Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 15:14:44 -0600 (CST) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: NEWS-TELEGRAPH: LAWRENCE ACTIVISTS DEMAND FAIRNESS FROM THE NEWS-TELEGRAPH MARCH 24--APRIL 13, 1995 ========================== ACTIVISTS DEMAND FAIRNESS by Lisa Marie Neff LAWRENCE KS-Activists promoting an ordinance amending the city's human relations code to include sexual orientation told the Lawrence city commission they felt the commission was treating them unfairly. Some attending the March 6 city commission meeting even accused some commissioners of plotting a stealth vote on the proposed ordinance. What is proposed in Lawrence is an anti-discrimination protection on the basis of sexual orientation. The commission decided at the early March meeting not to place the ordinance on the agenda for another meeting in March. Thus the ordinance will not be voted upon until after the April 4 general election, making the outcome of the election extremely crucial for the ordinance's supporters. Ben Zimmerman, cochair for Simply Equal, the coalition that pro- posed the amendment, said the commission should use the period before a vote for public discussion on the issue. Zimmerman told the commission, "Simply Equal has been denied a fair, unbiased hearing. 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." Supporters of the ordinance attended the meeting because Commissioner Doug Compton, originally thought to be the swing vote on the ordinance, publicly came out against the proposal and said he planned to push for a vote prior to the general election. If the ordinance had been voted upon prior to the election. it would not pass. The vote would go 3-2. Supporters of the ordinance urge people to vote and support Commissioner John Nalbandian and Allen Levine. ========================================================== Permission granted by the News-Telegraph for distribution to the KQN email list (KQN@casti.com), and archiving in the Queer Resources Directory (QRD) on the Internet (http://www.qrd.org/QRD). For News-Telegraph subscription information (published twice a month), please call 1.816.561.6266, or email: newstele@aol.com ==========================================================