The Daily Tweets, 2009-08-11: Anchorage equal rights ordinance passes 7-4

  • @MermaidSocks Ewww! #
  • Will be livetweeting from Anch Assembly tonight. Tweets update my FB status, so it’ll get busy ~500 PM – hide me if it’s too much. #anclgbt #
  • About those death panels: videos from Daily Show, Colbert Report, Olbermann, Maddow, & yesterday’s AK teabagger action http://bit.ly/nP2ft #
  • RT: @katsylver: Begich — “Truth is, it will expand access & improve the quality of care, not ration it.” I believe him before Palin. / YES #

Anchorage Assembly meeting

  • Livetweeting from Assembly. See all versions of ordinance 64 at Henkimaa.com http://bit.ly/2rXUO9 #anclgbt #
  • Chambers not even half full. Assembly members assembling. Mtg starts 35 mins. #anclgbt #
  • Coffey’s resolution for a task force taking a year or more is an early agenda item. Ord 64 is much later. #anclgbt #
  • Starting to fill up a bit more. So far many more supporters than red shirt opponents. But that could change. Get down here blues! #anclgbt #
  • Sitting here w/ Heather (SOSAnchorage.net) & John (Alaska Commons) waiting for mtg to begin. They’ll be liveblogging later. #anclgbt #
  • Assembly Member Flynn told Heather he’s confident other Assembly biz before AO-64 discussion can be completed by 7 PM. #anclgbt #
  • Assembly mtg called to order. All Assembly members present. #anclgbt #
  • Still some open seats. C’mon blues, turn out! #anclgbt #
  • RT @UnPCSarahPalin: @yksin R they voting on equal rights ordinance 2nite? // Very possibly #
  • @celticdiva No party yet, but here’s hoping we can end the evening with one! #anclgbt in reply to celticdiva #
  • Assembly Chair Ossiander: Coffey’s task force item will prob be moved down to go w/ discussion of AO 64 further down agenda. #anclgbt #
  • Hadn’t noticed earlier agenda item 14C way at bottom: Claman’s ord 86 to have April vote to amend muni charter. #anclgbt #
  • Charter change wd add sexual orientation to muni bill of rights, does not define it so transfolk possibly excluded. #anclgbt #
  • However my best info is, charter idea unlikely to pass Assembly. Sentiment seems to be to act on Flynn’s S2 version of AO 64. #anclgbt #
  • Agenda item 9B2 task force resolution is being moved officially to just before 11D which is AO 64. #anclgbt #
  • This means no discussion of LGBT equal rights till perhaps 7 PM, abt 1-1/2 hrs from now. Minimal further tweeting till then. #anclgbt #
  • Surprise! They just whipped through consent agenda in no time flat. Now on item 11A – ordinance is item 11D. So stay tuned! #anclgbt #
  • @celticdiva there are still some empty seats. Tell them to come! in reply to celticdiva #
  • Still some empty seats blues! Come on down! #anclgbt #
  • Based on color coding, I’d guess us at abt 2/3 blue (supporters) to 1/3 red (opponents) in Assambly chambers now. #anclgbt #
  • Out in lobby listening to Channel 2 news guy Which I think was just broadcast live. #anclgbt #
  • Hanging out in lobby awhile to charge up iPod. #anclgbt #
  • @jansonjones could you tweet me as we get closer so I’ll know to come in from lobby? #
  • Assembly chambers full. They’re opening Wilda Marston for overflow. I just gave my ID to security to get back to my seat in a few #anclgbt #
  • Okay recharged enough heading back in. Sounds like they’re still on medical insurance for retired firefighters. #anclgbt #
  • Heather is now livetweeting at SOSAnchorage.net, the site she & John set up to counter Prevo’s lies on site of similar name. #anclgbt #
  • I’m hungry. No food until this is over tonight. 🙁 #
  • Just noticed current item 11A was repeatedly postponed since 10/28/08. Next item was too. Both re fire & police med bennies. 11A pssea 9-2. #
  • @celticdiva blessings upon you & yours forever! in reply to celticdiva #
  • @celticdiva Blessings upon you & yours forever! in reply to celticdiva #
  • Now on Anchorage School District budget that got wedged in just before ord discussion. There will likely be 7 PM break. #anclgbt #
  • Ranter on ASD budget. He needs a Valium. #
  • The Assembly meeting has suddenly turned into a teabagger event. Redshirts shouting as they testify. #
  • Break. Prevo on phone just outside chambers. Intermittent connectivity problems affecting tweeting. #anclgbt #
  • Ordinance is next after break. ASD budget item passed quickly after redshirts teabagger rants. #anclgbt #
  • Last testimony on ASD budget was asking schools to include courses on logic (manifestly absent in teabagger rants). #anclgbt #
  • Someone in an “I think therefore I am not a fan of Jerry Prevo” tshirt gave me a brown bag dinner. Thx! My tummy: all better now. #anclgbt #
  • You can get your very own “I tkinj therefore I am not a fan of Jerry Prevo” tshirt at #
  • You can get your very own “I think therefore I am not a fan of Jerry Prevo” tshirt at shop.alaskacommons.com #anclgbt #
  • Called to order. Coffey speaking to his task force resolution. #anclgbt #
  • “not with an intent to delay or defer” – no, only by a year. But Coffey agrees everyone seems to want a vote. #anclgbt #
  • Everyone saying nice things about Coffey’s resolution, but only people who seemed to like it much really are Selkregg & Johnston. #anclgbt #
  • But Claman: Does our charter guarantee the right for people who are not citizens governed by our charter to testify? #anclgbt #
  • Charter [Resolution] will NOT be acted on later after ord 64. Voted down now by vote of 7-4. #anclgbt #
  • Now moving forward on version S2 – Flynn’s version. Flynn explained how he tried to clarify things incl religious exemptions. #anclgbt #
  • Selkregg speaking abt improvements in S2 re religious exemptions, bathroom stuff. While still bringing equal respect to LGBT. #anclgbt #
  • Johnston: did not like it being brought from natl org (ACLU). Personal story of two people incl Dave Rose: will vote in favor. #anclgbt #
  • Birch: “didn’t see invidious discrimination” “we’re a tolerant community” “I’ve worked with hired etc gay people” #anclgbt #
  • Gutierrez: courage of people on both sides who testified. Should have known those feelings Johnston said. S2 is a good compromise. #anclgbt #
  • Gutierrez: discrimination is immoral. #anclgbt #
  • Flynn: note from mail carrier: I saw what you tried to do. Thank you, but I’m retiring to a progressive city. #
  • Claman: supporting #anclgbt #
  • Starr: not supporting any version, no sign of sweeping discrimination. things like this shd be brought by people not Assembly #anclgbt #
  • Gray-Jackson: first time I’ve seen our community as part of this process. Equal right for everyone. Gay nephew (tears). #anclgbt #
  • Drummond: school board – gay/straight alliance at Dimond – now in every Anch high school. ASD nondiscrim #anclgbt #
  • Drummond: we can’t discrim in schools, i’m unwilling to discrim when those students after they graduate #anclgbt #
  • Ossiander: convos on both sides, believes in protecting citizens. Have read a lot. What’s the data? How do other places deal? #anclgbt #
  • Ossiander: this version doesn’t stop nasty treatment and language – civility. Troublesome things in this version. #anclgbt #
  • Ossiander: has probs w/ gender I’d – keeps saying “transvestites” – thinks businesses cd be forced to build new bathrooms #anclgbt #
  • Ossiander: Where did she get this duplex thing? Law allows discim in owner occupied up to fourplex level. #anclgbt #
  • Ossiander is not going to support. #anclgbt #
  • Selkregg moving amendment that wd state no one wd be forced to build new bathrooms to accomodate sexual orientation or gender ID #anclgbt #
  • Selkregg’s amendment incorporated – both of them #anclgbt #
  • Gutierrez complimenting Ossiander’s handling of ordinance. Standing ovation. #anclgbt #
  • Ordinance passed 7-4. But this is not a vetoproof majority. #anclgbt #
  • Everyone milling around now so people only interested in now passed ord can leave. Assembly still has more business. #anclgbt #

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