Missoula is Perfect and Never Ever Discriminates Against Anyone
by lizard
Did everyone hear the great news about Missoula? When it comes to human rights, apparently we’re perfect because we got a 100 on the human rights campaign equality index. Here’s the proof of how awesome and non-discriminatory we are:
In an index released Tuesday by the Human Rights Campaign, Missoula’s city government got a 100 percent score for the way its laws and policies include people who are LGBT – lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
City Councilwoman Caitlin Copple, who had championed some changes that put the Garden City in the “all star” category of the Municipal Equality Index, said she was elated with the news.
“I just think it’s incredible that 11 cities were able to get 100 percent, like Missoula, even though they exist in states that lack even the most basic protections,” Copple said. “I think that’s really significant and shows how much our world is changing.”
The index is in its second year and is a project of the Human Rights Campaign and the Equality Federation Institute. It scores cities based on several policies, among them whether they have in place nondiscrimination protections in work, housing and public accommodations; relationship recognition such as a domestic partner registry; domestic partner health benefits; and an LGBT police liaison.
While Caitlin Copple expresses her elation at this good news, on a different front, she is advocating for enhancements to ordinances that have the potential to be vehicles of discrimination against the plague of transients we noble Missoulians must endure on a daily basis.
In a Public Safety and Health committee meeting this morning (which you can check out here) Copple gives some context to this contentious issue. The idea is to make it illegal to sit/sleep/lay on sidewalks in the BID (Business Improvement District) between the hours of 6am to 11pm.
In the video footage of this meeting, Copple says she supports these enhancements because she’s been working downtown since June, and has “seen first hand how out of control it’s gotten downtown”. Another reason Copple cites is a constituent’s anecdotal story of being “accosted” outside Safeway, which, if you ask me, is a pretty stupid example to cite in the context of a ban on sitting/sleeping/lying on a sidewalk.
If this ban gets passed before the end of the year, I hope its subsequent enforcement is done in an equitable, non-discrimantory manner, because it would be so sad to lose that perfect human rights score.
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4&20 blackbirds 
November 20, 2013 at 9:28 pm
here is the Missoulian article, and Linda McCarthy wants people to know this isn’t about homelessness:
November 20, 2013 at 10:43 pm
People in Montana need to spend more time in big cities – it really cuts down on what you feel the need to complain about.
November 21, 2013 at 6:51 am
“All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others.” George Orwell, Animal Farm
November 21, 2013 at 7:49 am
Pangloss gave instruction in metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology. He proved admirably that there cannot possibly be an effect without a cause and that in this best of all possible worlds the baron’s castle was the most beautiful of all castles and his wife the best of all possible baronesses. —It is clear, said he, that things cannot be otherwise than they are, for since everything is made to serve an end, everything necessarily serves the best end. Observe: noses were made to support spectacles, hence we have spectacles. Legs, as anyone can plainly see, were made to be breeched, and so we have breeches. . . . Consequently, those who say everything is well are uttering mere stupidities; they should say everything is for the best.
November 21, 2013 at 10:28 am
from Bob Jaffe’s listserve, this comment from Bob is worth reading:
November 21, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Jason Wiener also chimed in on Jaffe’s listserve about this ordinance conversation. also, Jason will be trying to keep the listserve going after Jaffe leaves his council position. here is his comment in regards to the ordinance:
November 21, 2013 at 12:48 pm
I wonder how Copple will feel once a LBGT couple get accosted by her new law for sitting on the sidewalk and expressing their love for each other…
Sad to see her follow in Dave Strohmaier’s nanny state path of criminalizing homelessness.
November 21, 2013 at 5:22 pm
I think this is partly an unfortunate reaction to the Rainbow influx this summer, and some of our elected officials are being pressured to push this through by the business interests downtown.
Copple and other supporters of this ridiculous ban should look more closely at this issue instead of using anecdotal fear-mongering as a reason to waste time/energy on a ban that will do nothing to curb the behavior of that small percentage of obnoxious incorrigibles.
I also don’t think it should be assumed that once all the terrible drunk transients are sanitized from downtown the result will be some miraculous economic boom, and that’s because, beyond the bars and restaurants, the rest of the shopping options are way beyond the price range of many Missoulians.
I guess it’s easier to scapegoat the dreaded panhandling transient than to come to terms with the big picture factors at play.
November 21, 2013 at 6:37 pm
While I understand and appreciate the perspective you come from Lizard on dealing with the homeless issue, I fully agree with those Council members who rightly say that this is not about homelessness, it is about addressing bad behavior.
No one is banning homeless people or transients from the downtown. They are simply saying if you are downtown you have to follow some basic rules of conduct towards others.
Every non-profit organization I have been involved with over the years that provides services to those in need has some type of standards or rules dealing with acceptable and unacceptable behavior by those who use their services. They don’t tolerate bad behavior from those who use their services and they don’t tolerate their employees being harassed or threatened. People who work, recreate and shop in downtown Missoula and who’s charitable contributions support Missoula’s non-profits should not have to tolerate bad behavior either.
While Caitlin Copple and I may not agree on all political issues I applaud her for standing up and listening to the people she represents who are concerned about the survival of their small businesses and the safety of their employees and families. Some of the comments directed at her (JC take note) are rude and uncalled for.
November 21, 2013 at 7:54 pm
ok Pogo, let’s talk about behavior.
I was verbally accosted by a drunk “transient” during River City Roots Fest last year. I was sitting on the curb opposite the Rhino with my kids, who were 4 and 2 at the time.
as the intoxicated Native American approached me, asking me what the fuck I was going to do since I was on his turf, my only recourse was to call 911, which I did immediately. he saw that I was calling the police, and proceeded to stumble down the sidewalk.
I was shaking, but luckily my kids didn’t seem to have noticed the exchange, because they were sitting in the stroller. a woman who saw what happened rushed over to see if I was ok.
after calming myself down, which took a bit, I found an officer and told him what happened. I explained that I had called 911 and that I wanted to know if the cops had found him and done anything. he called it in and informed me the cops talked to the guy and told him to stay away from downtown for the rest of the day, no ticket, no jail, no nothing.
Pogo, you probably understand there are limitations to what I can share about my perspective on this issue.
but I will share this: banning sitting/sleeping/lying (with plenty of exemptions, of course) will have virtually no significant impact on the behavior that is obnoxious, threatening, and sometimes dangerous.
November 22, 2013 at 12:10 am
What did the guy being Native American have anything to do with the story, ya racist?
November 22, 2013 at 7:54 am
if you know anything about the chronic homeless population, you know Native Americans make up a significant portion of the population, and people who feel threatened by that should think a little bit about how colonizers weaponized alcohol and how alcohol continues to decimate first nation peoples.
November 22, 2013 at 11:23 am
Small pox blankets Liz.
Don’t leave them out.
November 22, 2013 at 11:47 am
Lizard, Jan Wisniewski and unnamed Havre law enforcement officials would get a long very well with their drunken Indian stereotypes. http://missoulian.com/news/local/cultures-clash-at-meeting-between-cskt-ravalli-county-over-medicine/article_f29df52e-5327-11e3-9da7-001a4bcf887a.html
November 21, 2013 at 6:41 pm
What is a possible solution besides the ban? The business people want something done, is there another option?
And I don’t get downtown much anymore since I live over by Reserve, but boy, it’s getting cold out – how many people are still causing problems? Or is this seen as a preventative measure now for next summer’s expecteddeluge?
November 21, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Missoula needs a drunk tank that isn’t jail or the ER.