Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 19:47:19 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Subject: ACTION ALERT: Michigan Submitted by: James Yorton ] [ There are two phone numbers listed below to call. Please call! ] The popular gay resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED (0-7) legislation which would have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. This is a real slap in the face, since Saugatuck is one of the more popular gay resort towns in the Midwest. It is often thought of as a mini-version of Provincetown. There are many gay dollars spent there. The move to pass such a law came about from an incident in Douglas, a neighboring city of Saugatuck. Last December, a straight couple that owns a bed and breakfast refused to rent a room to a gay male couple. When the innkeeper heard that the two people who wanted to rent the room were two men, he said, "We don't rent to two men. We're not gay-friendly here." This caused the city of Douglas to pass an ordinance (7-0) prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Such action by that innkeeper, and others, is now illegal in Douglas. Saugatuck was pressured to do the same, but with no luck. Their human rights commission is composed of straights and gays. Adding insult to injury, the Saugatuck Convention and Visitors Bureau voted to RESCIND a 1992 policy that opposed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. They said that supporting a policy that protects gay men and lesbians from discrimination is "too controversial". That's ironic, since they apparently see no "controversy" in taking in the dollars spent by gays and lesbians on vacation. The city manager, Perry Franzoi, said that the concept of such an ordinance was voted down because "it was felt that it wasn't needed." He went on to say that "the city council believes such an ordinance would be counterproductive and detrimental to the city", because of the "amount of time and money enforcing an ordinance like this." When pressed for comment, the mayor, Charles Rickett, who is also a member of the city council, replied "I have no comment whatsoever". Tourists are advised to stay in Douglas and spend money in Douglas. You may register your disapproval by calling: Saugatuck City Hall: 616-857-2603 * Saugatuck Visitors' Bureau: 616-857-1701 Tell them that you completely disagree with their decision to reject an ordinance which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and that you want them to pass that ordinance immediately. * Remember: That bureau had a policy that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and then voted to RESCIND that policy in 1992 after the Douglas discrimination incident. Instead of denouncing the Douglas incident, they decided to support it by rescinding their own policy. --- Jim Yorton jjy@xnet.com