I am in complete shock on how uncompassionate and pansy like the represenatives are being. Wake up people and realize that this stuff is going on and not just stick to your bubble that is Rochester Hills. Brian Barnett is a punk and a waste of space as a mayor,I grew up in Rochester Hills and never thought that this issue would ever be an issue! My best friend is gay and I completely understand that sometimes you have those arrogant close minded people that would deny you for a job or anything else. This is a great idea and I am in full support, GO HUMAN RIGHTS!

Unbelievable. This is certainly just a way to slide under the table with the gay rights issue. I am not against the rights at all but to have local government make an ordinance is definitely just a way to gain leverage to take it to the State and Federal level. Council can not make a decision for the residents of Rochester Hills regarding the content of this issue, it would violate my personal and the residents personal opinion of same sex relationships. Council can not and should not be put in a position to make such a personal & individual decision.

What one does in their own home or church is their own business. What happens in public affects all of us. A private business owner is an at will employer and can let you go at anytime. However they are already laws on the books to prevent hostile work environments and discrimination. I know as I have a family member (straight) that is being discriminated against and is preparing legal action with an attorney. Nothing new needs to be added. As for marriage this whole gay marriage vs straight marriage would be over if government got out of marriage. Let religious institutions handle marriage as they originally did in this country before the government chimed in to get our money. If two people live together whether married, in a relationship, two or more platonic, gay etc. They should all receive the same tax benefits. Revamping our tax code to a fair or flat would also end this issue.

I am not surprised. The interests the city and council protect are their own. I asked for an ethics ordinace to be enacted that would require the reporting of "gifts" other than those during the campaigns. These gifts would include airfare, hotel stays, expensive dinners, and who knows what else. These large gifts may be viewed as bribe money from developers and business owners that the city wants to keep a big secret. Sounds a bit Wayne Countyish if you ask me.

I can see that we need to replace the entire council, except for Ravi Yalamanchi. Why would you not want to join with 19 other Michigan cities on this issue? Yes, something needs to be done on the state level and Tom McMillin needs to be voted out but Rochester Hills should be seen as a welcoming, progressive city.

I agree with the council on this one. This is not a city issue and should not become an ordinance that they need to monitor. The issue needs to be resolved at the state and national level.

I urge all who are interested to watch the public comments at the beginning of the meeting that was held on July 30. You can view it on the Rochester Hills Web Page under Council. Parents especially need to see this and the responses of the
gentlemen who run the city your child grows up in. Difficult topics are ones we want to not face but yet have to be addressed. If our civic leaders, educators, parents, and citizens lack the compassion to act on the problems that our youth beg us to recognize then what is our worth in protecting not only our future but theirs also. Not much was being asked, just the right to feel safe and welcome, a few words. Picture your child, brother, sister, neighbor, or friend who is LGBT asking you if you would stand up for them. Put a face on the words, it is tough , but it is the right thing to do. Ravi is a man of honor who serves people, his heart is welcoming and most importantly he gets the fact that cities are made of people and not strip malls.

Our elected officials are failing us. It is so easy for a group of men who will never be discriminated against to shrug their shoulders and ignore a basic human rights issue. This isn't about whether or not you agree with LGBT relationships; this is whether or not you agree that ALL people should be protected. Rochester Hills can pass ordinances about deer or fireworks, but can't even publicly discuss on an agenda about protecting every Rochester Hills resident.

Who is protecting our LGBT students at Adams, RHS and Stoney Creek? Oh wait, nobody. They can be discriminated against because we are not protecting them.

Continue to point fingers and say this isn't OUR problem. But it is. Let's protect the ONLY class not protected by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. 19 other Michigan cities passed Human Rights ordinances, and we should, too.

Thank you Ravi for standing up for all of our children.

Well said, Amanda!

Obviously judging by this comment section we will never get rid of the racism that occurs by being LGBT. But as one poster put it, we all should have these basic civil rights. Nobody is asking anybody to accept LGBT as something you believe in...just provide the same basic rights that apply to all others who also had to fight for these rights (Women - Voting, African Americans, etc, etc). For all of you religious folk who shun this based on the bible, do you really think God created people LGBT so you could look down upon them and discriminate against them? Bully them? Is that what God is all about? Cause if it is, I want nothing to do with it. And I'm as straight as can be.

If people would just put aside their own stubborn ways and actually go talk to an LGBT person, would would find out there are the not the devil. They are actually some of the most kind, well educated, caring people you will meet. And that's coming from me who once had the blinders on as a lot of people do regarding this situation. There are a lot of other people that are a concern to me in my community compared to LGBT. You will be hard pressed to find a family nowadays that does not have a member that is LGBT. For those of you that would shun your own kin for being LGBT, I want YOU out of our community. Move south. Move to Mississippi where your beliefs will be better accepted. Things are changing in this city and they are sure as hell going to change in this state. If your not up for change and a positive improvement in this city cause you would rather hold on to your old school beliefs, then get out. And for those saying it is a state issue and that Rochester just cant grasp how they would handle enforcing this ordinance, there are 19 other cities in MI that have an ordinance and a hell of a lot less resources that Rochester to enforce it.

Where does it say in the constitution that what you do in your bedroom is a right? Next well bend the rules for pedophiles??

Where does it say in the constitution that how you eat and exercise is a right? Weight is protected.

Why is this still an issue being pressed. As a city, do we have jurisdiction in this area? If council passes something like this, could the city, or cities, be taken to court for passing an ordinance outside of the cities power? Do we want to risk this, the possible costs? Our ordinances do not trump state or federal law.

The religious right needs to remember that the Bible is not God's words. It was written by men who were making judgements that reflected their own prejudice. If God chooses to speak directly to me and says the LBGT community is wrong, then I'll believe it. Until then, I choose to believe God is an all knowing God who looks with despair on the judgements visited by "religious" people on His children.

Julie, what has an LGBT person done to you to make you feel so uncomfortable? You should try stepping outside the bible and think for yourself for once. I'm pretty sure God wont look down upon you for accepting them for who they are. And God forbid if you had a child that was LGBT, would you let your beliefs dictate your love for your child?

Alex, Civil Rights are not something that is up for discussion. Its basic rights that should be extended to everyone not excluding LGBT. So lets discuss, Alex....

I'm a Christian and I'm quite comfortable with LGBT equal rights. Comparing gay people to pedophiles is bigotry.

Hey, at least the religious people have protected rights ;) Do you also realize discussing this issue is what the group wanted and the council wouldn't even do that? Couldn't even make the agenda.

Funny that the most fiscally conservative council member is fighting for equal rights. Kind of takes the partisanship out of it, eh Alex?

Thank you City Council for not supporting this cause. I greatly respect each of you for having the courage to not cave into being politically correct .

Why is no mention made in the Patch story (or any subsequent comments )of Ann Arbor State Sen Rebekah Warren’s recently introduced legislation (Senate Bill 1063) which would amend Michigan’s Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act by adding protections prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to the existing state law?

Working to extend these legal protections at the state level by lobbying for the passage of SB 1063 would seem to be a far more effective action plan.

The council is playing a very dangerous game. Seems like there is a major disconnect. LGBT people are very organized and let's face it, they have it pretty rough. Those kids at city council will not let this slide. They will vote with their feet and their advocates will vote with their wallets. Rochester Hills loses whatever side you are on.

http://library.municode.com/mobile/document.aspx

There are exemptions for religion. Per Oak Press, Staran's partner wrote this ordinance.

I hope that the effort to add LGBT protection to the Elliot-Larsen Act at the state level is succesful. That seems to be the appropriate government level for this type of protection. To the best of my knowledge, Rochester Hills does not currently get involved in civil rights violations for the other categories covered in the Act. In order to have an effective ordinance there must be enforcement and penalties. What department in the city will be tasked with this job under this ordinance? What is the expected cost to the city to put this ordinance in place? When I listened to the Council members and Mayor I did not hear anyone say that they opposed this due to an opposition to any LGBT persons. The argument put forward most often is that this is a state role, not a local government role. Let's work together and get the amendment to Eliott-Larsen passed rather than beat up a local city government.

Thank you Brian and Amanda. Our kids need our support and our voices! Kids are outing at younger and younger ages into families of ALL religions. Future generations of LGBT young adults need the same support as we did as women entering society not too long ago. We adults need to recognize that although Religious preference is a CHOICE, Sexual preference is NOT! The former is protected by law, the latter is what we are defending.....and NEITHER should be imposed!

In my oppinion as a agnostic american citizen I completely agree with Brian and Amanda and say that our future is with kids. Why are we creating so much hate and setting an example by judgement. Whether gay,straight,black,white,blue,purple etc etc....it doesn't matter. Its 2012 people gay marriage is nothing out of the norm and when it comes to the "book of stories" (the bible), its a outdated book that doesn't have any judgement on how things are "supposed" to be. Further more let us learn to all just cohabitate and stop with the negativity and judgements, sorry thats just the hippie in me........:)

So McMillin tells the gay people in Rochester that they are second class citizens and only 1 government official in this area calls foul? I guess if you look back in history and see that the same local government officials invited Kirk Cameron to their annual prayer breakfast it makes sense.

Thanks, Brian, for your well-reasoned comments on this divisive issue.

If the city passes such an ordinance and a LGBT community member is at my home on Dutton Rd. his civil rights under the ordinance are protected. Let him walk 40 feet across the road (Oakland Twp) and his rights are no longer protected. He drives about 2 miles west (Auburn Hills) and again his rights are longer protected. Drive about 3 miles east (Shelby) and again is no longer protected. 6 miles south (Troy) and same story. What is needed and long overdue is State legislation. Actually the right answer is that LGBT rights be added to Federal Civil rights legislation .
Rochester Hill's auditing firm Plante and Moran claim they audit 125 Michigan cities which are probably just about all of the largest cities in the state.. For the LBGT community to say that 19 cities have adopted such an ordinance shows, in my opinion, that their strategy of getting such an ordinance passed in individual cities is the wrong strategy. This is a statewide and national civil rights issue and should have already been enacted in state and federal law.
In my opinion, the LGBT community should concentrate their efforts where they get the biggest bang for their buck (and time) and that's not in the local communities.

Ha Ha Alex......You wouldnt be the first try......and what makes you think I havent already? I was thinking the same thing about you......would love to have your efforts focused on the progressive side.......but then again, what fun would that be........someone has to play devils advocate.........oops pardon the pun (trying to stay away from religious references you know)......keeping it civil this time......and BTW.......your character is practically writing itself.........you might even get mentioned in the credits as I know you love the spotlight!..........and if you help with the marketing, might even give you a cut in the proceeds............How about Jeremy Piven?.......been dying to get your input on this one..........he and John Cusack ( you know who he would be playing)......Oh, but I digress........have to get back to work:)

Was America founded on Judeo-Christian principles? My opinion is NO. Our Founding Fathers were all Christians but many of them were also men of science and intended to create a government that is neutral toward religion. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."

Alex is another Christian in name only. Jesus never threw rocks at gay people. You, our state rep, do. Sad

In what specific way does Rochester Hills seek to limit the rights of, or discriminate against LGBT citizens currently? just wondering..