FEATURE

Increased Lobbying Critical to Survival of Mich. Gay Rights Bill (HB 5000) Write Your State Rep Today!

Before you read any further, take time RIGHT NOW to send a short letter to the state representative in your legislative district urging support of House Bill 5000. If you don't have time to read this article and write to your state rep., then skip the article and write the letter instead. If you don't know who your representative is, call your city or county clerk: call the State of Michigan (517/373-1837 in Lansing or 313/256-1837 in Detroit); or contact the Michigan Organization for Human Rights (MOHR) at 940 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48202 (313/863-7255). Don't put it off. Do it

TODAY. Tomorrow

MORAL MAJORITY

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may be too late.

Your civil rights hang precariously in the balance. Unless a large volume of mail reaches Lansing from every legislative district DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF DECEMBER, there's a better than even chance that HB 5000 will die in the State House before Christmas. A failure to act NOW will result in continuing episodic and blatant discrimination that can strip you (or a gay brother or sister) of your job, your apartment, or custody of your children at any time with no legal recourse simply because you're gay. We

BillDay

have no more time. Join hands NOW with thousands of other gays across the State who are working together in unity to make civil liberty and justice in Michigan a reality for all citizens.

Thursday, December 1st marked the second and final hearing of HB 5000 before the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Representative Perry Bullard. Similar to the initial hearing before the Committee on Nov. 3rd, an overflow crowd of about 200 gay rights supporters converged on the State Capitol to witness the event. Unlike. the earlier hearing, an equal number of antigay sympathizers were also on hand to register strong disapproval of the bill's proposed passage. Consisting primarily of members in good standing of conservative, rightwing religious organizations throughout Michigan, the group's chief spokesperson, Grand Rapids Baptist minister

Rev. David Wood (Jerry Falwell's hand-picked chairman of the Michigan Moral Majority) eulogized the sanctimonious merits of being straight and charged that HB 5000 is little more than a feeble guise aimed at doing away with the State's divinely ordained sodomy laws, thereby legitimizing the homosexual act.

Rational rebuttal by Western Theological Seminary's Dr. Rev. Stanley Rock and a half dozen other religious leaders present at the Dec. 1st hearing (all of whom actively support passage of HB 5000) emphasized the importance of distinguishing between homosexuality and the larger issue of civil rights, pointing out that officially sanctioned discrimination against gays is both unconstitutional and immoral. Altogether, an evenly divided number of approximately 20 people testified at the hearing in favor or opposition to the proposed legislation, compared to organized testimony at the Nov. 1st hearing by 14 supporters of the bill and only one opponent. Finally, the tense moment came as a Committee vote was taken. The results? Eight to five (with two representatives on the 15member Judiciary Committee absent) in favor of approving the bill for further consideration by the full House.

Let's give ourselves (and each other) a deserved pat on the back we've come a long ways, baby! But don't become too smug just yet. Yes, overall testimony to the Judiciary Committee ran 24 to 11 in support of the bill. Yes, mail to Rep. Jim

Dressel (the bill's primary sponsor) is still running almost 2 to 1 in favor of civil rights for gays. But the margin of support is steadily narrowing. The increased opposition organized by the conservative Right between the Nov. 3rd and Dec. 1st hearings is a clear message to all of us that the battle is going to be an uphill struggle from here on out. The reality of the situation. is that expressed support and opposition to the bill are running closely together in a delicate balance. So closely, flatly states MOHR exec. TJ Anthony, that "HB 5000 will not pass the Michigan. Legislature unless the gay community responds immediately. Passage of HB 5000 is directly predicated at this point on the further capability of Michigan gays to lobby their legislators through letters and other contacts."

On a positive note, Anthony is quick to point out that "we've made enormous political headway thus far" and that "a number of gay groups, organizations, and some areas of the State have been more than responsive on this issue." However, he emphasizes, overall response to date has not been sufficient to assure continued viability of the proposed legislation through the tough days ahead: "You better believe that every fundamentalist church in the State is going to be writing letters and logging opposition with their legislators. In response, it is critical that every Michigan gay and supporter of human rights take 10 minutes

away from their daily schedules to write letters of support; otherwise, the bill will never pass." In addition to a steady increase in organized opposition to the legislation, circumstances are further complicated by current recall and reapportionment issues facing both the State House and Senate (centering around public dissatisfaction with legislative support of Gov-

ernor Blanchard's recent temporary tax hike), which may contribute to fear on the part of some legislators to further "rock the boat" with their constituents by supporting HB 5000.

The next hurdle for HB 5000 is a vote by the full House, which is anticipated sometime during the first half of December. What can YOU do to help? TAKE TIME TO WRITE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY! If you've already written, write again. And encourage other people to write your friends, family,

coworkers, neighbors, everyone you know who believes in justice. A critical shortage of letters. presently exists from the entire Saginaw/Bay City/ Midland area especially. Representative Dressel and other key legislators are placing their political careers and futures on the line in supporting equal rights for Michigan gays. TJ Anthony, Susan Green (MOHR's Constituent Action Coordinator), and many other

individuals and groups have worked long hours over an extended period of time to assure success. We're on our way. The

by Gary Bassett

goal is in sight. It's beautiful. It's attainable. But we all have to pull together. The whole country is watching, waiting. Let's show everyone everywhere, and

most importantly ourselves, who we are. That we're strong. That we're beautiful. That we care. No one else can make the decision. The choice is ours.

How YOU Can Work for Justice in Michigan

By Gary Bassett

There are basically five related ways each one of us can work for justice through ADVOCACY '83: 1. Write, call, or visit your state representative and senator. Here's a sample. For the greatest impact, use your own words when you write. "Dear Representative (last name): I am writing to tell you of my support of the Dressel Amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which will ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. I believe that everyone deserves protection of the basic civil rights to housing, employment, and access to public services. I also believe that Michigan needs a law that specifically protects the rights of gay and lesbian people (and those inaccurately labeled gay or lesbian) and provides for recourse in cases of discrimination. I urge you to vote in favor of this amendment. Please encourage your colleagues to approve it, too, Thank you. Your Constituent,

Your letter does not have to to be long or eloquent; the important thing is that you do take the time to write! Send your letter to your representative: The Honorable State House of Representatives, State: Capitol Building, Lansing, MI 48909. If you don't know your representative's name: Look at your voter's registra tion card if you are registered to find your district number, then call your city or county clerk; call the State of Michigan (Lansing 517/373-1837 or Detroit 313/256-1837); or contact the MOHR office at 940 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48203 (313/863-7255).

2. Send a Justice Message. You can send a Public Opinion Telegram of 20 words to your representative, senator, and governor at a cost of $4.25 each. Or, you can authorize MOHR to send them for you by sending your name, address, phone number, and dated signature to the MOHR office (see #1). Special arrangements have been made that will allow the cost per message to be charged as part of your regular phone bill.

3. Join a Legislative Advocacy Collective. Groups

are being formed now in every House district to lobby for passage. Contact MOHR for information about your district.

4. Encourage other people your friends, family,

coworkers, neighbors, everyone you trust who believes in justice to write, call, visit their legislators, or send a Justice Message.

5. Support ADVOCACY '83 financially by contributing directly to MOHR. Actively organize and/or participate in fundraisers in your area, with the proceeds going to help win passage of gay rights legislation in Michigan.

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