CC Minutes - 10/23/02 Work Session

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Ms. Childs stated that there would be a public hearing held later in the evening regarding these ordinances. B. WORK SESSION: Follow-up and Discussion from the Public Hearing on an Ordinance Concerning Human Rights; Adding Sections 2.815 and 2.820, and Amending Sections 2.013, 2.265, 2.270, 2.280, 4.613, 4.615, 4.620, 4.625, 4.630, 4.635, and 4.645 of the Eugene Code, 1971 City Manager Jim Carlson reported that several hundred e-mails had been received regarding the code changes and amendments. He introduced Human Rights Program Director Greg Rikhoff. Mr. Rikhoff provided a brief overview of the key elements of the ordinance changes as outlined on the attachment entitled Proposed Ordinance Changes; October 23, 2002. Mr. Rayor deemed this a "high profile issue." He said that he was not interested in "word- smithing." He approved of the provision of benefits for unmarried domestic partners. He expressed concern about the requirement for accommodations for transgendered individuals. He felt that it may need to be stricken in order to make the ordinance more likely to be approved. Ms. Nathanson related that the most frequent objection she had heard from constituents was in regard to the cost of a perceived requirement that new bathrooms be built. She said that this was apparently not the true intent of the ordinance. She reported that another concern that had been raised was that of the perception that a person would dress as a woman to attain access to children in a public restroom. She asked Mr. Rikhoffto respond to the concern. Mr. Rikhoff stressed that safety is of primary concern to the Human Rights Commission and that all people should be safe in a public restroom. He reported that the commission was unable to find any data that supported the allegation that transgendered people were more likely to commit crimes in a public restroom than any other segment of the population. He noted that 93 percent of all juvenile sexual assault victims knew their attackers, according to the Bureau of Justice in 2000. He added that 34 percent of the assaults were perpetrated by family members and 58 percent were perpetrated by family acquaintances. He explained that attackers work very hard to blend in and are not likely to dress differently to gain access. He said that, of the nearly 50 communities that have chosen to protect people based on gender identity, the commission has been unable to find any report of increased problems in restrooms. Ms. Nathanson read the following quote from testimony received at the public hearing: "The changes will afford them some protection with no moral assessment given or implied. It is simply a matter of equity and extending protection to all. There are behaviors of others that I personally dislike or disagree with, but that ought to have no bearing on equality under the law and protection of government." MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 23, 2002 Page 5 Work Session