Really, Houston?? (Mart: restaurant, businesses, gay)

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by curbur

There's certainly nothing wrong with "feel good" laws in general, perhaps certain ones can cross boundary lines for some people as this apparently seemed to do, but in general why would we not pass things that we as humans feel are right? How are basic rights "feel good" laws though? Was the civil rights movement a bunch of "feel good" laws?

No, laws that are basically meant to placate with no real benefit to society, aka feel good laws, are a complete waste.

The biggest parts of the civil rights laws were not "feel good" laws.

Originally Posted by jerbear30

What is a "feel good" law?What is the truth behind the "feel good" law that reveals it to be superifical? What are the conditions that would make a law designed to make one "feel good" be bad, or legally suspect? Finally, what are the other laws to which you are referring?

A feel good law doesn't accomplish anything and is generally done for political reasons only.

The majority of people included in HERO are already included in federal and state laws. It was written in very vague terms. Finally, enforcement would be extremely subjective and places too high of a burden on businesses due to the vagueness of the poorly written ordinance.

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Treating others as equal under the law is merely a "feel good" measure?

Let's discuss the restroom aspect.

Any person with a p3n1s is legally allowed to use the men's restroom just like any other person with a p3n1s of any race, sexual preference or ethnic background.

Any person with a v@g1na is legally allowed to use the women's restroom just like any other person with a v@g1na of any race, sexual preference or ethnic background.

Any person with both a p3n1s and v@g1na is legally allowed to use either restroom they choose just like any other person with both a p3n1s and a v@g1na of any race, sexual preference or ethnic background.

Equality at work.

[testmo]

Makes the run off election important. -- regarding HERO coming back through a city council vote

State of texas doesnt have all the protections for people the fed does.

[jbcmh81]

PedroMartinez;

Let's discuss the restroom aspect.

Any person with a p3n1s is legally allowed to use the men's restroom just
like any other person with a p3n1s of any race, sexual preference or ethnic
background.

Any person with a v@g1na is legally allowed to use the women's restroom just
like any other person with a v@g1na of any race, sexual preference or ethnic
background.

Any person with both a p3n1s and v@g1na is legally allowed to use either
restroom they choose just like any other person with both a p3n1s and a v@g1na
of any race, sexual preference or ethnic background.

Equality at work.

Which conveniently leaves out transgendered people for obvious reasons. They don't really fit into any of those categories. So your solution is to deny them access altogether?

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by testmo

Makes the run off election important. -- regarding HERO coming back through a city council vote

State of texas doesnt have all the protections for people the fed does.

The federal law only protects federal employees. It has no bearing on average citizens, which is why state/local ordinances are even needed.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by testmo

Makes the run off election important. -- regarding HERO coming back through a city council vote

State of texas doesnt have all the protections for people the fed does.

Personally, I'd prefer that most federal and state laws were dropped in favor of local laws. However, I also don't want vague laws that give officials too much latitude. Laws should be effectively specific and detailed.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Which conveniently leaves out transgendered people for obvious reasons. They don't really fit into any of those categories. So your solution is to deny them access altogether?

Are you claiming transgender people don't have genitalia?

Let's take Bruce Jenner for an example. Does Bruce have a p3n1s, a v@g1na or both?

Tell me what he has, and I'll illustrate how he can legally use the same restroom that anybody else with that body part can use.

If you don't want to use Jenner, or even any specific person, just make up a hypothetical transgender person and tell me what genitalia they have, and I'll work through it for you.

[curbur]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

A feel good law doesn't accomplish anything and is generally done for political reasons only.

The majority of people included in HERO are already included in federal and state laws. It was written in very vague terms. Finally, enforcement would be extremely subjective and places too high of a burden on businesses due to the vagueness of the poorly written ordinance.

First you state HERO accomplishes nothing, then you tacitly admit there's a small minority of people that don't currently have protections that would with its passage. Which one is it? Are the protections of those people not worthwhile?

[crone]

HERO was flawed from the beginning.

Why, when they must have known that some people might object to it and try to get it rescinded did the city attorney and mayor not monitor what was going on with the petition drive, the law firm and as the case went through the courts. Any idiot who was paying attention knew what would happen. David Feldman was making big bucks to know.

What's up with this letting little girls go to the restroom alone? I went with my girls until they were old enough to tend to themselves.

Their tactic was to start picking their noses if some guy was starring at them.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by Yn0hTnA

This city thoroughly deserves to be punished for its foolishness on this vote, no doubt, but now that some new articles are surfacing, I do believe a good portion of the blame should lie on the national media:
How Lazy Reporting Helped Kill The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance | Blog | Media Matters for America

Hmmm maybe we could be punished by having some of the herd move back to the state they are from and thin our rush hour traffic down some.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by curbur

First you state HERO accomplishes nothing, then you tacitly admit there's a small minority of people that don't currently have protections that would with its passage. Which one is it? Are the protections of those people not worthwhile?

No, I never said they would be protected after it's passage. Read what I wrote again.