Thanks to Sterling Heights City Councilman Doug
Skrzyniarz for pointing out this portion of the big council meeting on Tuesday
where the debate over the proposed non-discrimination ordinance came to a head.
Skrzyniarz for pointing out this portion of the big council meeting on Tuesday
where the debate over the proposed non-discrimination ordinance came to a head.
As Skrzyniarz said: “If you want to know what courage is,
watch this video of an 11-year-old boy’s speech on discrimination.”
watch this video of an 11-year-old boy’s speech on discrimination.”
In front of a fairly raucous, standing-room-only crowd at a city
council meeting, 11-year-old Kenneth Bowman stepped forward and brought the room
to hush as he talked about a non-discrimination ordinance up for approval.
council meeting, 11-year-old Kenneth Bowman stepped forward and brought the room
to hush as he talked about a non-discrimination ordinance up for approval.
In 2 minutes, the boy offered the most memorable remarks of
the entire 4-hour debate. Understand
this: Bowman is one of “those” kids – involved in Science Olympiad, student
choir, ballet and gymnastics (and also baseball).
the entire 4-hour debate. Understand
this: Bowman is one of “those” kids – involved in Science Olympiad, student
choir, ballet and gymnastics (and also baseball).
He’s often teased or called a “wimp” or gay. Even his
father tells him that people wouldn’t treat him differently if he changed his habits.
father tells him that people wouldn’t treat him differently if he changed his habits.
“Well guess what?” he told the packed audience and
seven-member council, “I’m not different. I’m just a kid who loves to sing and
dance and do gymnastics and play ball.”
seven-member council, “I’m not different. I’m just a kid who loves to sing and
dance and do gymnastics and play ball.”
At the end of the night, the Sterling Heights (Mich.)
City Council unanimously approved the non-discrimination ordinance, which
extended legal protections to the LGBT community.
City Council unanimously approved the non-discrimination ordinance, which
extended legal protections to the LGBT community.
Sterling Heights (pop. 130,000, suburban Detroit) had
been a key community in the emergence of the nation’s Reagan Democrats in the
1980s, and in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s it was labeled “Sterling Whites,” – a reference
to its nearly all-white population and it’s subtle discriminatory culture
against blacks.
been a key community in the emergence of the nation’s Reagan Democrats in the
1980s, and in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s it was labeled “Sterling Whites,” – a reference
to its nearly all-white population and it’s subtle discriminatory culture
against blacks.
