Change happens slowly. But it happens even slower in Greenville County, South Carolina.
Members of the Greenville County Council have just decided they won’t rescind a 1996 resolution that denounces homosexuality because they’ve got more important things to do.
Upstate Pride SC, a local LGBTQ nonprofit, has been pushing for the council to strip the homophobic resolution from the books for months.
“In May 1996, Greenville County Council passed a resolution stating that the homosexual lifestyle is incompatible with community standards,” the group said in a letter posted to its website. “It is time to remove this bigotry as the official position of the Greenville County Council.”
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A petition supporting Upstate Pride SC’s efforts has garnered almost 3,000 signatures. But, evidently, that wasn’t not enough to convince District 25 Councilman Ennis Fant or his colleagues to take any action.
In an interview with local media, Fant says rescinding the resolution isn’t a priority because it expired the same year it was passed.
“Decisions made by one council cannot bind the next council,” he explains. “So that resolution that was passed in ’96 effectively died on December 31st of that year.”
Fant adds that council members today aren’t worried about the social issues of 1996 and have more important things to worry about than making symbolic gestures that might help heal old wounds.
“We have three primary responsibilities: public safety, infrastructure and land management,” he says. “We don’t go into social issues. I’m more concerned about paving roads that desperately need to be paved than who gets to love whom.”
Upstate Pride SC says it’s aware the resolution is no longer applicable, but they believe “it’s pertinent that the view of the past county council be officially addressed and withdrawn.”
Essentially, they just want the current council to acknowledge the mistakes of the past council so that everyone can move on and feel welcomed in the future.
Honestly, it really doesn’t seem like that much to ask.
“In this era of divisiveness, it would be a welcome gesture for Greenville County Council to rescind this antiquated statute,” the group said, “and recognize their LGBTQ brothers, sisters, friends and coworkers as equal partners in this quest for the betterment of Greenville County.”
“Our personal biases should not dictate how we do business and lead the future.”
RIGay
Yup. Carolinas. Go figure. Assholes.
RichNYC
I was born in SC, and I live here now. The state has progressed a huge amount over my lifetime. More so in the coastal areas. Do not taint the entire state over the actions of the backwater rednecks.
Mack
It’s South Carolina, no surprises there. Just more hatred and bigotry.
JAW
Well since it has expired, then perhaps the current Council will show their open-mindedness and show support for the LGBT community by passing a resolution of their own.
Not passing a new one might show that they may be seen as bigots.
wikidBSTN
If you read the article – the 1996 resolution expired at the end of that year – so there is actually nothing to rescind. No real story here.
Dwight
If the 1996 Council passes an ordinance, rezones a property, establishes a tax rate etc., aren’t those actions are in effect until some future time when the Council makes a change. If that’s the case, they’re wrong that the actions of the 1996 Council are no longer in effect beyond 1996.
JAW
A resolution is normally just a feel good measure.
They may be made when the little league wins a championship, or a resident celebrates say a 100th birthday, etc, They have no legal standing.
The items you mention have legal standing and some can only be rescinded by taking a new vote. Others can be even more difficult to rescind., like rezoning a property.
Kieran
The photo proves that bigotry can have a white or a black face.
Smith David
@Kieran…It’s mostly a white face though. You tried it!
I continue to expect nothing progressive from the south. A large population of whites continue to facilitate hate and racism like a badge. I’m black in American and you will not change my views on that fact.
scotty
morons.