Alaska News

Our view: Enough

There's no doubt that most of the 550 people who signed up to testify at Anchorage Assembly hearings on a gay rights law have sincere and deeply held opinions on the issue. But enough is enough. Some of those opposed to the ordinance are filibustering to delay any action on it. Not to mention the fact that church officials have brought in teens from the Lower 48 and people from the Valley to demonstrate outside Assembly meeting rooms on this Anchorage-only issue.

The Assembly should bring the public hearing to a close and begin its own debate about what action to take.

The ordinance under discussion is about banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. One version would move the city incrementally in that direction, and another version is more comprehensive.

People have given testimony in three public hearings, June 9, June 16 and June 17. The matter is up again at tonight's Assembly meeting. As of now, the Assembly has reached person No. 374 on the list of 550, though quite a few folks were not there when their names were called.

Assembly chair Debbie Ossiander said Friday she will continue to allow public testimony until everyone who wants to talk is heard.

There does not appear to be any requirement in city law that hearings continue for meeting after meeting. City attorney Jim Reeves said the city charter contains this sentence: "At each (Assembly) meeting the public shall have reasonable opportunity to be heard."

We would argue that differing viewpoints have been amply aired by the 300 or so people who have already spoken. That's reasonable. We see no point in letting hundreds of people repeat the same reasons for support or opposition to the ordinance.

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If the goal of the filibuster was to punt the mayoral veto decision over to the administration of incoming Mayor Dan Sullivan, who many expect will be less sympathetic to granting equal protection based on sexual orientation, that will be accomplished as of Wednesday.

It's not doing the community any good to drag out divisive public testimony that is covering the same ground again and again.

BOTTOM LINE: The Assembly should wrap up the public hearing on sexual orientation and take a vote.

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