Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1995 18:27:35 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: Simply Equal update (fwd) There was much rejoicing in Lawrence Tuesday night as Simply Equal, the proposal to add the words "sexual orientation" to the city human relations ordinance, passed a preliminary vote by the city commission. It has to be voted on again next week (an identical vote is expected) and then it goes into effect! Here's a piece about it written by John Bennett. Peace, Luv, and Hairgrease, Chris Hampton LesBiGayS OK Official Email Coordinatrix ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a three-two vote Tuesday April 25, the Lawrence City Commission opted to tentatively accept Simply Equal's proposal to add the words "sexual orientation" to the city's existing Human Relations Ordinance. The decision was hailed with rousing cheers from those in attendance. After a decade of effort on part of Simply Equal's supporters, the city has agreed to protect lesbians, bisexuals, gay men, as well as heterosexuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The amendment to the ordinance will give all citizens of Lawrence access to legal recourse if they feel they have discriminated against in these areas based on their sexual orientation. The Commission's decision comes as a birthday surprise to Ben Zimmerman. Simply Equal co-chair Zimmerman was honored at a joint birthday and victory party at the HideAway, Lawrence's "family" bar, Tuesday evening after the vote. The party was also attended by City Commissioner and former mayor Jo Andersen and newly-elected Commissioner Allen Levine. The City Commission listened to over two hours of testimony from fifty people 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. The ordinance is expected to be adopted in the first week of May. 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 as well as Lawrence Mayor Bob Moody support such an action. 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 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 future looks optimistic in the eyes of Simply Equal supporters. "Sweet victory!" said Lynne Green, co-chair of Simply Equal. "It's only taken ten years, but this is a safer town today." 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. Preparation against backlash is already underway.