I seek clarification on Andrew Gentile’s July 9 commentary, “Another well-intentioned law that would be open to abuse.” It appears that Gentile believes the law would wind up discriminating against straight, white men.
I disagree. I read H.359 and it consistently refers to individual rights. “This bill … prohibiting harassment… against any individual because of race, color, .…” If a white, straight man were harassed because he is white and straight, then that would be covered.
Gentile argues giving protections to people will result in more complaints. Workplace harassment and discrimination exist because of beliefs and biases of the people who engage in these hateful behaviors. Does Gentile think subjects of harassment and discrimination should suffer in silence?
He further claims this proposal (H.359) “would make employers afraid of hiring anyone protected by this law.” Is he saying that employers know their workplace is rife with harassment and discrimination and are afraid of it being reported, or is he implying that all the folks with protected status are troublemakers?
Treating people differently because of their membership in a certain group is demeaning and has been happening for centuries. Gentile maintains we should treat people as individuals, yet his solution to discrimination is to have segregated workplaces. Sounds like a page from history, “separate but equal.” We know how that went down.
Folks, we have a long way to go. Let’s keep truckin’.
Char Osterlund
Springfield
