THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that it is the policy of the County of Ingham to provide equal opportunity in its employment on the basis of merit and fitness and without discrimination because of race, col or, religion, sex, national origin, handicap,, height, weight, marital status, age, political affiliation, sexual preference or affectional orientation (except where age, sex, or lack of handicap constitute a bona fide occupational qualification); and that the wording in the

affirmative action plan be amended

where appropriate, with said policy becoming part of the County's equal opportunity policy;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the policy of the County of Ingham in providing services, both direct and indirect, to do so without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, height, weight, marital status, age, political affiliation, sexual preference or affectional orientation;

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the policy of the County of Ingham to do all possible purchasing and contracting with equal opportunity employers and parties that comply with the spirit of the county's equal opportunity policies. On a state level, the State of Michigan, by virtue of a Civil Service Commission ruling on Merit Policy, now prohibits discrimination in state employment. Protection is also provided in public accommodation.

DISCRIMINATION

WHY SEXUAL MINORITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE DETROIT HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE

BY MICHAEL MCGIRR MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS "Detroit is a city composed of dramatically different groups and minority communities. The vitality and rich human experience of our city is our greatest resource. The fact of differences is the strength of a vital civic life. As a community and as individuals we grow in self-understanding through the encountering of our differences. We stimulate and learn from each other. Such a wealth of human variety and divergent experience is not only our greatest resource, it is a resource to be cherished and protected. Unfortunately, sometimes people are threatened by these very differences; and then they retaliate by discriminating against those whom they do not understand.

"Discrimination against persons or groups because they are different especially when that discrimination is institutionalized is amost destructive and divisive force in society...."

-from testimony by the Coordinating Council on Human Relations before the Detroit City Council.

Everyone knows of the uncomfortable feelings, antagonism and hatred which our society often shows to lesbians, gay men and other sexual minorities. Discrimination in every sector jobs, housing, health care, etc. is a direct resultof these feelings. Open gays (and people suspected of being gay) are the targets of both verbal and physical violence. They may be denied credit on the assumption that they are shiftless and irresponsible. They are likely to lose their jobs and be unable to find another position commensurate with their skills and training. They are routinely denied insurance and are subjected to ridicule and harassment in the effort to secure medical treatment. They are evicted fromtheir homes. Their children are taken away from them by the courts. They are denied entrance to this country. They are subjected

METRA MAGAZINE 8

to harassment, surveillance, and entrapment by police, and crimes against them are ignored and unjustly prosecuted. Sexual minorities are one of the very few groups still liable to prosecution for their simple "status" or "label," that is, just for being gay.

Studies done by the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Tulsa have proven conclusively that massive discrimination against gay women and men does exist, and a majority of Americans, in a 1977 Louis Harris poll, believed that homosexuals face more discrimination than any other group. Other studies show that 16 percent of all gay people have employment difficulties and 9 percent lose their jobs simply because they are gay.

But only a few cases have been documented, since only a few can afford to protest injustice. For most, notoriety is the one thing they don't need if they hope to get another apartment or another job. Although the gay rights issue is increasingly a matter of public discussion, one selcom hears of individual cases of discrimination. The invisible nature of the gay community means that discrimination cases don't often get attention. Most gay men and lesbians keep their personal lives to themselves. But those who are "discovered" as well as those who are "out" face loss of jobs and other more and less severe forms of discrimination all the time.

The basis for such discrimination is in many ways exactly the same a for other victims of prejudice: a refusal to apply the same standards to one group of people that are applied to others.

But anti-gay discrimination is not quite the same as that directed against racial and ethnic minorities or women, because most gay people can "pass" as members of the majority. They have not become an economic underclass and they are already integrated into the work

force. Discrimination against them occurs only when they are open about their sexual orientation or are somehow "found out." Most of

them live in fear that if their homosexuality becomes known, they will lose their status in the community, their livelihoods, or even their lives.

Sexual minorities are not included in "affirmative action" plans. since there is no way without violating everybody's privacy to know who is or is not gay.

However, there are some similarities between the forms of discrimination against gays and other oppressed groups. They are based on stereotypes and a refusal to judge people as individuals. The net result of anti-gay discrimination, like racial discrimination or dicrimination based on sex, is a destructive effect on individual human lives and denying comImunities the abilities of fine. citizens.

The keystone of anti-gay discrimination is the conspiracy gays themselves have been forced to join, to pretend they don't exist. Many people view sexual minorities as an inconequentially small group in our society a tiny aberration of the norm. Yet, according to Kinsey Institute statistics, about 10 percent of the population in the United States is made up of people who are predominantly homosexual throughout their adult lives, and roughly another 15 percent have

Resolutions by the American Psychiatric Association state that "homosexuality by itself does not necessarily constitute a psychiatric disorder and deplore discrimination against gays in employment, public accommodations, housing and licensing. A number of other professional and civic organizations have adopted gay rights resolutions, including the National Education Association, the national YWCA, the Negro Trade Union Leadership Council, the American Federation of Teachers, The American Sociological Association, the American Library Association, the American Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Council of the Churches of Christ, the American Jewish Committee, the Lutheran Church in America, the Roman Catholic United Federation of Priests, the National Women's Political Caucus, and others.

We are all human beings, and in that sense, we all possess the inalienable rights decreed in our Declaration of Independence the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The challenge, still very much before us, is to structure a society that permits each of us to exercise those rights.

"I don't think we can say discrimination on the basis of sex or race is illegal and then allow discrimination on the basis of sexual preference. This happens in our life in a lot more tragic and real ways than we would like to admit."

-U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Michigan

A Very Special Thanks.... Some people go beyond the call. Some people do more than their share. Some people give 'til it hurts, then give some more.

Neither this community, nor METRA Magazine, nor myself personally, can ever thank him enough. Without him this article would not have been possible. Words are inadequate: Thank you, Phil Greene.

MICHAEL R. RAY, Editor

overt homosexual experiences after CORRECTIONS

adolescence.

What is needed is the understanding that in every aspect except sexual orientation (and the discrimination accompanying it), members of sexual minorities are. like everyone else. Our neighbors, co-workers and friends who happen to be gay have a right to selfdignity and to equal treatment under the law!

"It is a national disgrace that gays are consistently denied their rights to jobs, housing, privacy and equal protection of the laws. All Americans concerned with individual freedomnot just gays ought to regard gay rights as their cause.

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-Aryeh Neier, former Executive Director, ACLU

ANGEL BABIES....

The article in our June 4th issue on the "Angel Babies" art of Jamie Bellechasse failed to credit IN TOUCH Magazine, 1316 North Western Ave. Hollywood, CA 90027, and the writer of the article, John Calendo. Our apologies to both IN TOUCH and Mr. Calendo. We have also received several inquiries as to where Mr. Bellechasse's work might be available. For more information contact the Art Department at IN TOUCH (address above) or at (213) 466-6333.