2011-05-09 Regular City Council Session

Home Browse Search

asked Ms. Ruback not to blame the deterioration of the black family on her 25-year partnership with Ms. Zarembka. Mr. Kraft said this bill was not about tolerating a once hidden group of people but rather accepting and welcoming couples to U City. He noted that he looks forward to the day when all cities, counties and states embrace this idea and enact it into law. Mr. Price said everyone is entitled to their own lifestyle. He stated he took exception to the comment that every ill in America is put on African American people. Mr. Price said there was not a father in his home, which had nothing to do with homosexuals, and said the message that has to go out is to accept parental responsibilities. He said if people pay their taxes, then they all should have the same rights as everyone else. Ms. Ricci noted that March 4 was the fiftieth birthday of the Freedom Riders. She noted past events such as women gaining the right to vote and society incorporating handicapped into work places. She said injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere, people can’t be treated differently. Student Representative Rachel Sobotka stated she had done research on Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships and said studies show that gay children who have same sex parents succeed well in schools and job placement. Mr. Sharpe said he was supportive of Councilmember Crow, however he is in love with and married to Marian Sharpe so will be voting no on this bill. Mayor Welsch stated that Council is building on a long tradition in University City of striving to treat all residents equally and fairly. She noted that when she was on the Council in 2003, the Council passed an ordinance that banned discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation. Mayor Welsch noted that the City’s current employee benefits recognize domestic partnerships. She sees this bill as the final piece of the puzzle to make this non-discrimination policy more complete and more public. Mayor Welsch said she worked with Margaret Johnson in doing more research on domestic partnership legislation when she became aware that University City did not have the domestic partnership registry. While Ms. Johnson was doing the research we became aware that Mr. Crow was also working on the issue. The Mayor said she and Mr. Crow combined their efforts and bills and came up with the bill being considering by the Council. She said U City will join the cities of St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri in approving a Domestic Partnership Registry. Mayor Welsch said it was appropriated that U City, which prides itself on being the most diverse in the region and one of the most diverse in the country takes this step in becoming fully accepting of all diverse residents. Mr. Crow thanked all his colleagues on the Council, the Mayor, City Manager, City Attorney and staff for the time they have spent on this bill. He said he moved to University City seventeen years ago to what he considered a welcoming vibrant and diverse community. He noted that U City is a place where he and his partner Tom have chosen to raise their kids and can assure everyone that University City is, always has been, and will be a family- friendly environment. Mr. Crow said that