South Bend Equality

South Bend Equality's Mission:

It is currently legal in South Bend for  an employer to fire an employee, a landlord to refuse housing and the city to restrict access to public accommodations solely on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

South Bend Equality has been formed to create equal protection under the law for all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The goal of South Bend Equality is to amend our anti-discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity in order to prevent this type of discrimination and to allow for residents to have recourse if they believe this type of discrimination has occurred.

"Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination."

~ Coretta Scott King

Do you know the difference between

"Discrimination" and "Prejudice"?

Discrimination has been defined in the courts as “the failure to treat all equally.”

According to scientists, like psychologists or sociologists, discrimination refers to “negative behaviors directed toward members of a particular group”.

Prejudice is “a generally negative attitude directed toward others because of their membership in a particular group.” Sometimes prejudices can be positive attitudes, such as when a lesbian is assumed to be better at sports than other women.  Prejudices are typically incorrect, however, because they stereotype (make incorrect assumptions) about members of a particular group.

Discrimination is behavior, whereas prejudice refers to attitudes. 

You can see how prejudice (negative attitude) can lead to discrimination (negative behaviors). But, even when people have prejudices against another group, that does not give them the right to treat that group unfairly.

Although prejudice is wrong, it is not now and never will be illegal. Only education can stop prejudice.  South Bend Equality is working to end discrimination, behavior that has caused harm, and will continue to cause harm, to untold numbers of LGBT persons in South Bend.

Please help South Bend Equality put an end to discrimination!