Code: Some concerned change will invite sexual predators
Continued from page 1
less safe in restrooms than they are
now, but that’s certainly not the
case,” Kelly said.
The code the commission is draft
ing would make it illegal to prohibit
transgender people from, among
other things, using a bathroom of
their choice.
Mike Jaskilka, a pastor of Berean
Baptist Church in Eugene, said he
does not support the ordinance for a
number of reasons.
Jaskilka said he has talked with
many women in the community
who are concerned about allowing
transgender people access to
whichever bathroom they choose.
“I’ve talked with many, and they
all feel that this policy threatens
their sense of privacy and safety,”
Jaskilka said.
Kelly said such fears are typically
the result of severe misunderstand
ings about what the ordinance in
tends to do. He said allowing trans
gender people access to the
bathroom of their choice does
nothing to make bathrooms more
accessible to sexual predators.
“There’s no physical bar at the en
trance of bathrooms,” Kelly said, re
ferring to the current lack of laws or
ordinances that prohibit members of
the opposite sex from entering any
bathroom they choose.
Jaskilka said he also opposes the
code change because gender identity
is recognized as a psychiatric disor
der. “I think that’s where help
needs to be offered, rather than at
tempting to make it sound normal,”
Jaskilka said.
Hill-Meyer said if being transgen
der or having an alternate view of
gender identity is truly a psychiatric
disorder then it should be protected
in the Americans with Disabilities
Act, which it isn’t.
Jaskilka said he does not see
the reason for the code change be
cause of the lack of documented in
cidents of discrimination based on
gender identity.
He said the proposal for the code
change mentions findings that show
a discriminatory environment for
transgender people — findings he
said he has been unable to obtain in
actual paper form from various city
officials he has contacted.
“I’ve called three times and asked
for the findings, and there are no
findings,” Jaskilka said. “I just don’t
see it as a necessary thing at all, and
I think a lot of people feel that way."
Maceo Persson said transgender
people live in such isolation that a of
lack documented incidents of dis
crimination is to be expected.
Persson, who served on the com
mission’s ad hoc committee, said a
major reason for passing the code
change is “getting the point across
that gender-varient people have is
sues” that need to be publicly ad
dressed to avoid isolating and disen
franchising them further.
Kelly said more than 70 jurisdic
tions have passed ordinances similar
to the code change currently being
examined and that no incidents
involving sexual predators hanging
out in bathrooms came about as
a result.
Hill-Meyer said the concerns
being expressed about the change in
Eugene are the same concerns that
were expressed elsewhere and that
they were proven to be ill-conceived.
Both Hill-Meyer and Kelly said
they are optimistic about the
chances of the ordinance
winning City Council approval, but
both say they have not disregarded
the possibility of something
coming up that would slow down or
halt the process.
Hill-Meyer said a referendum
passed in the late 70s reversed a
change that had added sexual orien
tation to the anti-discrimination
code. Hill-Meyer said a well-organ
ized group of people spearheaded
the referendum effort back then and
that people involved in this year’s ef
fort have resigned themselves to the
possibility that such action could be
taken again.
“There’s definitely the possibility
of a referendum within our mind,”
Hill-Meyer said.
meghan ncuniff@dailyemerald. com
Contest: ALS
splits massages
among staffers
Continued from page 1
However, Hintz said it is important
to be prepared for Eugene’s weather.
“The biggest thing is to have fend
ers on your bike or you’ll get
soaked,” Hintz said.
He said winning the massages was
simply a bonus for doing something
already does. Massages will be per
formed by professional masseuse
Jennifer Olsen.
Cooper said because the 15
minute massages are only available
for two hours, staff members had to
choose who would be rewarded.
Nuetzman said even though she
traveled 213 more miles than ALS’
second place alternative traveler, she
doesn’t deserve two massages.
“I’m happy to be getting the one
massage,” Nuetzman said. “I’m just
glad we won.”
sheldontraver@ daily emerald, com
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