Meet The Players in The Cleveland Partner Registry Fiasco

[bluedawg12]

Cleveland's domestic partner registry allows gay and straight couples to seek recognition of their union from the city. Ohio passed one of the toughest gay marriage bans in the country four years ago. To ensure that the registry does not run afoul of the state's prohibition it lacks any force of law and guarantees no protections whatsoever. Any benefits given to couples would be strictly voluntary. (1)

Joe Cimperman

Councilman Joe Cimperman (2) sponsored the measure.



The ministers say the measure was rushed in an attempt to choke off debate.
Councilman Joe Cimperman, who sponsored the measure, disagreed, saying there was ample opportunity for debate.

.............
Sabra Pierce Scott


Sabra Pierce Scott (3) elected official - obstructing and grandstanding.

“Like many bills passed by their assigned committee, the registry was also vetted by the Finance Committee, primarily to consider any budgetary concerns.

But opponents in Finance attempted to stop or stall it, grandstanding for the cable TV audience, and questioning every line of the already-approved ordinance.

Led by Majority Leader Sabra Pierce Scott... opponents did this by offering amendments that were not germane to the ordinance, questioning language that had already been explained and approved in previous hearings, and arguing with attorneys over how words might be parsed, even when told that the meaning of the language was clear and used in other cities without a problem.”

Pierce Scott ...was also the sole vote against a pair of resolutions passed on November 17 to support the state Equal Housing and Employment Act and the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Pierce Scott offered amendments and demanded answers to non-sequitur questions to make sure, she said, “that it was clean, clear legislation to reduce the city’s risk of suit.”(4)

“Sabra Scott Pierce: Ward 8 councilwoman ...has been a leader in the Glenville community for years but has an atrocious attendance record at Council meetings.”(5)

.........

The Local Pastors

Eight local pastors have joined in an effort to repeal Cleveland's recently passed domestic-partner registry. The group led by the Rev. C. Jay Matthews of Mount Sinai Baptist Church is circulating two types of petitions, one of which could put the issue on a citywide referendum ballot. (6)

Rev. C. Jay Matthews


“Asked if the pastors' opposition centers on their beliefs regarding homosexuality, Mr. Matthews acknowledged that "in our religious understanding, that lifestyle goes against God." <6>

The Rev. C. Jay Matthews: pastor of the 4,000-member Mount Sinai Baptist Church... is also actively involved in a number of nonprofits, including the Greater Cleveland Partnership and United Way.(5)

Mr. Mathews “vocally supported Bush's reelection.”(5)

..........

Rev. Marvin McMickle


Marvin McMickle - pastor and Democratic politician.

A pastor who once ran against the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones and a Cleveland Municipal Court judge have joined the race to represent the 11th Congressional District. The entries of the Rev. Marvin McMickle, pastor at Antioch Baptist Church, and Judge Michael Ryan bring the list of announced candidates to six. (7)

The Rev. Marvin McMickle was a former Obama delegate.(8)

In 1999, “the Rev. Marvin McMickle has said he would vote for a federal gay and lesbian civil rights law. McMickle, a prominent Cleveland minister who is running for U.S. Senate, spoke with the Chronicle to clarify homophobic-sounding remarks he made during a television interview.

During the interview, McMickle referred to passages from Leviticus which identify "sinful" sexual behaviors, including homosexuality, bestiality, adultery, incest, pedophilia, and having sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.

Several members of the gay community called the Chronicle after seeing McMickle’s television appearance. One caller, who asked to remain anonymous, quoted McMickle:

"He said, ‘Thou shalt not lie down with beasts,’ implying that homosexuality was like bestiality," the caller said. "It really got me because that was the same line used to justify racism. It worried me because he was just appointed to the Ryan White planning council and he is running for the Senate. I think the gay community needs to know where he stands on gay issues." (9)

Back in 1999, when gay rights was moving forward.

"Reverend McMickle’s comments were taken out of context," said Sheldon. "The report was about the increasing number of churches that are open and affirming to gays and lesbians. Most churches say that they are open to everyone, with the understanding that most people have engaged in immoral behaviors of some kind. Open and affirming churches say they believe homosexuality is not immoral."

"McMickle was asked, "If you were on the Lakewood City Council considering an ordinance to grant domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples, how would you vote?"

McMickle responded, "First of all, I would never be on a city council. The work that is being done at the local level is a really waste of time because it is going to challenged in the courts and probably get undone anyway. You have to start at the top, at the federal level, to get any real changes made. That’s why I want to run for the U.S. Congress."(9)

References:

(1)http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=2982&MediaType=1&Category=26

(2)http://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/Home/CouncilMembers/Ward13JoeCimperman/tabid/87/Default.aspx

(3)http://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/Home/CouncilMembers/Ward8SabraPierceScott/tabid/60/Default.aspx

(4) http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/december/1219081.htm

(5)http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/72/please-be-patient-democracy-will-begin-shortly

6)http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081231/NEWS24/812310400

(7) http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/09/marvin_mcmickle_joins_race_to.html

(8) http://videos.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/2008/08/obama_delegate_the_rev_marvin.html

(9) http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories/99dec31.htm

[AnOhioan]

1. Cimperman may have sponsored this legislation

A step in the right direction in my view, but he also ran a campaign well-funded by corporate interests against Congressman Kucinich in the last primary. A campaign that also (on Mr. Cimperman's part) filled with childish and unprofessional tactics, like showing up at the Kucinich home with camera's in tow to badger Elizabeth, Dennis' wife. He also showed up (again with cameras) at the District Headquarters for the Congressman.

Both instances show a serious lack of maturity.

[bluedawg12]

2. The council passed the registry and the Mayor agreed to sign it.

>> The Council passed the registry, Ohio’s third, on December 8.

Mayor Frank Jackson has promised to sign it, and the measure would take effect 120 days later.

Meanwhile, a group of conservative ministers say they will try to stop it with a citywide vote...

Ward 1 councilor Terrell Pruitt was appointed to fill a vacancy created when Nina Turner was elected to the Ohio Senate. However, to keep the seat, Pruitt needs to win a special election on December 23 in what has become a close race.

Pruitt co-sponsored the registry ordinance, but voted against it.

Asked directly if he had been strong-armed by ministers, Pruitt said “Yes.”<<

http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/december/1219081.htm

[yardwork]

3. What does that have to do with this measure?

Maybe Cimperman is a jerk, but what does that have to do with this particular issue?

[bluedawg12]

5. His proposal was acccepted, the jerks are the ones torpedoing

it- just for sh*ts and grins - cuz a bridal registry ain't no threat to "their" marriage.

That crapola about this,that and the other means nothing.

[AnOhioan]

12. I was merely letting the readers know of Cimperman's....

record here in Cleveland. I applaud him for this particular legislation.

When discussing political figures I think it helpful to examine their entire record not just one piece of it.

[yardwork]

4. Thank you for this thread. We probably need to take this issue to GD or GD-P

It's a disaster.

[bluedawg12]

6. It's a train wreck.

I would have to post and run, as it is Sunday and tomorrow is work. You are welcome to cross post- although you have been working at it since yesterday.

[yardwork]

7. I need to get a life, too. Sigh.

I'm holding myself back from posting a thread in GD-P entitled "If Obama is not a homophobe he is doing a good impersonation of one."

Must. Not. Post. That.

[bluedawg12]

8. You'll be sucked down a vortex

of repetitious questions and comments. Restraint!

:hi:

[yardwork]

9. I'm tempted to post and run and check it tomorrow night.

Figure it will be locked within minutes, though.

[bluedawg12]

10. All there would be

is a padlock and some cob webs. :rofl:

[yardwork]

11. and a bunch of hate mail in my in-box!

[bluedawg12]

13. ...

:rofl: