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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1985)
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CAUi.: MENRY NARANJO RUSM CM AIRMAN OR 693-0915 T J LYMENSTUIUU RRESIOENT 268-0159 Page 4/The Battalion/Thursday, January 17,1985 1 1 • ————— ,17 Fin Gay rights up for Houston vote P r< By MICHAEL CRAWFORD Staff Writer When the more than 7,000 stu dents at Texas A&M from Harris County returned to school, they left that county’s largest city in a fierce battle of rhetoric which could indi rectly affect Gay Student Services ac ceptance at Texas A&M. A Jan. 19 Houston referendum that, if approved, would outlaw dis crimination against homosexuals in city employment has ignited wide spread debate among government, religious and civic leaders. It is an issue proponents on both sides regret being forced to a refer endum. The proposed changes would amend the city’s civil service and af firmative action practices to include the term “sexual orientation.” Cur rently, “race, color, age, disability, sex or national origin” may not be considered for hiring, firing or job promotions. Campus attention has been cen tered on the ongoing battle by the GSS to receive official recognition as a student organization at A&M. The Board of Regents has refused recog nition so far. Gay Student Services’ President Marco Roberts believes the outcome of the Houston vote may set a trend of acceptance or rejection for homo sexuals throughout Texas. “Psychologists have noted that people seem to follow the lead of the laws that are written,” Roberts said. “If this proposal does pass, people will probably become more toleran- t...It works the other way around also. If it doesn’t pass, then it will hurt gay rights’ issues pretty much in all of Texas. It will suadenly become more popular to be anti-gay than pro-gay in terms of rights issues. If this proposal fails, I don’t know of any politician that will support any gay rights issues for a long time to come.” Absentee balloting, usually low in local elections, was reported supri- singly high with 3,606 ballots cast in person and another 753 by mail at the close of voting Tuesday. Experts generally agree a low turnout makes defeat less likely because of the Gay Political Caucus’ ability to motivate its constituency. Opponents of the referendum charge passage would grant mi nority status to homosexuals and le gitimize their lifestyle. Houston Councilman John Goodner is the most vocal public official lobbying against the changes. “I think there is a heck of a lot of difference in compassion, toleration and understanding of that differ ence (homosexuality),” he said, “than making that difference some sort of attractive alternative and giv ing it recognition.” Councilman Anthony Hall, who first proposed the changes, denies the amendments grant homosexuals recognition saying “traditional prej udices and misunderstandings” may cause voters to defeat the referen dum. “The opposition is putting out a host of untruths about the ordinance itself,” Hall said. “They suggest that we are creating special privileges for homosexuals and that the city is going to have an expensive affirma tive action program to pay for ... The ordinances preclude any kind of recruitment or special privilege. They say that specifically.” Goodner, who is also Chairman of the anti-gay Committee for Public Awareness, does not deny distortion has occurred. “I think Councilman Hall is accurate,” Goodner said. “On an issue like this I think it’s impossi- ia and ble for everyone to go arounc tell the truth. I guess we all tell the truth as we see it. There have been some distortions of fact by, not only our people, but also, I’m sure, by a lot of other groups.” In December 1983, Hall pre sented the measure to council and asked the city’s legal department to review the changes. In June 1984, the department returned them to council which narrowly passed the civil service ordinance and the affir mative action resolution — 9-6 and 8-7 respectively. Goodner charged Hall sought the Gay Political Caucus’ endorsement which other Council proponents had. Hall denied the charge saying, “I believe that in 1984 any citizen in this country who is not guily of ille gal conduct ought to have an equal opportunity for a job from his gov ernment.” Opponents were outraged, saying their views had not been heard by the Council and prompted a petition drive which resulted in 61,400 signa tures. Rather than rescind the changes, the Council chose to place the issue before the voters at a cost of $350,000. Leaders on both sides, armed with several political action committees, established phone banks and held meetings to promote voter interest. it’s in South Africa, EthiopiaorC tral America,” Oliver said. “WJ rever it is, it affects all of us. Tli'| what this country is all about.’ 1 Oliver continued: "During | Civil Rights movement when wen to the nation, ‘The issue is ajit question and people are equal’wiJ Dr. Martin Luther King quotedij Declaration of Independence a we hold these truths to be i dent that all men people arec equal, were we serious? Did wen it?... I think many people who are m gay or pro-gay are saying thisisajj discrimination issue; this is am a uestion; it is a matter of equaiitv; er the law.” Oliver believesdis ination against homosexuals is idt tical to discrimination againslt 1 in the past. ap Interim Director Bert Hurlbut the Austin-based Foundation Traditional Morality equates there] erendum to an invitation to a Francisco-type atmosphere. “We must take action to prew homosexuals from giving blood,' said, “to make them distant bj| child handling operations, tow them out of jobs and professM that deal with the public, and ms specifically, we must require them] get out of fixid handling and cal professions.” In spending figures released Wednesday, amt-referendum forces outspent their opposition by three to Rev. Bill Oliver, manager of the pro-gay Citizens for a United Hous ton, said the issue is not a gay issue but a discrimination issue. “I’m opposed to injustice whether In a statement released by B Oliphant of the Texas Annual ference of the United Mef Church, Rev. Frank C. Maybee, minister of the Coastal Plains of the Southwest (Disciples), Bishop Maurice Benitez of the copal Diocese of Texas, the religral leaders of the three major dead nations urged support of the tele endum. Borboro Jordan,supports gay rights ordinance AUST Wednesd keep a cl in the sta the Legis sider ah some of now in e: Yet ar state trea tential be ernment taining h All th sored hr were sen senting > ate. Leedc Senate C Managei than 40C control ( establish “This counts - all of th Leedon, One e Budget 1986, o funds tl solidatei fund.” A Le State Ca “monito agemen recomrr The < governc | and tw I Board. Leed lution t with fin TAMU IO REOU. HOUSTON — Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan will appear this week in television commercials sup porting two Houston gay rights ordi nances that will be considered by voters in a Saturday referendum election. Officials of the Campaign for United Houston, a group cam paigning for passage of two gay- rights ordinances, said Jordan has endorsed their efforts and is taping television and radio commercials for the organization. The commercials are part of a fi nal push by the pro-gay group to garner support in Saturday’s elec tion. At issue are two propositions that would grant job protection and equality in hiring for everyone, re gardless of “sexual orientation.” Campaign activity against the is sue also has intensified. Anti-gay groups have brought in a physician from California and a rabbi from New York to speak at rallies and meetings against the ordinances. treasur Absentee voting on the issue doA slstaIKt Tuesday with a total of 3,606 val v cast. Another 753 absentee bait® . de P have been mailed and not yen turned. the slat* City councilman John Goodner, a leader of the anti-gay rights group, said the issue in the election is not job discrimination, but whether Houstonians want to transform their city into a haven for homosexuals. The Houston Post quoted cityd ficials as saying the absentee volet unusually high and may indie that the overall turnout may hi greater than the original projectioal of 6 percent to H percent. He Richar live to THOUGHT PROV HALF PRICE The Houston Chronicle at a Discount to Texas A&M University Students, Faculty and Staff for the Spring Semester The Houston Chronicle gives you news and features you need now for classes and for your future. Read The Chronicle and you know the issues, the news-makers, the hot job prospects and the thoughts about the future. Plus you find entertaining features on fashion, movies, music and lifestyles. 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