From kevyn@KSUVM.KSU.EDUMon Jul 3 17:57:03 1995 Date: Mon, 3 Jul 1995 17:54:17 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: (TOPEKA, PICKETING) GLTFT Editorial on InterFaith Picketing Proposal FROM VOICES: NEWSLETTER OF THE GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE OF TOPEKA JUNE-JULY 1995 ==================================================== NEW ATTEMPT AT LIMITING PICKETEERS InterFaith of Topeka has started a second petition drive to collect enough signatures to force the City Council to vote on a proposed ordinance developed by attorney Jerry Palmer which would limit picketing of religious organizations to one hour any service or religious activity, and would further limit the picketers to staying at least 90 feet from any entrance or exit. Based in part on a Supreme Court decision of last July (Madsen vs. Women's Health Center) which upheld the right of the government to put "reasonable restrictions" on picketers of abortion clinics, the InterFaith ordinance would meet the same criteria as the Madsen decision allows. If an adequate number of signatures of registered voters are collected, the petition will be presented to the City Council which in turn must pass it, or it will automatically go to a special election for the entire City to decide. That such a petition is even necessary to force our City Government to act responsibly is a stinging indictment of Mayor Felker and the entire Council based on their history of failure to deal with the Phelpses and WBC members. The citizens of Topeka now have an opportunity to do what the Mayor and City Council have refused to do. ================================================================= VOICES is produced by members of the Gay & Lesbian Task Force of Topeka. It is a compilation of articles written and collected by community members to provide information to its membership. We do minimal editing, rather provide the space and forum for the expression of many voices into a single information source. If you would like to submit an article or idea, or would like to support VOICES and the GLTFT with a $5 annual membership, write to: GLTFT / PO BOX 3829 / TOPEKA, KS / 66604-3829 =================================================================