Anti-gay rights flyer circulates K'zoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - On Nov. 3, Kalamazoo voters will decide whether to adopt an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people for hiring, housing and other accommodations.

The ordinance was passed unanimously by the city commission in August.

But now, a group that opposes the ordinance, Kalamazoo Citizens Voting NO to Special Rights Discrimination, is circulating a flyer depicting cross-dressing and transgendered individuals. It addresses public accommodations, one of the key issues up for debate.

If the ordinance passes, men will be able to use the women's restrooms, which will violate women and children's privacy, the opposition group says.

But the use of public restrooms is a nonissue, according to groups who support the ordinance, because the issue already is addressed by Michigan law and the proposal would not require public places to provide unisex restrooms or locker rooms.

The flyer is just a scare tactic used by the opposition to drum up 'no' votes in November, support groups say.

"So, this is frustrating to us when we read this," said David Garcia, the executive director of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource

Center. "Some sick guy wants to put on a dress and walk into a bathroom and rape somebody. That is not what the transgender community is about.

"These are two completely separate issues. Ordinance or no ordinance, you're not going to stop some sicko (from) doing that. That's not a trans-issue. That's a criminal issue."

This is just one of the many issues in a much larger debate 24 Hour News 8 will cover in the days leading up to the November vote in Kalamazoo.

"I'm a politician and I know how to campaign," said Mary Balkema, of the opposition group. "And it is an attention-getter and it's shocking. And it should shock you to see a man in a skirt in a women's bathroom. It should be shocking."

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