Why would anyone oppose freedom and equality for all? Oh, yeah…

There are organizations going around Fairmont, W.Va., with petitions telling citizens that a new Human Rights Commission ordinance would allow men to dress up like women and enter women's rest rooms to expose themselves or do whatever -- and do it legally -- because the ordinance extends rights to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

They claim these men would not be arrested because the ordinance would protect them. This is not only untrue, it's ridiculous on its face.

In fact, if a man wanted to do something like that, he doesn't need an ordinance to give him “permission.” He could do it today and no one would stop him at the door, but ordinance or no ordinance, such activity is against the law.

I hate to use the term "fake news" to describe these petitioners, but if the shoe fits....

I had hoped that people wouldn’t be conned into believing something as preposterous as this. (Of course, 62 million people were conned into voting for Donald Trump, so there’s that.) I had hoped that my fellow Fairmont residents would actually read an ordinance before signing a petition to repeal it, because it doesn’t say what some people claim it says.

Apparently, however, the opponents of fairness have found enough kindred spirits to submit their petitions to City Council. So much for self-study and awareness of issues.

For the record, the ordinance reads:

“It is the public policy of the city to safeguard the right and opportunity of all persons to be free from all forms of discrimination, whether as a result of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, blindness or handicap, and to provide for an inclusive community for all residents, businesses and visitors. The denial of these rights (to those groups) is contrary to the principles of freedom and equality of opportunity and is destructive to a free and democratic society.”

It's a policy, not a law. It's what the city fathers believe to be fair. It doesn't tell anyone to do anything; it just asks everyone to do the right thing. 

I only know of one reason why anyone would knowingly choose a side that opposes freedom and equality for everyone. If that describes you, maybe you should ask yourself, "Is that what I want to be, or is that who I really am?"

And if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you probably already are.