[ Send replies to XE605C@GWUVM.GWU.EDU, only ] May 24, 1994 Rockville, MD -- The Montgomery County Council today voted to repeal the anti-gay "Hanna Amendment." The Hanna Amendment states: 27-19(d) Not withstanding any other provision of this division, it shall not be an unlawful employment practice: (4) for an employer to deny employment on the basis of advocacy of homosexuality or bisexuality, those cases when the scope of employment requires the employee to work with minors of the same gender. The Hanna Amendment is named after it's author, the now President of the Montgomery County Council, who sought to limit the Human Rights Law ten years ago when "sexual orientation" was added as a protected class. William Hanna opposed the addition of sexual orientation to the Human Rights law ten years ago, and was the only Council member to vote against the repeal of the Amendment. The Amendment was called unconstitutional by the County's legal counsel, the ACLU, People for the American Way, and gay and lesbian activists. None of the opposition disagreed with that assesment. Most of the opposition was composed of extreme religious organizations, many who have a history of anti-gay and -lesbian activities in the past. Those organizations have been completely unsuccessful in moving any anti-gay and -lesbian actions through the County Council. The Amendment was repealed on a six to one vote, with two abstentions. The demographics of the Council were unusual for votes on lesbian, gay, and bi issues. While the majority of the supporters are democrats, both republicans abstained and did not vote against the bill. The only vote against the bill was from a democrat. Democratic women tend to be our best supporters, but the four co-sponsors of the bill are all men, though two women also voted for the repeal. The primary sponsor is the only African-American on the Council. The repeal was promoted by the Gay and Lesbian Interests Consortium of Montgomery County, a non-profit, non-partisian organization that also organizes the Montgomery County LesBiGay Pride Day. Special credit for their efforts go to Bonnie Berger and Steve Barchers. - Bob Summersgill | Xq28 -- Thanks Mom! XE605C @ GWUVM.GWU.EDU |