LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA - Sometimes, out of the depths of great error, good things may arise.South Africa is a dramatic example. Nelson Mandela, in the inaugural speech that marked his journey from political prisoner to president of a new democracy, declared, ``Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.''
His commitment to end all forms of discrimination was so strong that under his leadership, South Africa made a transition from one of the most oppressive governments to one of the most inclusive. In 1996, it became the first country in the world to include gay rights in its Constitution. Mandela's remarkable vision was that society is only weakened when it promotes discrimination.
Not all examples are so dramatic. But seizing the opportunity to right a wrong is always a profound step. There is now such opportunity in Los Altos.
Municipalities do not have jurisdiction over most civil rights matters, but opportunities to make statements about their community still remain. Cities can demonstrate what they value, or choose not to, through issuing proclamations.
In 2004, members of the Los Altos High School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) requested their city council recognize Gay Pride Day. After some debate, they received a modified proclamation. Last year, a similar request was denied. Recently, the council amended city policy to pre-empt any such future requests.
In a time when most cities are verifying that their non-discrimination policies are comprehensive, the Los Altos City Council took the deliberate step of adding an exclusionary clause to its policy. The city will no longer issue proclamations on any issue that pertains to sexual orientation. How broadly that will be defined is unclear as there are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in every segment of society.
While great strides have been made in recent years in the civil rights of GLBT people, the goal has yet to be fully achieved. Some are determined those rights should never come to pass. But the messages of human dignity from the civil rights movement are powerful. And if Rosa Parks refused to be ashamed of her race just because she was born in a time of bigotry, then we honor her memory by refusing to be ashamed of who we are in this time of political divisiveness.
This building of self-esteem is especially important for youth. According to the 2005 Santa Clara County Children's Report, ``The challenge for our community is to demonstrate to young people through resources and relationships, that they are important members of the community and that we value them.''
It is the statement that the Los Altos City Council made to a vulnerable group of high school students that I find so distressing. Instead of demonstrating that teenagers have access to their government and that city leaders care about their well-being, their rejection has been codified.
The Gay-Straight Alliance is remarkable. It is made up of GLBT teens and their heterosexual friends who recognize that GLBT students are the targets of discrimination. They join together for mutual support and to do good works in the community.
At the council meeting, a list of the GSA's activities from last year was read, including community-service activities such as fundraising for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Performing good public deeds and defending people from attack is usually considered commendable by society, not shameful.
The council members who brought forward the amendment to city policy expressed concerns that the group was too controversial. But, as their dissenting colleague Curtis Cole pointed out, ``It's our responsibility as members of the council and leaders of the community to address those controversial issues. We may disagree . . . but it is our job to decide.''
How does excluding teenagers from the civic process make our community a better place? When did undermining the self-esteem of our youth (or of anyone) become good policy? Leaders need clear vision to set good policy, and vision may be blurred by individual fears and bias.
But from the depths of error, some good may rise. There is opportunity here. To the Los Altos City Council, I urge you to recognize the good in these kids and reverse your divisive Valentine's Day decision. Demonstrate to your community that, while you may hold fast to our own truth, you will not overextend your authority to undermine the lives of others.
As Dorothy Law Nolte noted in her poem ``Children Live What They Learn'' -- ``If children live with fairness, they learn justice.''
from The Mercury News by Jamie McLeod
No comments:
Post a Comment