Yay for Logan

Yesterday an ordinance passed in Logan that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. This ordinance is suppose to address employment and housing specifically, but I hope it will further its reaches by educating all persons about differences and our need for acceptance and understanding.

I wrote an email to the city council after the ordinance was initially voted against. I relayed my experience of being discriminated against right here in Logan, UT. Back in the 90s, I went to a job interview and was asked point blank if I was LDS. When I said I was not, I was told I would not fit into the work environment. I remember and can still feel the shame I felt when I left that interview, as if I were a dirty person, and it stung like nothing else had. Nobody should feel that way because of personal choices that do not impact their ability to do a job or pay the rent.

We all - myself included - need to surround ourselves with persons of differing backgrounds, educational levels, cultures, religious preferences and lifestyle choices. I believe when we broaden our own community we stop seeing so many differences and start realizing how similar all persons are: we all want to love and be loved, we all want to succeed and we all want to feel safe and valued. If people in our community are not feeling those things, change is needed and I applaud Logan for taking a step toward that change.