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Here's my own comment on the Grand Rapids Press story. For those who don't know West Michigan (I was born there and lived about half of my adult life in that part of the state), the community of Saugatuck is a very gay-friendly lakeshore resort area not far outside of Holland which attracts homosexuals from all over the area and even from other states. It's basically the Sodom and Gomorrah of West Michigan. There's absolutely no reason for Holland to pass a gay rights ordinance since anybody who felt “discriminated against” could easily move to Saugatuck.

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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?