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

The Human Rights Ordinance of Irvine guarantees fair and equal treatment of all Irvine citizens in employment, housing and education. These are all guarantees of the California and the U.S. constitutions, and an ordinance by the city of Irvine is a redundancy. However, the Irvine ordinance specifically mentions homosexuals.

Are homosexuals protected by the state and federal constitutions? Yes. Therefore, does a yes vote on Measure N deny anyone their constitutional rights? No. It cannot. Is a yes vote discrimination? We are capable of discriminating against people of different race, sex or in some cases national origin, but what does a homosexual look like? I defy anyone to point out a stranger, and tell me that that individual is a homosexual; it is impossible to “categorize” a homosexual. Therefore, it is impossible to discriminate against them.

So what is the Irvine Human Rights Ordinance really about? It is not about rights; they already exist. Therefore, it must be about acceptance and social normalization of homosexual behavior. If the homosexual community can get “minority status,” it can open a whole array of government benefits that may result in powerful political clout.

Homosexuals should be treated equally and enjoy all the protection of the Constitution, and they can without special recognition. Yes on N is for equality--equality for all--not discrimination. If the opposition to N has any real issues, I have yet to hear them.

J. DAVID FRASER

Irvine