Anchorage

Momentum builds for One Anchorage equal rights campaign

As the April 3 Municipality of Anchorage election nears, support for Proposition 5 -- the anti-discrimination ballot proposition also known as One Anchorage -- continues to grow, with almost 70 local business owners pledging their support for the initiative, according to a press release from the campaign.

Prop 5 would include gay and transgender Alaskans in language already on the books that forbids housing or employment discrimination against a person based on race, sex, or marital status, among other classifications. Since Prop 5 could affect Anchorage workplace practices, the support of business owners is crucial to the campaign.

Leslie Ellis, CEO of Credit Union One, said in the press release that the proposition will create a more welcoming and productive environment for everyone.

Recent studies have shown that a unified workplace fosters productivity and creativity, and gives hard-working employees a reason to stick around.

The belief, according to the campaign, is that by passing Proposition 5, Alaska will become a more desirable place to work, bringing in skilled employees who will be inclined to stay.

"It will encourage young professionals to build their lives here," said Eric McCallum, owner of Arctic Wire and Rope. "People choose where they live based largely on quality of life. Anchorage must compete with other cities, and has to offer the rights and protections employees need and expect or the best and the brightest will choose to live elsewhere. Proposition 5 will ensure our ability to expand and grow our economy long into the future."

Alaska business owners aren't the only ones pushing for equality. A survey by the Human Rights Campaign has shown that a majority of America's top employers feel anti-discrimination policies are beneficial for everyone. Almost 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies are against discrimination by sexual orientation, according to the press release.

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The bill was placed on the ballot by Gov. Tony Knowles and former state Sen. Arliss Sturgulewski and is sponsored or endorsed by a number of other political figures as well as more than 50 religious leaders and more than 30 nonprofit organizations and community councils.

However, not all religious leaders are happy with the proposition. Some religious groups have taken issue with the initiative, despite language in Anchorage's existing equal-rights code that allows churches and religious organizations to give preferential treatment based on a person's faith.

No matter how much support or disapproval the proposition receives, its fate lies in the hands of voters.

Find a full list of supporters here.

Cai Doran is a student journalist from Steller Secondary School in Anchorage who's mentoring at Alaska Dispatch. Contact Cai through her editor at eric(at)alaskadispatch.com

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