MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2015
SENATE BILL 2279: Relating
to prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Chairman David
Hogue, Vice Chairman Kelly M. Armstrong, Members of the Committee, and fellow
citizens of North Dakota, Good Morning.
My name is Kevin
R. Tengesdal; I am a native of North Dakota now living in Bismarck. I have been
working in good standing with a local company for the past eleven years as a
graphic designer. I am a veteran of the United States Navy. I am also a
graduate from an evangelical Bible College in South Carolina with Bachelor
degrees in Biblical Studies and in Biblical Languages. I am gay, a devoted disciple of Christ, and I stand in support of SB2279.
Here we stand for
a third time since 2009 seeking fair labor and housing laws for our LGBT citizens
and their families. We have been told from the opposition that we are just a
group seeking “special status for some” when in actuality we have been seeking the
same protections granted to other citizens. Groups such as The North Dakota
Catholic Conference have advised in essence to pass judgment against us, as LGBT
citizens, despite the fact that the Pontiff states that it is not our place to
judge. Some who have never experienced marginalization have demanded proof of
this discrimination, claiming that protections are not needed, since LGBT North
Dakotans have done without them for so long.
We have heard the insipid, bold-faced lies from the opposition stating that this law would
allow men to accost women in public bathrooms, neglecting the fact that assault
will still be a criminal act, and that there has never been a reported case of
this type of assault because of this legislation. Not to mention, the overwhelming evidence suggests that
these would-be predators are much more likely to be heterosexual men than LGBT
individuals.
The opposition has even advised you that being LGBT is a lifestyle choice and attraction, that it is
therefore something which should not be protected. However, they have neglected
the fact that religion is a perceived lifestyle choice and an attraction that is itself a protected class. Not one
opposition group has been able to explain how discrimination against another
human fits within the “North Dakota Nice” code of honor. Their arguments have been
simply nothing more than terror tactics and scary language, designed to make
you ignore the real issues at hand.
As a disciple of
Jesus, I ask you, who are we to decide that certain persons should be
second-class citizens undeserving of the same respect and dignity that which
Christ Himself gives freely? Citizens of North Dakota, should fear-mongering
and hate rule human fairness and dignity, or should solid legal reasoning, and a
healthy dose of human compassion?
The Golden Rule is
by which I have chosen to live, and one I implore you to remember when you
consider this legislation – treat your neighbor, as you would want to be treated.
Do we want North Dakota to be known as the state that chooses to discriminate
and deny basic human decency to our fellow citizens and their families? Remember, people
do make a choice whether or not to move to North Dakota, or even leave North
Dakota, based upon fair labor and housing practices. Do we want to impede the
forward progress of North Dakota by choosing to continue this discrimination?
Do we want to
choose to be the state surrounded by other states and Canadian provinces that grant
state-level protection to their LGBT citizens? Twenty-one states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and over 140 cities and counties have enacted bans on
discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or sexual identity -- beginning
with the District of Columbia in 1973 and with Wisconsin in 1982, over thirty
years ago. Thirty years.
It is our hope that
you and the members of the 2015 legislature will choose to be on the honorable
side of history. I request a unanimous DO PASS on this bill as presented. We
are a state that prides itself on a strong work ethic and supporting our
families, youth and community. We must pass this legislation unconditionally,
now, and without amendment.
To quote the words
of John Donne, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of
the continent, a part of the main.” Senators and fellow citizens of
North Dakota let me close by simply stating that we, the LGBT citizens of North
Dakota, are as much a part of this state as you, and as your LGBT family and
friends, we are seeking fair treatment; to be a piece of the continent, a part
of the main.
Thank you for your
time and consideration.
Kevin R. Tengesdal,
District 35
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