Pastor Wants Ordinance Prohibiting Repeals Of Voter-Approved Initiatives

The man who helped write an initiative that would take away the benefits of gay and unwed partners of city employees has asked El Paso City Representatives to consider an amendment that would prohibit city council to repeal a voter-approved initiative for two years.

City Representatives considered repealing a November 2nd voter-passed ordinance that will take away the health insurance of gay and unmarried partners of city employees. Council considered the repeal because the ordinance language was so vague, it will also take away the health insurance of more than 200 unintended people, such as foster children, spouses of deceased city employees, and other city employees.

Council did not repeal the ordinance, after all, but did begin the process to allow voters to reconsider the issue in a May ballot. The difference will be that the city attorneys will write that initiative, and it will be clear, so other employees and dependents are not affected.

On January 1, the more than 200 unintended people affected by the ordinance, will lose their health insurance.

The group, El Paso For Jesus, organized partly by Brown, petitioned to get the initiative on the ballot, because the religious group believes homosexuality is an abomination and domestic partnership a sin, and don’t agree with tax-payers subsidizing health insurance for such individuals.

City Council had originally extended the benefits to gay and domestic partners of city employees more than a year ago in a budget meeting. Fewer than 20 employees signed up for the insurance, and only two of those are gay.

Because Brown brought up his proposal during public comment, where speakers have the opportunity to discuss matters which are not on the agenda for that day, City Representatives could not discuss or make a decision on the issue.

Brown said that if council did not act on the matter within the next months, he would organize another petition – this time to bring the proposed amendment to the voters.

Even though Brown was there to propose the change to the city charter, he began by mentioning his perceived ideological beliefs between him and council. “I know you believe homosexual conduct is moral and healthy, I believe it is immoral and unhealthy. I know you believe that homosexuals are born with characteristics that they cannot change, I believe that that it is just a gender identity crisis.”

Other audience members also spoke up. “I’m the mother of a gay son and the aunt of a gay nephew and I can tell you these children demonstrated who and what they were at ages way, way younger than anyone could make a choice”, said Betsy Miller.

Not all agree on Brown’s proposal, which would forbid representatives from repealing a voter-approved initiative for two years. “it’s up to legislative and judicial bodies, like you city council, to overturn sometimes the will of the people that seeks to further marginalize those at the bottom of society”, said Kirstin Perez.

Brown believes council’s power needs to be reigned, “Who knows what kind of power grab a city council would try to grab in the future”, he said.

Sally Ponzio, a wife of a retired firefighter said City Council has a responsibility to protect the vulnerable, even if it means standing against the majority. “you have an obligation to the minority, to all your employees, to see to it that well-intended but ill-stated legislation does not have unintended consequences and your responsibility is to also preserve the minority rights”, she said.