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Tagged: Holland City Council

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Politics
10:40 am
Tue November 8, 2011

Minister pleads not guilty to charges for trying to “occupy” Holland City Hall

Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Rev. Bill Freeman (left) and his attorney Peter Armstrong Sr. (right) take questions from reporters after his brief court appearance Tuesday morning.
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Last month Reverend Bill Freeman was arrested for refusing to leave city hall. He was protesting Holland City Council’s decision in June 2011 against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its anti-discrimination laws. The proposed changes would have given homosexual and transgender persons protection from discrimination by employers and landlords.

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Politics
5:30 am
Mon November 7, 2011

Fight for anti-discrimination ordinance continues in Holland

Next imagePrevious image
Credit Seth Thompson / Epiglotic Photographic
'Until Love is Equal' founder Erin Wilson holds his son Julian. Next to him are his wife Amy, son Riley and daughter Siona. The group sell t-shirts, sweatshirts and bumper stickers to raise awareness.
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Rev. Bill Freeman reads from his copy of the U.S. Constitution during a packed public hearing on the proposed changes in June 2011. Freeman first requested city council to study the issue in the spring of 2010.
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Combat veteran Michael Tuffelmire sells Until Love is Equal T-shirts at a cook out before a march in Holland in August 2011. 'It’s time to like step up and say everybody is equal under the law,' Tuffelmire said.
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
A small sign is posted outside The Piper Restaurant just outside Holland. The owner donated space and staff volunteered time for a fundraising gala for Until Love is Equal in October.
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This is a local version of a national story that aired on NPR's 'All Things Considered' Saturday.

Last June the city council in Holland voted 5-to-4 against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its local anti-discrimination laws. Federal and Michigan laws protect residents from discrimination in housing and employment – but not based on a person’s sexuality or gender identity.

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Politics
11:03 am
Thu October 20, 2011

Minister arrested in Holland anti-discrimination fight

Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Reverend Bill Freeman has addressed Holland City Council every week since the vote against the anti-discrimination ordinance. He vowed to occupy city hall last night and was charged with disturbing the peace.
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A minister faces charges of disturbing the peace for protesting Holland City Council’s decision against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its anti-discrimination laws. The proposed changes would have given homosexual and transgender persons protection from discrimination by employers and landlords. City Council voted 5 to 4 in June 2011 against moving to adopt the local ordinance.

“It’s not about me. It’s not about (city council),” Reverend Bill Freeman Said, “It’s about people who are being discriminated against in the City of Holland just because of who they are and I don’t think that’s right.”

Freeman and others have attended every city council meeting since the decision to ask city council to change their minds. Earlier this month some city council members told the group they wouldn’t change their minds, adding that the group should change their tactics.

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Culture
1:39 am
Thu August 4, 2011

Young people promise to march “until love is equal” in Holland

Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
About 150 people marched through downtown Holland Wednesday demanding equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
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A group of young people marched through Holland Wednesday night to protest a vote city council made in June against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its anti-discrimination laws.

These laws would protect people from getting fired or kicked out of their houses because they are gay or transgender. Federal and state laws protect people from discrimination – but not based on a person’s sexuality or gender identity. The debate in Holland has not died with that vote.

About 150 people marched as part of an ongoing effort to demand Holland City Council change its decision. The march was organized to show young people in Holland support the effort.

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Culture
6:30 am
Wed July 6, 2011

What’s next for anti-discrimination laws in Holland? Lots...

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Credit Tyrone Warner / Creative Commons
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Rev. Bill Freeman addresses Holland City Council in June.
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Reverend Ralph Houston reads Bible passages from a handout he gave Holland City Council members at a meeting in early June 2011.
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Many said there is no problem with discrimination in Holland at a meeting in early June 2011. But resident Bin Lim told council 'To say there’s no discrimination that’s just – I don’t know how to respond to that.'
Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
'Holland is Ready' bumper stickers and buttons were handed out at the door of Holland City Hall the day the council voted.
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Last month Holland City Council voted against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to their local anti-discrimination laws. But the fight over gay rights continues in the generally conservative town.

The debate surrounds the City of Holland adopting local laws. These laws would protect people from getting fired or kicked out of their houses because they are gay or transgender. Federal and state laws protect people from discrimination – but not based on a person’s sexuality or gender identity.

The debate is not technically about the morality of homosexuality. But in a community known for having a church on almost every corner – for many people in Holland that is definitely part of the conversation.

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Culture
4:02 am
Thu June 16, 2011

Gender identity, sexual orientation laws fail to move forward at Holland City Council

Credit Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio
Rev. Bill Freeman reads from his copy of the U.S. Constitution during a packed out public hearing on the proposed changes. Freeman first requested city council to study the issue a little over a year ago.
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Sometime between midnight and 1 a.m. today, at least 50 people file out of Holland City Hall. I hear some say, “They don’t get it, but you tried.”

A few people wearing "Holland is Ready" buttons hug one another -- some are tearing up -- after city council voted 5 to 4 against the recommendation to adopt the proposed anti-discrimination laws. The recommendation included providing homosexual and transgender persons protection from employers and landlords who discriminate against them.

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