A very sad day for Anchorage.

[Blue_In_AK]

Our city's conservative mayor, Dan Sullivan, has vetoed the GLBT equal rights amendment that was passed 7-4 by the Assembly. Our only hope now is to try to sway one more assembly person to override the veto, which may be a possibility -- although a longshot -- since at the time of the Assembly vote, she said she was voting against the amendment even though she knew it would be hurtful and that she couldn't look some of the people in the audience in the eye. Obviously, she felt guilty and knew she was voting the wrong way, so we'll see.

Anyway, here's the Anchorage Daily News report on this. Many of the comments give me some hope, even though they may be futile.

http://www.adn.com/anti-discrimination/story/901286.html

[lisa58]

1. what a jerk - and I'm really sorry....good luck

[Arctic Dave]

2. Just sent sullivan a nice little "Go F yourself" message.

[chollybocker]

3. Very disappointed to hear this.

When does Mayor Sullivan become 'Ex-Mayor'?

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I'm sad to report that he is brand new,

and we're stuck with him for three years. The reason the assembly vote was delayed and delayed and delayed to take all of the repetitive comments from the Prevo crowd (Debbie Ossiander, the one who couldn't look people in the eye was the chair) was because they knew Sullivan, who was elected in May and took office just a few weeks ago, would undoubtedly veto the bill. It was a very cynical and calculating thing to do, because the acting mayor who took office when Mark Begich went to Washington, Matt Claman, supported the bill and would have signed it.

[roguevalley]

8. what can you expect from a Sullivan. Too bad. I'm not surprised, blue

[Blue_In_AK]

9. No, I'm not surprised either,

I was just hoping that he might step up and be a man about it. :rofl: I really should have known. Incidentally, my youngest brother used to do a bit of "business" with him involving a certain green leafy vegetation back in the day. It seems Dan had a taste for some Hawaiian product. I guess that's why I thought he might turn out to be "cooler" than his dad.

[roguevalley]

10. bwahaha. nice question for his next presser ;)

[Bluenorthwest]

4. The one who could not look people in the eye and still did what she

knew to be cruel and hurtful is one of the worst people I have ever read about in my life. To know, and to do wrong none the less. The picture of a bad neighbor.

[plantwomyn]

5. You have to read this from Julia O'Malley.

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/141638

[Blue_In_AK]

7. One of the best columns the very talented Julia has written. n/t

[Ohio Joe]

11. I created a post in the activism forum with contact info

As well as the note I sent him :D Please feel free to send him your thoughts as well!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=412x128

[RetiredTrotskyite]

12. Man, That SUCKS!

I'm so sorry, Blue_In_AK. I am sad but not surprised. I'm only surprised when a conservative does the right thing. Bastard.