Irvine’s Measure N and the Issues of Human Rights and Privacy

Members of the Irvine Values Coalition and their outside backers state that “sexual orientation” should be stricken from the Human Rights Initiative because it is a “life-style choice.” Yet, at the same time, they have no problem leaving in “religion” and “marital status.” We would fail students for such faulty logic, and we certainly could not support a ballot measure riddled with such holes.

Moreover, both Measure N backers and The Times (and, we fear, even some opponents of the measure), have cast the argument in the wrong terms. The battle over Measure N is not a “battle on gay rights,” but rather a battle over discrimination. Backers of Measure N, by singling out “sexual orientation,” are calling for the legalization of discrimination against a group of law-abiding citizens. This is unacceptable in a civil society.

We who oppose Measure N are not for “gay rights” but for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians (as well as discrimination based on race, religion, marital status). Rights are granted to everyone in our society equally. But protections must be guaranteed to specific groups who were and are the objects of discrimination.

JANE O. NEWMAN

JOHN H. SMITH

Irvine