San Jose, CA - BAYMEC, a San Francisco South Bay Area lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political action committee has decried the shameful discriminatory action taken this week by the Los Altos City Council. On a 3-2 vote, the Council moved to approve language that would specifically exclude LGBT groups from city recognition via proclamation.

"It was a disgrace to witness elected officials use their positions of power to legislate in this way," said BAYMEC Board Member Leslie Bulbuk. "Even though no members of the public supported their stance, they went well out of their way to ensure that the City's official position is one of discrimination."

The original Council administrative rule stated that "Proclamations specifically promoting religious, racial, ethnic or sexual discrimination will not be considered." Council Members David Casas and Kurt Colehower introduced an amendment which specifically bans proclamations based on "sexual orientation." The final resulting statement, after Council discussion, read "Proclamations specifically promoting religious, racial, ethnic, or sexual discrimination, or pertaining to sexual orientation (including Gay Pride Day or similar occasions) will not be considered." This language was then approved by Council Members Casas and Colehower, as well as Mayor Ron Packard. Council Members Val Carpenter and Curtis Cole dissented, with Cole speaking out strongly against the measure.

More than 15 people spoke in opposition, including the first out lesbian ever elected to office in the South Bay, Santa Clara City Council Member Jamie McLeod. Other speakers included representatives from PFLAG, parents of Los Altos LGBT youth, and representatives from the Los Altos High School Gay Straight Alliance, the Outlet Youth Program and the Silicon Valley LGBT Democratic Club.

The chain of events leading to the rule amendment began in 2004, when the Los Altos High School Gay-Straight Alliance asked the City Council for a proclamation declaring a Gay Pride Day for their club. The council approved that proclamation, but has since spent Council time each of the last two years attempting to ban this sort of proclamation.

"I have spent the last 30 years fighting for fair treatment of our LGBT students", said BAYMEC co-founder Wiggsy Sivertsen. "It's astounding that in this supposedly enlightened part of Northern California, our elected officials insist on continuing the discrimination against one of the most vulnerable segments of our society – our youth."

"We here in the Bay Area are so proud of these gay and straight Los Altos students for participating in the democratic system and asking for recognition from their elected representatives," said BAYMEC Board Member Vanessa Cooper. "Over the last two years, they have become an inspiration to us all as fighters for equality."

Source: www.baymec.net