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NEWS

Dressel Amendment Clears Committee

House Bill 5000, which would amend the Michigan Civil Rights Act by providing protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, has cleared the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee voted in Lansing on December 1st to send the bill to the floor of the House by an 8-5 yote. Every Democrat on the Committee except for State Representative Nick Ciaramitaro, of South Macomb County, voted in favor of equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Ciaramitaro was absent. Every Republican member of the Committee except Representative Tom Power of Traverse City, who was also absent, voted no. The Committee members and their votes are as follows:

Voting Yes: Perry Bullard (DLansing) (Chairman), Virgil Smith (D-Detroit), Richard Fitzpatrick (DBattle Creek), Curtis Hertel (D-Detroit), Lyn Jondahl (D-East Lansing), Ray Murphy (D-Detroit), Jeff Padden, (DWyandotte), Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing). Voting No:

Ernie Nash (R-Eaton County), Jack Kirksey (RWestern Wayne County), Mike Nye (R-Hillsdale and Branch Counties), John Strand (R-Lapeer County), William Van Regenmortar (R-Ottawa County). Although close to the

number of supporters needed for passage by the full House, MOHR urges supporters to continue contacting their legislators to assure passage. H.B. 5000 is scheduled to be considered by the House in the near future although delays are possible.

MOHR Legislative Liaison, Robert Lundy, told Metra that "every

opponent of the bill during the Committee hearings was either a fundamentalist minister or lay-minister. Their reasoning was the same throughout. They argue that God is against gay sex and that God's opposition is reflected in our criminal. laws. Passing H.B. 5000 would 'establish rights for criminals' and is part of the gay plan to take over the world and subvert God's will."

One fundamentalist minister, State Representative Walberg, Republican of Adrian, suggested that not only should H.B. 5000 not be passed but that the Civil Rights Act be made optional. Another opponent called the bill "wrongdoer rights". Still another urged the legislators to defeat equal rights in housing, employment and public accommodations because "this attack on God's law must be withstood in order to withstand socialist pressure." When the same speaker suggested that actions which have long been permitted, such

as discriminating against gays, should continue to be allowed, Representative. Virgil Smith, Democrat of Detroit, angrily reminded the speaker that slavery was legal in the U.S. for many years. When

another speaker referred to the equal rights bill as "rights for criminals" Committee Chairman Perry Bullard pointed out that no one in the U.S. is a "criminal" until they have been brought to trial and convicted. "Nothing in the bill prevents discrimination against convicted criminals," Bullard stated. This fact caused another audience member to shout that all homosexuals are sick "and will burn in hell".

Equal rights supporters presented somewhat more rational arguments. Rev. Edgar Rice, speaking on behalf of his Episcopal Bishop, asserted that objections to equal rights based on arguments about teachers seducing young children were based on myth. Dr. Stanley Rock of "Western Theological Seminary" mentioned that the conservative Western Michigan area has a high degree of social stability but a low tolerance for those who are "different". Noting the severe persecution of gays by the church in the past, Rock asserted that "Homophobia should be replaced by common humanity". Another speaker said, "those in the church who are homo-

By Serrasco

sexual are usually in a conservative setting and are subject to silent suffering". He went on to argue that society is deprived of the gifts and talents of gay people because of the fear and pressure to conform that are used against them. Dr. Jane Dickey of Hope College pointed out that sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior. "Laws will not decrease the number of people who are homosexual," according to Dickey. She went on to point out the American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association and various other professional organizations have determined that sexual orientation is not a matter of simple choice and is. generally considered involuntary. She urged legislators to look beyond myths about gay and lesbian persons. Father Robert Nalley pointed out that H.B. 5000 should not be considered a gay rights" bill.

"Homosexuals are throughout our families. They were at our Thanksgiving tables and they will be at our tables for Christmas. They are our mothers, our fathers, our sisters and our aunts. They have been hidden from us by societal pressure and fear. They are our friends and neighbors and laws should not dictate who our friends. are."

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