City administration waters down proposed anti-discrimination law.

The city administration has rewritten a proposed law banning discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals to make clear that it wouldn't apply to small, home-operated businesses or to owner-occupied four-plexes or duplexes.

I am quite disappointed by this decision. By taking this language out it still leaves open the opportunity for landlords or small business operators to evict or fire somebody simply because their biology dictates that they are attracted to somebody of the same sex.

You know Shannyn Moore, AKM, and I discussed this very thing last Wednesday night after that horrific Michael Reagan presentation. And Shannyn asked a very interesting question:

"How would a landlord know exactly WHAT kind of sex you are having?"

Good point. Do they spy on us through a peephole to determine if we are engaging in the kind of lovemaking that they find acceptable? Or do they just assume by the way we dress or act that we are too perverted to rent space from them? The whole idea of somebody creeping around trying to see who I am pleasuring and how I am pleasuring them makes me very uncomfortable.

I believe that protecting tenants from the prying eyes and closed minds of their landlords was a very important part of this ordinance and should be put back in.

The ordinance is being proposed by Acting Mayor Matt Claman at the request of a citizens group, Equality Works. It would add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics -- race, sex, religion, marital status, age and so on -- protected from discrimination in property sales and rentals, employment, public accommodations, educational institutions or city practices.

City attorney James Reeves also discussed what he described as several "misconceptions" about the proposal that have arisen since it was introduced last month. For example, he said:

• It would not allow men to come to work dressed as women;
• It would not allow men dressed as women to enter women's restrooms in public facilities or businesses;
• It would not require employers to allow employees to advocate a particular sexual preference in the workplace;
• Sex-related crimes, including pedophilia, would still be illegal.

Okay well at least James Reeves straightened THAT out, now Prevo and his closed minded minions will not have any ammunition to use to argue against this ordinance.

One of the measure's opponents, the Rev. Jerry Prevo, later said he's unconvinced. "I still think it's a bad ordinance," he said.

If adopted, even as revised, the measure could lead to long, costly lawsuits, Prevo said. He said he disagrees with some of Reeves' conclusions, and he thinks gay rights groups hope to use the measure to advance an agenda he disagrees with.

"An agenda that he disagrees with?" I think it is time that somebody remind Jerry that he is simply a narrow minded holier than thou ass monkey, and not GOD himself. He does not get to determine who should, or should not, be discriminated against simply because he imagines they are promoting "an agenda that he disagrees with".

You know I disagree with Jerry Prevo's agenda.

But if he rented a room from me I certainly would not decide to kick him out simply because I did not agree with the way he disappointed his wife in their bedroom.

I actually try very hard NOT to imagine the Reverend Prevo having carnal relations with his long suffering spouse. But if I did I would imagine that it would make my stomach turn and force me to drink adult beverages until my imagination shut down.

But however the Reverend gets "little Jerry" to stand up and prepare for action (and of course I imagine it must be by thinking of a naked Ronald Reagan), it is simply none of my damn business. All I should be concerned with as a landlord is that the rent is paid on time, they do not do damage to my property, and that they do not break the law. Beyond that I, and everybody else, should just live and let live.

By the way for those of you living in Anchorage, don't forget to show up at 5:00 on Tuesday, at the Loussac Library, to show your support for this new ordinance. It should be a very interesting and important evening indeed.

(If you want to get a peek inside the mind of Jerry Prevo then read this interview by the very brave Julia O'Malley. Make sure to have your Tums handy and bring a flashlight. It is dark and scary in there.)