NOREEN: Sexual orientation shouldn't be an issue
One of the many applicants for the District 3 City Council vacancy has lived here 17 years, so he knows the town.
He runs a nonprofit agency, so he knows how to operate on a shoestring. He graduated from Fountain-Fort Carson High School and has degrees from Colorado State University-Pueblo and Pikes Peak Community College.
At 28, this candidate can offer a perspective the council has not had.
Oh, and one more thing — Ryan Acker is the first openly gay person ever to attempt to become a member of the Colorado Springs City Council.
In his application for the job, Acker neither backed away from his sexual orientation nor played it up.
As director of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center, Acker is well known in the community; council members certainly know who he is. His advocacy for gay rights is well known, but he doesn’t sound like someone who would be a one-issue council member.
“The city is at a time where there are some really critical things going on,” Acker said. “This is going to be a tough time figuring out how to get through today and tomorrow and also the future.”
In his application for the job, Acker wrote that his experience in the nonprofit sector has given him a “first-hand perspective of economic challenges within our city.” He said his youth would be an asset, allowing him to “provide a perspective that relates to literally thousands of residents in our community.”
Why should Acker’s sexual orientation be an issue?
It shouldn’t.
Why would a columnist write about it?
C’mon, let’s face it: Colorado Springs has been the gay-bashing capital of Colorado. Amendment 2, which sanctioned discrimination against gays, was born here.
Mayor Lionel Rivera was first elected, partly because of his promise to do away with health benefits for the same-sex partners of city employees. Whatever locals might think, around the country our town is known as the place that doesn’t like gay people very much.
That’s why Acker’s pursuit of a council seat is notable. By the way, this isn’t an endorsement — there are several qualified applicants who have already served in important volunteer and professional roles in the city. The council will be able to appoint a qualified, committed person other than Acker. The fact that he is gay is no more a qualifier than it should be a disqualifier.
There are sure to be voices in the community who object to having a gay public official.
Those voices should be ignored.
Colorado has an openly gay congressman, Jared Polis. There also have been a few gay state legislators.
There is a state law that forbids anyone from denying a person a job based on sexual orientation.
Darn good law.
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