For the first time in our city's history, every registered voter will receive a ballot for the upcoming municipal election. The vote-by-mail system promises to be convenient, secure, and bring more people into the decision-making process. By enacting this reform that makes voting simpler, easier and better, Anchorage once again proves itself to be an advancing and innovative city. Anchorage continues to chart its way toward a brighter future.
Though the mailed ballots will mark a milestone in the city's progress, an initiative on those ballots threatens to hurl our city backward. By codifying discrimination in municipal code, Proposition 1 would take away civil liberties from individual Alaskans. Proposition 1 isn't just wrong. Its passage would be a profound setback in our efforts to make Anchorage a better place to live.
Voting is the central privilege and responsibility in a democratic society, and the weight of that responsibility is never greater than when a majority determines the rights of a minority of people. That is certainly true in this case. The laws protecting transgender people have been on the books for over two years now. Most of us go about living our lives, unaffected. But Proposition 1 would make the daily lives of transgender Anchorage residents more stressful and burdensome. That should weigh on all of us.
I have been pleased to see that political divisions have been put aside to reject this self-destructive ballot initiative. The coalition of groups and individuals that have come out against Proposition 1 is broad and impressive, and reflects how damaging this change would be to our city.
A broad range of leaders have gone on record opposing the initiative, ranging from the mayor to former school superintendents, faith leaders and local business leaders.
Seeing the disastrous impact of similar initiatives in other cities and states, the Anchorage business community has come out against Proposition 1. The board of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to oppose the initiative, releasing a statement that said: "Many conferences and potential new business would be lost due to this discriminatory legislation which would convey the message that Anchorage is not a welcoming city. At a time when all businesses are working to stay competitive and keep workers employed, we simply can't afford such a discriminatory initiative." The Anchorage Economic Development Corp. also came out against the initiative.
Proponents of the ballot initiative invoke the protection of women and children to support Proposition 1, but the organizations dedicated to protecting women and children oppose the initiative. In a recent op-ed, the executive director of the Alaska Children's Trust and the chapter coordinator of the Alaska Children's Alliance condemned the misinformation spread by proponents of Proposition 1. Laws that protect transgender people do not threaten children — spreading misinformation threatens children by distracting us from the real issues. National organizations that fight for women's rights and against sexual violence — including the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, the National Organization for Women, and the National Women's Law Center — have all come out against initiatives like Proposition 1.
As a lifelong resident of Anchorage, I have always been proud to live in a place that is open and welcoming to everyone. Here in Anchorage we view diversity as a strength and as something to be cherished. That is one of the most important reasons Deborah and I wanted to raise Jacob here. Over 200 municipalities have laws protecting transgender individuals. I'm proud to live in one of them. When I mail in my ballot this month, I will do my part to keep it that way. I hope you'll join me in voting "no" on Proposition 1.
Mark Begich is a former U.S. senator and former mayor of Anchorage.