Uncomfortable on the Street
Twenty-ten has been an interesting year with regard to LGBTQ issues. We’ve seen some remarkable moves, with nine Utah municipal governments passing non-discrimination ordinances and some landmark court cases ruling against California’s Proposition 8 and the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. We’ve also seen a great deal of stupidity and bigotry from groups like the LDS Church and their puppets like the National Organization for Marriage.
Earlier this week the Salt Lake City Council voted on another issue that has significant ramifications for the community, although without as much “mainstream” media attention as these other issues: the panhandling ordinance. In a surprising, but welcome, move the City Council voted 4-3 to delay the vote on the proposed ordinance that would criminalize “aggressive” panhandling near businesses in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake’s Downtown Alliance has endorsed the ordinance, citing a certain level of discomfort for business owners and patrons as a result of being solicited by panhandlers. I’m willing to admit that there are some panhandlers around town that can be a bit scary and may potentially cause some people to be uncomfortable. What I don’t understand is how we go from being a bit uncomfortable with people to attempting to criminalize their existence.
My thought on this, though, is pretty simple. If you’re uncomfortable with homeless people asking for help, then let’s put our efforts into solving the problem of homelessness. If you want to keep panhandlers off the street, let’s find a way to provide shelter, and ways to help them find jobs and sustain themselves and their families.
We live in a society where we can easily find $700 billion to provide bail-outs to banks, insurance companies, and automakers to ensure that their executives receive million-dollar bonuses, but none of that money finds its way back into the economy to help provide jobs or help people hold on to their homes.
From the perspective of the LGBTQ community, the statistics are alarming. There is a disproportionately large segment of the homeless population that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This publication has recently run a number of stories detailing the plight of these people, especially the youth. Yet still we have business leaders, elected officials and law enforcement officers (except Chief Burbank — thanks, Chief!) that support the idea of criminalizing people for being homeless.
Fortunately, we have seen a glimmer of hope. The city council voted to delay the vote on the proposed ordinance into next year. While it doesn’t end the debate, it certainly provides us with room to work. Advocates of the homeless are working tirelessly to help organize opposition to the Downtown Alliance and Chamber of Commerce lobbyists that are pushing this ordinance.
One of these advocacy groups is Operation Shine America, founded by Chloe Nobel and Ginger Phillips. They have organized rallies, protests, and are holding debates and panels to help put a face on Utah’s homeless population. While the advocates certainly don’t have the money or the political power of Utah’s business elite, they are managing to sway opinion by appealing to the better half of human nature. It seems to be working so far, but this fight is far from over.
As you go about your shopping and other activities downtown this year, I encourage you all to pay attention to the faceless, nameless people on the street around you. These people aren’t “bums” or “hobos” — they are people. People like you, people like me. These are people that have put their hand out, and need a hand up.
Not all of us have the means to provide food, money, clothing or shelter to people in need but we all have the means to provide basic human decency. Try to understand these people and their situation. Look at them as fellow human beings. Remember them when you talk to your elected representatives, remember their situation.
Yes, having a large number of people living on the street and begging for food or money is uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable because in a society with so much, there is no excuse for so many to have so little. It’s time to turn our attention to addressing the real issue behind Utah’s homeless problem and away from the political grandstanding and band-aids being proposed by our business and political leaders.
Bob Henline is a straight man. Don’t hold that against him — he was born that way. He is also a professional author and editor. His blog can be read at nonpart.org.