At 11:10 AM 2/14/2005, David Strand wrote:
I don't believe this is a legitimate glbt issue. It appeared to me that McManus was percieved- rightly or wrongly- as the best person for the job. The black and gay communities are not expressly seperate as they share members in common. The identity of an individual in a particular post in not a legitimate glbtiq issue in my book. If glbtiq people had been blocked from any positions in the administration or city posts, this might be arguable, but this is far from the case.
I agree this hasn't been the case. My feeling is that this doesn't demonstrate the Mayor is anti-gay. However the scuttlebutt on this one is that Rybak tried to use this situation to drive a wedge between the black and gay community. Certainly when Michele Bachmann had a Martin Luther King day press conference with anti-gay Black minister, Bob Battle, she was definitely attempting to practice wedge politics.
Some people have told me they saw the Mayor's fingerprints on this article that attacked Robert Lilligren in the Spokesman.
http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=37866&sID=16&Search=YES
Beyond that, the Mayor is entitled to his appointments. The City Council is there to advise and consent - but shouldn't be voting against appointments except for serious reasons.To say that RT did not support the gay community because he didn't support a particular individual who happens to be a lesbian to a particular post over another individual applying for that same position is absurd. Yes, both individuals are well qualified to fill the position. I can see the advantage to bringing in someone from outside the organization when one of the concerns in the broad community is one of the culture of the police force and or perception of the force in the community.
I did feel some of the discussion on this list during this appointment unfairly tarnished Sharon Lubinski as someone who supported police brutality. I don't see that from her record.
Eva Young Near North Minneapolis [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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