2009 U.S. Conference of Mayors

June 12-16th will mark the 77th United States Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting, a conference designed to set and propose and discuss urban and suburban policy amongst many other goals. Mayors from around the country will meet and discuss/vote on over 100 proposals ranging from public transit to green energy and, for the first time (I believe), marriage equality.

Meet Resolution #46, as proposed by Mayors Sam Adams (Portland), David Cicilline (Providence), and Christopher Cabaldon (West Sacramento) (full proposal list here -- warning: big file and PDF format!):

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.

It is a strongly wordy pro-LGBTQ proposal from some (maybe not so unexpected) friends from around the country. Now, these proposals, if passed, are not binding and do not require anybody to act on them. Rather, they are just political posturing and statements meant to influence national change. Most of the proposals, in fact, are easy "duh's" -- it's hard to vote against greening streets, improving education, and reducing crime. Very few are really groundbreaking, in fact, which is why this one slipped in is such a surprise, to my mind.

I think it's probably a little more divisive than 95% of those on the list, and I'm curious to know just how many -- and which ones -- will sign on.

And I think it's important to send Mayor Mallory our request that he vote for this proposal, don't you? Considering that this weekend is Cincinnati's Pride, I think it would be especially poignant to have a ringing endorsement of both LGBTQ national policies and marriage equality (though it would have been nice to separate them, as more could sign onto ENDA, I think, than marriage... especially through the South).

Don't know how to get ahold of Mayor Mallory? Simple. Just email him -- mark dot mallory at cincinnati-oh dot gov. (If you can't read anti-spam email addy's, just click here to see it... or say it outloud, it should make sense.)