Date: Thu, 4 May 1995 10:14:46 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: Sexual orientation now protected in Lawrence, Kansas FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Made Illegal in Kansas Town In a three-two vote Tuesday May 2, the City Commission of Lawrence, Kansas opted to tentatively accept a proposal to add the words "sexual orientation" to the city's existing Human Relations Ordinance. The decision is being hailed as making Lawrence the only city in the state of Kansas to extend protection against discrimination to people on the basis of their sexual orientation. After a decade of effort on part of Simply Equal, a community coalition which spearheaded the campaign for the change, the city has agreed to give lesbians, bisexuals, gay men, as well as heterosexuals legal recourse for discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Last week and this week the City Commission listened to hours of testimony from dozens of Lawrence citizens on both sides of the issue. Proponents of the amendment who spoke before the commission included local representatives from several Christian congregations and the Lawrence Jewish Community Center. The opposition, represented mostly by conservative Christians, often cited from the Bible. One often-repeated concern, that this amendment will force conservative Christian organizations to hire non-heterosexuals, is unsubstantiated, according to Lawrence Human Relations/ Human Resources director Ray Samuel. The ordinance allows for the exemption of religious organizations. Lawrence, Kansas will become the second municipality in the state to adopt such legislation. Wichita was the first in the 1970 s. The Wichita anti- discrimination legislation was repealed by popular vote shortly after its installation. The Lawrence amendment also may face a similar referendum battle. Opponents of the addition to the ordinance including Lawrence Mayor Bob Moody support such an action. The Reverend Leo Barbee, Jr., one of the leaders of the opposition to Simply Equal, said last night, "We are going to contact the attorney general, for one thing, and see if it conflicts with the state's sodomy laws." After hearing that civil rights leader Julian Bond had given his support to Simply Equal during a January visit to Lawrence for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Barbee was quoted in local newspapers as saying he would have made sure Bond had not been invited to Lawrence had he known about his views. The two commissioners who voted against the legislation amendment cited reasons other than moral opposition to homosexuality as justifications for their position. The recently-elected Bonnie Augustine stated her concern for the discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and gay people, but said she feels that education, not legislation, is the proper means to end discrimination. Mayor Bob Moody voted against the proposal because he said he feels Simply Equal is reopening an old wound in a city that is already divided. Proponents of the amendment feel that adding sexual orientation to the Human Relations Ordinance will open avenues for education in the area of sexual orientation. The City Department of Humans Relations/ Human Resources plans to conduct seminars in the fall to educate the public about the law. The coalition does not plan to disband after its first victory. Simply Equal, which has created a lively network of human rights activists, intends to remain intact and continue in the struggle for rights for all people in Lawrence. "We are very happy," said Simply Equal co-chair Ben Zimmerman following the vote. ̉But Simply Equal's work is not done. We are going to continue educating people. There is a lot of minisformation out there." Preparation against backlash and a battle at the polls is already underway. For more information, contact simequal@aol.com.