Candidate Matheny on domestic partner benefits

by Matt | September 3rd, 2007 |

In the continuing saga (past posts) of conservative Greensboro blogger Joe Guarino’s City Council candidate questionnaire, District 3 candidate Zack Matheny responds to Guarino’s question on domestic partner benefits in the City of Greensboro:

7. Do you support same-sex domestic partner benefits for city employees?
This is an issue that was already decided and amended in the City’s Policy dated January 1, 2007. Yes. I support same-sex domestic partner benefits in that our city should model the non-discriminatory behavior of many large and small companies. In today’s world, Greensboro needs to act like the big business we are, and a lot of companies, to offer benefits that do not discriminate to ensure we hire that best possible candidates.

Joe Guarino’s response is hilarious:

He supports same-sex domestic partner benefits, suggesting it would be discriminatory if we did not do so. He says we should emulate various private employers in this regard. Many Greensboro residents likely do not feel that the city was discriminating prior to the recent implementation of its new policy.

Not many people thought the city was discriminating?

How many times have we heard that throughout the history of America?

Not many people thought slavery was discrimination either. Not many people thought Jim Crow laws were discrimnation. In 1967, when the Supreme Court knowcked down inter-racial marriage laws, 70% of the American Public still thought the laws were appropriate and “not discrimination.” Almost 40 years after the landmark Loving v. Virginia decision, almost 40% of the American public continued to think bans on inter-racial marriage were perfectly fine and “not discrimination.”

Guarino’s idea of what is or is not discrimination is, sadly, way off-base. He needs a reality check and, perhaps, a history lesson.

I believe Matheny has said he will fill out my LGBT Issues Questionnaire. We’ll get a better response on these issues from that.

Previous Posts: Greensboro 2007 Elections & the Domestic Partner Issue

• More candidates answer questions on Domestic Partner benefits August 29 2007
• Greensboro ‘not ready’ for domestic partner benefits, says Council candidate August 24 2007
• Council candidate Blanks’ answer to DP benefits issue lacking August 22 2007
• Update: Greensboro candidates & Domestic Partner benefits August 21 2007
• Greensboro ‘07 - The LGBT Vote; candidates respond to domestic partner benefits issue August 17 2007

Technorati Tags: Zack Matheny, Joe Guarino, Greensboro, City Council, election, 2007, North Carolina, domestic partner

Posted in Greensboro LGBT Vote 07 |