MARCH 1976

Connecticut Moves on Rights

HARTFORD Support for invasion of privacy. Connecticut's proposed gay rights bill gathered momentum recently following an amendment to the bill barring any affirmative action enforcement programs.

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By a vote of 6-1 on Feb. 19, the General Assembly's "Human Rights and Opportunities Committee" approved addition to the "Sexual Orientation Bill" regarding, "Nothing in this act shall be deemed to authorize or permit the use of numerical goals or quotas, or other types of affirmative action programs, in the administration

or

enforcement of those provisions relating to discrimination on account of sexual orientation."

The verbiage is identical to that suggested by Yale Law Professor John Emerson to counteract concern that the bill would be illegal since investigations into employee's sexual orientation would be a constitutional

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Sen. Betty Hudson, DMadison, sponsor of the amendment and a strong advocate of the bill, told Boston's Gay Community News that the amendment was not a "self-defeating Compromise."

"It won't take the teeth out of the bill because Prof. Emerson's view is one shared by many representatives," she said.

Sen. Hudson was elated by the news, and suggested to GCN that several representative friends of Rep. Richard Balducci, who voted against the bill last year and will vote for it this year because of the amendment, may also decide to vote yes this year. "And when you only need 16 more "yes" votes, every one counts," Hudson said.

Asked when the bill might reach the House floor, Hudson could only predict that it would be within the next several weeks. She said, "We have to play it by ear."

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