tion (ADA), the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). John Shattuck, National Legislative Director for the ACLU, wrote:

"Once, biased attitudes against Blacks, Jews and other minorities reigned in this country, and discrimination in employment against those groups was widespread. Many people, including many legislators, privately voiced their support of efforts to end such discrimination, but found reasons to avoid standing publicly with the victims. Looking back now, their public inaction served to prolong deeply rooted discriminatory practices which are now widely condemned."

Minnesota State Senator Allan Spear, a member of GRNL's Board of Directors, described the effort to mobilize non-gay support as part of the strategy of building broad-based respectability:

Elected officials remain skeptical about constituent support for gay/lesbian civil rights, and letters from these prestigious religious denominations and other organizations should go far in reassuring them."

GRNL urged lesbians, gay men, and others committed to social justice to approach organizations, associations, unions, etc., to which they belong to pass pro-gay civil rights resolutions, and to keep Gay Rights National Lobby informed of developments (Post Office Box 1892, Washington, D.C. 20013 or (202) 462-4255.

U.S. Hud Office Redefines Family

E. LANSING (MOHR) In a recent letter to the City of East Lansing, the Detroit office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stated that the definition of "family" was broadened to include non-related individuals. Under this definition two or more "non-related" individuals who intend to live together are recognized as a family and are to be given equal consideration for available Section 8. housing units. Families living in Section 8 housing units pay only 25 percent of their income for rent while the federal government through HUD pays the balance of each monthly rental payment.

The City of East Lansing had sought clarification on the eligibility for Section 8 family rental housing after being told by the head of the HUD Grand Rapids office that individuals not related biologically or by marriage or adoption are considered 'single' and are therefore not eligible for Section 8 housing. As clarified by the Detroit HUD office a single person" IS "one who lives alone or intends to live alone. Thus, two (or more) nonmarried or nonbiologically related persons who are living together or intend to live together are not considered "single persons," but rather a family.

The clarification of the definition of "family" and "single person" should have substantial beneficial affect state-wide, although it is not known how many Section 8 family housing developments in the state of Michigan have denied housing to families. It is known that in certain Section 8 developments the denial of housing has occured. As reported in the February, 1981 MOHR Information, HUD Detroit Equal Opportunity Officer Valerie Vintes Weatherly reported that HUD itself had taken Section 8 subsidies away from families comprised of "unrelated individuals living in Section 8 housing near Wayne State University. Families that had their assistance withdrawn. may have cause for legal action against HUD.

File a complaint with the Michigan. Department of Civil Rights. Filing a complaint only takes about 30 minutes. Persons that file a complaint are protected by law from retaliation.

• Write to the Detroit office of HUD and explain that you have been denied, housing and request that HUD order compliance with the federal housing regulations.

If the Section 8 housing development was financed through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and most are, write to MSHDA and explain that you have been denied housing and request that MSHDA order compliance with the State Fair Housing Law.

If you and another person are denied Section 8 housing and you believe that the denial is based on your marital status (that is because you and your significant other are not married) you should:

Contant the Michigan Organization for Human Rights (MOHR) office in Detroit for advice (313) 863-7255.

State Mental Health Department Issues Employment Guidelines

LANSING, MI (MOHR) The Michigan Department of Mental Health became the first department of state government to issue employment guidelines in compliance with a recent ruling by the chairperson of the state Civil Service Commission:

In a previous issue of METRA, we reported of MOHR's success in getting a clarification issued by the Michigan Civil Service Commission stated that the merit system in state government employment prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or cohabitational status.

As part of the Michigan Organization for Human Rights (MOHR) continuing drive to ensure employment protection MOHR contacted the equal opportunity officer for every state department to inform them of the Civil Service clarification and to inquire how they intended to implement the provisions contained in the clarification.

The Department of Mental Health, which has 14,000 employees, is the first Department to formalize the new policy in its own regulations. On May 15 the Department of Health issued an Administrative Guideline to pursue equal opportunity with the proper regard for the privacy rights of its employees

Lie Detector Bills In State House

LANSING (MOHR)A set of three bills preventing employers from asking or requiring their employees or job applicants from taking lie detector tests narrowly passed inthe Michigan House of Representatives in early June. HB 4402 was approved 60-43, HB 4403 58 to 38, and HB 4404 58 to 34. The bills are sponsored by Representatives Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor) and Joe Young (D-Detroit).

The bills establish protections for workers and job applicants, some of which are already covered as a party of the disputed Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. (Earlier this year the act was declared unconstitutional by a Wayne County Circuit judge as embracing too many subjects.)

Proponents of the measure said the polygraph exams are unreliable and unscientific and that their use has been abused by employers who have compelled their workers to take the tests.

But opponents argued that the bills would be just another way of driving up the cost of business. Employers need the exams to protect themselves, Representative Steven Andrews (R-Wolverine) said, and Representative Richard Fessler (R-Union Lake) said the tests can help cut down the problems of employee theft.

An employee is not prohibited (in HB) 4402) from asking to take a lie detector test, but the worker must be informed of his or her rights. An employer could not fire or discipline an employee believed to have lied while taking the exam.

HB 4403 prohibits licensed polygraph examiners from giving exams prohibited by HB 4402. HB 4404 removes the polygraph section from the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

WEAR IT OUT!

SIN

SEX IS NORMAL

IN AN

SIN

SEX IS NORMAL

BLACK W/ WHITE S,M,L,XL

T-SHIRT

7.00 EACH......6.50 TWO OR MORE INCLUDEC S.I.N. MEMBERSHIP CARD & NEWSLETTER MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

GREAT

FUN GIFTS!

S.IN. SEX IS NORMAL

PO BOX 02884 DETROIT, MI 48202

A PRIVATE MENS CLUB

GLORY HOLE

THE

PHOTO BY GARY RYAN

BEAT MORAL FASCISM!

Movies Showing Continuously Starting July 3rd The Class of 84" Come visit us at our booth at the

Metra Picnic Tickets

on sale

Now

862

McNichols W Detroit, MI 342-6995

METRA MAGAZINE 15

777