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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
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