Human relations commission votes not to remove controversial commissioner

The county’s human relations fee voted on Thursday to not take away a commissioner for his controversial remarks in regards to the LGBTQ neighborhood and transgender people.

After months of heated debate, the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Fee held a particular assembly by way of Zoom, lastly settling discussions on whether or not or to not take away Commissioner Dennis Hodges after he continued to double down on his feedback.

Of the 19 commissioners who had been in attendance on the assembly through the vote, 10 elected to take away Hodges, six voted towards his elimination, and the rest abstained. Hodges’ elimination required 13 votes.

The mission of the 26-member physique, which was revived by the county in Could 2020, is “to advertise constructive human relations, respect, and the integrity of each particular person no matter gender, faith, tradition, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or citizenship standing.”

In April, the county Board of Supervisors accredited updates to the fee’s bylaws that now embody a code of conduct and new course of to take away a commissioner for simply trigger, which led to a renewed name to settle the matter of Hodges’ elimination with a vote.

Nonetheless, many commissioners requested in regards to the legality of the bylaws’ retroactivity, and it wasn’t till practically the top of the assembly that Rachel Witt, chief deputy county counsel, clarified that the supervisors’ dialogue in April “made very clear that these guidelines could be utilized transferring ahead and never be retroactive.”

Commissioner David Garcias, who led the bylaws subcommittee, additionally mentioned he didn’t really feel the bylaws needs to be retroactive, nor ought to the code of conduct be utilized to feedback made outdoors of fee conferences.

“It makes an enormous distinction,” Commissioner Summer time Stephan, county district lawyer, mentioned of the query of retroactivity, “as a result of the conduct that occurred earlier than the bylaws is, I consider, conduct that might require elimination.”

Nonetheless, different commissioners mentioned they believed Hodges’ needs to be held accountable for his feedback.

“This sort of language is hate speech, and speech like that, as we have now seen on this nation, time and time once more … causes actual hurt, creates discriminatory legal guidelines and violence towards LGBTQ individuals, and concern in our neighborhood, and an actual battle for security, safety and dignity,” mentioned Commissioner Cara Dessert, CEO of The San Diego LGBT Neighborhood Heart, “not simply that all of us deserve, however that this fee is meant to combat for.”

Dessert was amongst a lot of commissioners who repeatedly known as for Hodges’ elimination and as soon as once more introduced the matter earlier than the physique throughout final month’s assembly.

The battle first arose on Nov. 9, when Hodges, pastor of the nondenominational Church of Yeshua Ha Mashiach in Lemon Grove, abstained from voting with commissioners to endorse a letter condemning transphobia and recommitting to work to finish discrimination towards transgender individuals.

When requested about his abstention, Hodges made remarks characterised by many as derogatory about transgender and LGBTQ individuals, together with that “transgenderism … is an abomination within the eyes of God.”

On Thursday, Dessert gave numerous examples of Hodges’ remarks in county conferences throughout public remark, on social media and within the media following the preliminary incident that she mentioned had been additionally discriminatory.

Hodges additionally spoke throughout Thursday’s assembly and mentioned that although his beliefs could differ from others, it’s his proper to take care of them.

“I respect all beliefs and religions, and I respect the rights of those that do not need the identical beliefs or agree with my religion,” he mentioned. “I respect every particular person’s proper to apply their very own religion. My rights have been challenged within the present pursuit of punishment and elimination from this fee.

“We as a fee ought to by no means permit one set of beliefs or one group of individuals to attempt to eradicate one other,” he later added.

Within the months that adopted the incident, Hodges refused to resign and mentioned he had a proper to stay on the board whereas sustaining his spiritual beliefs, whereas dozens of LGBTQ supporters and a few of his fellow commissioners known as for his elimination to no avail.

Throughout Thursday’s assembly, 19 members of the general public spoke concerning Hodges, 11 of whom didn’t agree along with his elimination.

“Commissioner Dennis Hodges is being discriminated towards due to his private beliefs,” mentioned Gail Levin. “Is it the work of the fee to uphold the dignity and respect of all individuals teams or is it to find out for all the county who, when and the place individuals should conform to the requirements of one other group?”

Others echoed Levin’s statements, together with Artwork Hodges, who added that the fee ought to mirror each various group and perception within the county.

“The aim of this HRC is to not promote one group over one other,” he added.

Nonetheless, others who supported Hodges’ elimination mentioned his faith shouldn’t be an excuse to permit hate speech.

“Unapologetic hate speech towards the whole (LGBTQ) neighborhood violates the spirit of the human relations fee and the obligations of any appointed or elected official,” mentioned Lauren Chroman.

Will Abshier, a psychological well being counselor on the LGBT Heart, mentioned speech like Hodges’ has beforehand affected him.

“The results of that isn’t that I turned much less queer, much less homosexual, extra normative; the result’s that I discovered myself not eager to dwell,” Abshier mentioned. “I’ve little question about your character, Commissioner Hodges, and also you do have your proper to your individual beliefs and your apply of these beliefs, however this isn’t the platform.”

Equally, commissioners spoke each for and towards Hodges’ elimination.

“I actually consider that if Pastor Hodges — or any of us — had used the identical language about some other minority, we’d not be having this dialog — that the individual utilizing that language would have been eliminated,” mentioned Commissioner Tammy Gillies. “So, I’m actually troubled that in 2022, we’re nonetheless treating … the LGBTQ neighborhood as in the event that they don’t matter as a lot as some other minority.”

However, Commissioner Eleanor Evans mentioned everybody’s beliefs ought to have a seat on the fee.

“Considered one of our obligations is to be the position mannequin group, to be a unifying drive, to be an entity that may take care of all teams as a scenario of collaboration or corroboration,” Evans added. “We’re a company that focuses on human relations, and generally it means forgiveness, and generally it means making an attempt to exhibit love in a really hostile scenario.”