Let's see if some Freepers who support family values would like to chime in.
In response to Humblegunner and his friends about the reasons for excerpting: I definitely have no ownership stake in the Grand Rapids Press, but I know too many people who work there, and I'm not going to post a full-text article from that newspaper even if it's allowed, since I risk getting personally attacked with accusations of copyright violations. I don't think I'd be sued, but I'd probably have a lot of people sending me nastygrams telling me I ought to know better and might easily get attacked publicly for posting the full text.
If somebody else wants to post full text of this article, that's up to them, but I won't do it myself. The excerpt is more than adequate to give the flavor of the article under the "fair comment" doctrine.
Maybe somebody said they were one of the gayest places in the nation, and it was misconstrued.
On the other hand, with unemployment so bad in Michigan, are we really to believe that people are going to stay unemployed out of a fit of pique because of some "intolerant" comments about 2% of the population?
isn’t it a form of bigotry to suggest that the “creative class” will stay away from Holland Michigan if we don’t have this ordinance passed???????
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(My posted comments)
To even have this discussion in Holland is crazy. It's going to antagonize people and companies who may want to move where there is a conservative family-friendly environment without doing anything to make Holland anywhere near as homosexual-friendly as other nearby small communities like Saugatuck. To put this on Holland's agenda does very little to “help” homosexuals if it passes; they have plenty of nearby places they could live if they were afraid of discrimination. On the other hand, if it fails, it makes the conservative majority in the community look bad. In other words, “flip a coin: heads I win, tails you lose.”
Is that maybe the real agenda?
Also, what would this ordinance really do? Some are pointing out that landlords and employers can discriminate against them based on their sexual practices. What ordinances banning such “discrimination” against homosexuals actually do is restrict the rights of employers to hire who they want. Why on earth does a business like Herman Miller want even more government-imposed restrictions?
If Herman Miller is so concerned about attracting “young talent,” then make clear to prospective employees that they offer “domestic partner” insurance benefits, and advertise that widely in the general media as well as taking out ads in publications targeted toward the homosexual community. That makes crystal clear that the company is friendly to homosexuals by not only putting its money where its mouth is but also making very clear to everybody they they don't fit any preconceived stereotype someone might have about Holland and West Michigan.
If that's not enough, then move to San Francisco, or at least Saugatuck, and stop trying to impose your values on the majority who disagree. Why be where you're not wanted?
And as there could actually be upwards of a DOZEN faggots in Holland, I don’t see how the country can possibly SURVIVE the ruling!!!!!
The gay and lesbian crowd are the biggest bunch of sissies and cry babies, pouting because they can’t wankify the entire world. Crap, they are only 2% of the population. Go terrorize somewhere else.
That didn’t accomplish anything but I feel better. I swear to G-d, I wish these folks would just shut the hell up.
This is a huge fraud.
Gay people are just like the rest of us. They aren't any more "anything" than anyone else (except for being queer, of course).
Boycotting Holland won’t mean much.
When I was a kid we used to go over that way and pick a truckload of various fruits and veggies every fall.
Many places are rejecting these ordinances. To paint one town as having a problem because they did so is ridiculous.
The laws will do nothing but cause more trouble and expenses for businesses.
because they would not give special rights to a BEHAVIOR?
this article is BS.
if anything this is GOOD for business.
Honestly, how many Fashion designers, Hair Dressers, and Interior Decorators does a small town (pop 263K) like Holland need?
Dutch Reform are known for their "Libertine" life styles!/sarc
I had a friend who went to Hope College, which was a long way from East-side Detroit.
I visited him and his fraternity required a coat and tie to enter!
I felt like I was back in Catholic school! LOL
I would bet that you’re spot on. There will be ZERO repercussions because of this. For every pud puffer who is offended by Holland’s stance, there are a dozen who will wholeheartedly support it ... with their dollars, if need be.
On the plus side, they acquitted Geert Wilders.
/I kid, though he was acquitted today.
I guess Bawney Fwank won’t be retiring in Holland, MI.
Any vital talents that only gays could bring are probably talents this city doesn’t want.
Holland is about 20 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids hosts the largest office unit of the fairly Conservative Reformed Church in America (RCA). They have a college, Hope College, in Holland as well. They have other U.S. offices, including a HQ in New York, but the Michigan office is their largest.
Only cetain types of "talent".
Even though homosexuals are only a small percentage of the population, many are in positions where they can, and do, use their power or influence to promote the homosexual agenda.
Such as government and education.
And of course, the media.