This will be South Bend's second attempt at adding LGBT civil rights to their Human Rights Ordinance. In 2006, the council held several public hearings on the proposed amendment over a two-month period. The amendment was defeated in a 5-4 vote. Very close.

It will be interesting to see how long it's going to take for the fundies to kick in their efforts to try and stop these amendments. If they come armed with the same rhetoric and lies they used the last time they may be unpleasantly surprised.

Rhonda Redman had a really good post up over at South Bend Equality recently, Wonder Why? It was in response to an article, College students fight for gay and lesbian rights in South Bend, posted on the WNDU website. Here's an exceprt:

If you have any question as to why South Bend needs to add protection on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity to its Human Rights Ordinance, read the following comments from the wndu website and consider that the people leaving these comments are possibly our neighbors, employers, teachers, etc. They clearly demonstrate why protection is needed on this basis. . .

What followed were highlights of some pretty scary comments left in response to WNDU's article, heres' just a sample:

They should be out assisting the needy instead of promoting their sick values.

Just a remminder to the city council, you are in a conservative midwestern state that has strong beliefs. We elected you, we can fire you.

They can do as they wish with their meetings, but it seems to me that there are more important issues than whining about the fact that most of us straight people view their acts as sick and disgusting!

Michael Jackson likes young kids. Should the city council enshrine his right to be with young kids?

SICK SICK SICK. Totally unatural..and wrong. Quit wasting the councils time. Seek attention elsewhere

These groups are fighting for basic human rights that are being denied to the LGBT community. Any support you can lend II'm sure will be greatly appreciated.