Belgrade Woman is Boycotting Billings

The fallout from the City Council's rejected Non Discrimination Ordinance continues.  This morning, a woman from Belgrade wrote a letter to the editor of the Gazette stating that she will now be boycotting our town.

According to the woman, she and her family come to Billings often and spend money in our stores and restaurants.  Because of the council's rejection of the controversial ordinance, she will now be taking her money elsewhere.

Which is too bad, because the local merchants had nothing to do with the City Council's decision.  Mark wondered if she had experienced or witnessed any discrimination during her visits to Billings.  We suspect she hasn't because, in spite of the failure to pass the largely symbolic ordinance, discrimination is still against the law in Billings. Our city is no less tolerant today than it was several weeks ago.

Last week, the Flakes talked with a legal expert who explained that people still have the same rights they always have.  If you move to Billings, you can't be denied housing, employment, or anything else for that matter.

Furthermore, the only objection local leaders had to the bill was the provision that would also transgender people to use any public restroom they chose.  In our opinion, that was the sticking point.  And just because you don't want your children to share a public restroom with someone from another gender, that doesn't make you a bigot. That just makes you a concerned parent.  And there is a difference.