My testimony
Today, Wasco County held its first hearing on whether to adopt a nondiscrimination ordinance. About 24 people spoke in favor, and two spoke against. Here is what I said:
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke (1729-1797). This statement has been quoted so many times I had to track it down to figure out who first said it.
My name is Jennifer Shannon Clark. I work for the conservation district. I am a recruit at the volunteer fire department. You know me. You know the work I do, because I report it to you once a year. I have something to offer this community, and I am willing. But I am never sure if I will be staying. I live with my bags packed, because I am a transsexual and there is a certain faction here and everywhere that says that I am despicable for being different in this way. If you need proof of that, I direct you to the website www.godhatesfags.com. The group that put up that website is just one hate group active in the last year in Oregon. And that attitude is here in Wasco County as well. Last year, they used editorial pages to viciously attack Spike Huntington during the Cherry Festival. Some people spoke up against them, but what was the lasting message? It is not safe to be gay or trans in Wasco County.
In fact, it is not safe to be any type of minority. I once had a black coworker--highly skilled, professional grant writer, community project organizer. He had something to offer here. He left when someone threw a brick with a racial note tied to it through his window. The people who did that believed they spoke for Wasco County.
I have a friend who grew up here, graduated from high school here and then left to live in Portland, because he was gay and Portland has a nondiscrimination ordinance that says that everyone has a right to live in peace, safety and freedom from discrimination. Wasco County says nothing, one way or the other, and your gay children get the message, and they leave.
Just over a year ago, my boss asked me to review my workplace’s personnel policy to find places where it could be improved. I found the policy well written, but I brought up to him the fact that the nondiscrimination policy did not include sexual orientation or gender identity. I suggested they be added. His reply was (quote), “No. We reserve the right to discriminate. If someone didn’t seem like they’d be a good fit with the growers, we wouldn’t hire them,” (unquote). The message I took from that was that I was on permanent probation, pending my ability to fit in. I could lose my job, not because of job performance, but because I was simply no longer welcome.
Let’s talk about fitting in. There is an unwritten rule for minorities living in small towns. Don’t stick your neck out. Don’t speak up. Maybe nobody will bother you. That is why there are so few gay or trans people who will speak to you today. We asked several gay men to testify, but they were not willing to risk everything by publicly announcing their sexual orientation to the people of this county. Fear rules. I am scared to be here. But I am sticking my neck out because all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Today, as I speak, I am backed up by a room full of people who are willing to stand up for my rights and the rights of all Wasco County’s people. I have come to believe that these are the people who truly represent Wasco County. To be silent is to allow the bigots to speak for everyone. I am asking you today to tell the world that Wasco County is a safe, fair-minded community that believes in the right of all people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people.
And my request to you is personal: I am asking you to tell me that I am welcome here, that I am safe, that it is safe for me to think of Wasco County as my home, to unpack my things and to invest my heart in this community.
Thank you.
I got a standing ovation.
There will be one more hearing before it is decided. I believe the county may hear more from the opposition at that hearing.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke (1729-1797). This statement has been quoted so many times I had to track it down to figure out who first said it.
My name is Jennifer Shannon Clark. I work for the conservation district. I am a recruit at the volunteer fire department. You know me. You know the work I do, because I report it to you once a year. I have something to offer this community, and I am willing. But I am never sure if I will be staying. I live with my bags packed, because I am a transsexual and there is a certain faction here and everywhere that says that I am despicable for being different in this way. If you need proof of that, I direct you to the website www.godhatesfags.com. The group that put up that website is just one hate group active in the last year in Oregon. And that attitude is here in Wasco County as well. Last year, they used editorial pages to viciously attack Spike Huntington during the Cherry Festival. Some people spoke up against them, but what was the lasting message? It is not safe to be gay or trans in Wasco County.
In fact, it is not safe to be any type of minority. I once had a black coworker--highly skilled, professional grant writer, community project organizer. He had something to offer here. He left when someone threw a brick with a racial note tied to it through his window. The people who did that believed they spoke for Wasco County.
I have a friend who grew up here, graduated from high school here and then left to live in Portland, because he was gay and Portland has a nondiscrimination ordinance that says that everyone has a right to live in peace, safety and freedom from discrimination. Wasco County says nothing, one way or the other, and your gay children get the message, and they leave.
Just over a year ago, my boss asked me to review my workplace’s personnel policy to find places where it could be improved. I found the policy well written, but I brought up to him the fact that the nondiscrimination policy did not include sexual orientation or gender identity. I suggested they be added. His reply was (quote), “No. We reserve the right to discriminate. If someone didn’t seem like they’d be a good fit with the growers, we wouldn’t hire them,” (unquote). The message I took from that was that I was on permanent probation, pending my ability to fit in. I could lose my job, not because of job performance, but because I was simply no longer welcome.
Let’s talk about fitting in. There is an unwritten rule for minorities living in small towns. Don’t stick your neck out. Don’t speak up. Maybe nobody will bother you. That is why there are so few gay or trans people who will speak to you today. We asked several gay men to testify, but they were not willing to risk everything by publicly announcing their sexual orientation to the people of this county. Fear rules. I am scared to be here. But I am sticking my neck out because all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Today, as I speak, I am backed up by a room full of people who are willing to stand up for my rights and the rights of all Wasco County’s people. I have come to believe that these are the people who truly represent Wasco County. To be silent is to allow the bigots to speak for everyone. I am asking you today to tell the world that Wasco County is a safe, fair-minded community that believes in the right of all people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people.
And my request to you is personal: I am asking you to tell me that I am welcome here, that I am safe, that it is safe for me to think of Wasco County as my home, to unpack my things and to invest my heart in this community.
Thank you.
I got a standing ovation.
There will be one more hearing before it is decided. I believe the county may hear more from the opposition at that hearing.