LGBT advocacy groups outline on new goals
The groups will work toward a Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, an anti-bullying bill and LGBT Parenting Rights.
Published Jan. 24, 2006
An organization dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual equality throughout the state — For the Personal Rights of Missourians, or PROMO — and other LGBT community support groups released a joint legislative agenda, according to a news release.
The agenda outlines three main goals, which consist of supporting a Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, an anti-bullying bill and LGBT parenting rights.
Fourteen groups, one senator and one representative endorsed the legislative agenda. Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, D-St. Louis, and Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis, support the agenda. Oxford co-sponsored a bill in the Missouri House that would prohibit discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation, but Bray has yet to propose any bills in the Senate.
PROMO executive director Julie Brueggemann said the goals are to protect all citizens throughout the state.
"The goals were identified as the top priorities by leaders in the LGBT community locally and by leaders nationally," Brueggemann said.
Brueggemann said the priorities might be difficult to accomplish this year.
Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition Chairman Bruce Alspaugh said his organization plans to further the agenda by encouraging as many people as possible to attend Lobby Day on March 22 in Jefferson City.
"One day a year, we try to get people from all over the state to get people to talk to their own legislators," Alspaugh said. "In the past we've had a bus, and I'd assume that this year we will have something on MU's campus if students would like to attend Lobby Day."
The first main legislative goal is to pass the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act through the legislature, Brueggmann said.
According to the news release, the agenda encourages an anti-bullying bill, which would protect students in Missouri schools from bullying and harassment regardless of "race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status or socioeconomic status."
Finally, the third legislative goal is to "stop any legislation that would ban LGBT Missourians from adopting and/or fostering children," according to the release.
Alspaugh said he is concerned about parenting rights after a pending 2003 case in Kansas City attempted to prevent a female same-sex couple from becoming foster parents. In the past, bills have been introduced to the state legislature that would prevent same-sex couples from adopting or foster parenting.
PROMO conducted a survey online to see if Missouri citizens would support same-sex couples as foster parents, Alspaugh said. The majority of participants in the survey said they would not oppose same-sex foster parents or adoptions.
"We were afraid the Republicans would use same-sex marriage as a wedge issue similar to the gay rights marriage amendment," he said. "They need to find someone else to beat up on because this issue won't work as a wedge issue in front of voters."