumrall Jr., executive director of the Nashville Baptist Association, joined Land.
The city’s Metro Council is expected to vote on the measure at its third reading March 15.
What do you think about this Salem? Let me hear from you.