NOTE: the views expressed in this post are mine alone and should not be attributed to any other organization or individuals. As to why I believe churches should be checked for compliance, (i) the ordinance quoted below provides them with no exemption and (ii) I have a strong suspicion that it was some of the "godly folk" who want gays and the LGBT Center to disappear who complained to the City of Norfolk.
The City of Norfolk, Virginia is requiring that the Hampton Roads LGBT secure a "Special Exception" permit under Chapter 25 of the Norfolk Zoning Ordinance because the so-called "Bar Task Force" and city bureaucrats have determined that the center is an "Entertainment Establishment." For those who have not seen the "Bar Task Force" at work, they swoop down on establishments like Nazi storm troopers and presume anyone and everyone to be guilty until proven otherwise. Here's how Section 2-3 of the Norfolk Zoning Ordinance defines an "entertainment" and "entertainment establishment":
As readers who saw my post yesterday will recall, the LGBT Center provides individual and family counseling, community meeting space, resource center, adult and youth services, social and educational events, and free HIV testing. In addition, it provides meeting space for community groups who - gasp, the horror - might have music from a boom box or allow teens and LGBT youth to have some dancing. And some groups with adult members like HRBOR might have alcohol at the functions. These events are few and far between in terms of the LGBT Center's day to day operations yet the LGBT Center - unlike countless religious facilities, including one that recent hosted a large fundraiser that included dancing and a live band - is being forced to secure a special exception which will feature public hearings that provide a forum for anti-LGBT hate merchants.
I'm sorry, but in my opinion, this is nothing less than harassment aimed at the LGBT community. The LGBT Center is no more an "entertainment establishment" than churches, synagogues and other religious facilities that hold wedding and other receptions, church dinners with music and/or dancing and other events that involve any dancing and/or amplified music.
I hope local readers will join me and come out to the support the LGBT Center on March 22, 2012 at Norfolk City Hall in downtown Norfolk at 2:30 PM. Your presence is important. For those who cannot attend, please send your messages of support to the Norfolk City Counsel at: City.Council@norfolk.gov.
The second thing that I ask local readers to do is this: send me the names of every Norfolk church, synagogues and religious facilities that occasionally hold receptions, church dinners and other events that involve any dancing and/or amplified music. Catholic Churches in particular likely fall in this category. Under the City of Norfolk interpretation these organizations also need to secure special exception permits. The City does not get to selectively apply this zoning ordinance requirement to the LGBT Center while giving other a free pass to other facilities doing the same types of social functions. Please e-mail the names of these churches, synagogues and like organizations so that proper complaints can be filed against them.
What's good for the LGBT Center is good for these organizations as well. We need to create a firestorm for Norfolk City Council - especially since elections are on May 1, 2012.
Entertainment. "Entertainment" means live performances and includes, but is not limited to, music performances involving amplified music or more than one instrument, a disc jockey, any form of dancing, comedians, and stage performances.Entertainment establishment. An establishment where entertainment is provided or having a dance floor. Alcoholic beverages may be provided to patrons of the establishment unless specifically prohibited by the terms of a special exception or other applicable provision of law. For the purposes of zoning, "entertainment establishment" shall not include commercial recreation restaurants or commercial indoor recreation centers.
I'm sorry, but in my opinion, this is nothing less than harassment aimed at the LGBT community. The LGBT Center is no more an "entertainment establishment" than churches, synagogues and other religious facilities that hold wedding and other receptions, church dinners with music and/or dancing and other events that involve any dancing and/or amplified music.
I hope local readers will join me and come out to the support the LGBT Center on March 22, 2012 at Norfolk City Hall in downtown Norfolk at 2:30 PM. Your presence is important. For those who cannot attend, please send your messages of support to the Norfolk City Counsel at: City.Council@norfolk.gov.
The second thing that I ask local readers to do is this: send me the names of every Norfolk church, synagogues and religious facilities that occasionally hold receptions, church dinners and other events that involve any dancing and/or amplified music. Catholic Churches in particular likely fall in this category. Under the City of Norfolk interpretation these organizations also need to secure special exception permits. The City does not get to selectively apply this zoning ordinance requirement to the LGBT Center while giving other a free pass to other facilities doing the same types of social functions. Please e-mail the names of these churches, synagogues and like organizations so that proper complaints can be filed against them.
What's good for the LGBT Center is good for these organizations as well. We need to create a firestorm for Norfolk City Council - especially since elections are on May 1, 2012.
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