Equal Rights in Fishers

Over the last several days, a lot of controversy has erupted over the Indiana General Assembly's adoption of what it called the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act".  Governor Pence has taken a lot of criticism for his support of this law, including from some Republican mayors like Mayor Ballard of Indianapolis, who feel that this law is bad for our image and bad for business.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has today announced his own disapproval of this law, as reported here by Larry Lannan:  http://www.larryinfishers.com/fishers-speaks-on-rfra.html. I have told Mayor Fadness that while I disagree with him on some things, that I agree with him on others. This is one of the times we agree.  I have in the last few minutes emailed that message to the Mayor.

But perhaps we need to go beyond statements and proclamations and take a hard look at drafting an equal rights ordinance for Fishers.  To my surprise, apparently we do not have such a local law. Fishers is generally an open and accepting community, with residents of many faiths, and origins from all over the world. I believe that the time has come to enact that open, accepting attitude into local law.

I believe strongly in equality of the law for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or sexual identity or orientation. We continue to strive to achieve that standard that Thomas Jefferson wrote more than 200 years ago, that "... we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...". A local ordinance recognizing that principle should be something to consider.