Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 18:33:45 -0600 (CST)
From: Kevyn Jacobs <kevyn@KSUVM.KSU.EDU>
To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" <KQN@casti.com>
Subject: KU UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN: LAWRENCE CITY COMMISSION ON SIMPLY EQUAL

FROM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1995
REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION
======================================

NO VOTE ON ORDINANCE CHANGE

by Sarah Morrison,
Kansan staff writer

Supporters of the proposal to add the words "sexual orientation" to
Lawrence's human relations ordinance expressed outrage at the Lawrence
city commission meeting last night, saying the commission had dealt with
the proposal unfairly and by doing so had sent a message of
city-sanctioned discrimination to the community.

The change would extend anti-discrimination protection to people on the
basis of sexual orientation.

Following the commission's decision not to place the item on the agenda
and put it to a vote, Ben Zimmerman, co-chairman for Simply Equal, the
coalition that proposed the change in November, said the group wanted a
public hearing so members of the coalition and their supporters would
have a chance to present their arguments.

The 15 minutes given to the coalition to present its arguments during a
January study session on the issue was insufficient, Zimmerman said.

If the item had been placed on the agenda, a public hearing would have
been conducted.

"Simply Equal has been denied a fair, unbiased open hearing," Zimmerman
said.  "We think human rights are not issues to be taken lightly.  Simply
Equal is about people and the quality of life in Lawrence.  We are here
today to express our indignation at the way this important issue of human
rights has been handled by city hall."

After Commissioner Doug Compton's announcement at last night's meeting
that he would not vote for the amendment, the commission decided not to
put the item on the agenda for a vote because it would be a waste of
time.

If the item was voted on by the current commission, it would not pass.
Commissioners Bob Schulte and Bob Moody have said they would join Compton
in voting against it.  Commissioner John Nalbandian and Mayor Jo Andersen
have said they would vote for the change.

Lorraine Moore, president of the Lawrence chapter of Parents and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays, blasted the commission for changing its course of
action after it had decided to wait until after a staff study on the
issue was completed in April to decide.

Moore accused the commission of caving into the wishes of Compton, who is
running for re-election April 4, by allowing him to influence their
course of action in an attempt to help his campaign.

Compton had no comment.