PROFILE

DETROIT CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMPHASIZES COOPERATIVE APPROACH

Detroit's City Council President, Erma Henderson, has been a part of the political life of Southeastern Michigan for nearly a decade. Her career has been marked by numerous public service awards such as the "Feminist of the Year" award from the Detroit News. in 1978. Governor Milliken even declared a special "Erma Henderson Day In Michigan" two years ago to recognize Ms. Henderson's outstanding service to the people of the state.

Councilperson Henderson is campaigning for re-election this year and is optimistic that her campaign will result in her return to the post of Council President. The Presidency of the Detroit City Council is awarded to the candidate for Council who receives the largest number of votes among all the candidates and Henderson is not alone in this race which capitalizes on recognition of names and positive associations with the one recognized. The large field of well-known candidates causes all of the council hopefuls to be more sympathetic toward groups which might otherwise receive a less cordial reception. Every vote will count in the City Council election and Erma Henderson wants the votes of gay people in Detroit as well as straight voters.

Councilperson Henderson brings to the race a history of involvement for the betterment of the community, sympathy toward human rights issues, an education in social work and a willingness to learn more about gay issues. This willingness, and her sympathy toward human rights concerns, were manifested when she agreed to meet with representatives of METRA Magazine to discuss the issues which would be important for the gay community in the upcoming elections.

"My views (about gay rights) have been expressed pretty broadly in the fight for the Human Rights Ordinance," she related. "I just strictly believe that all human beings should be treated equally. It's just as simple as that." The ordinance Henderson referred to (The Detroit Human Rights Ordinance) prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and housing. The ordinance was recently challenged by a group of contractors and is now on appeal in the courts. Henderson, though aware of the appeal, was not able to provide an update about its current status. She did comment, however, that if the city loses the appeal the City's affirmative action program would be "put almost back to the beginning. We would have to start all over again." She went on to explain that she believed that the city would still be able to enforce its city charter, even though the charter contains non-discrimination provisions of the same type as those contained in the ordinance which is on appeal.. Henderson emphasized a pragmatic and non-dramatic role for supporters of gay rights. "I think the gay community has a full responsibility, just as other citizens, to fight on every front," she said. She went on to explain that gay people may advance their cause further through involvement in coalitions designed to help others. This approach, working together on common problems, will help the gay community gain supporters even while it will put gay people in a position to be viewed as part of the mainstream of the community. "I think that to the degree that they continue to come forward in the sense that they will fight for other causes ... the community will begin to look upon what is now known as 'the gay community' as just part of the general community," she said. "That is, they would be viewed

like any other discriminated-against group. To the degree that the discriminatedagainst group makes itself available for public service... they come into alignment with the general community rather than isolating themselves." When asked. about whether other groups would be willing to work with the gay community on common problems, Henderson was emphatic is affirming their willingness. " think they do," she asserted. "I know the women's movement works with the gay

community... (gay rights) is not an issue, in the black community, which means that they must be working with them... they have not said that gay rights is one of our major issues but... you know, the blacks have their major issues, the hispanics have theirs... but all those issues TOGETHER are human issues." Henderson went on to suggest that more cooperative effort would result in greater

progress and less separation of people. In elaborating on the question of separation, Henderson pointed out that gay organizations sometimes have a counterproductive affect when they attempt to polarize gays against straights. "A lot of people, I think, have done a disservice to the gay community by simply be obstructionists," she said. The example Henderson used came from her experience with the White House Conference on Families. "Somebody who was not gay may stand up and really fight for something that was worthwhile, but in order to get the point across that there was some special benefit... that you could pay to the gay community, a gay representative would stand up and say, 'I want to do so and so that issue'. Which is not the way to handle it." Henderson added, "You alienate people because you are forcing those who are to the right to move all the way over... and brand something simply because they don't want to be a part of it." Henderson gave an example of what she meant by pointing to the Social Security issue. "You've got to win that issue," she said "because it doesn't matter whether you're black, hispanic, gay or whatever; you still want social security, right? So why kill social security by attacking an amendment that you know nobody will vote for? It seems to me that that's how the gay community defeats its own self. Go the opposite way ... the positive side... and not the 'flag waving' side. Don't use that tactic. It's better to win friends and influence people ... to join with rather than to defeat just to get a point across."

In discussing the City of Detroit, and its mayor, Coleman Young, Henderson again emphasized the positive side. She was informed that 95% of gay owned and operated businesses in the tri-county area were in the city limits of Detroit and asked

By Anthony Serrasco about assessments that suggest that Detroit is a dying city. "I think it is obvious that Detroit has not died," she said. "It was declared dead ten years ago by eminent sociologist Margaret Mead ... but much of the progress that has been made has become known throughout the world... our efforts to diversify industry, to focus attention on our convention and tourist business, world trade, and signal to the business community that we're to stay so come on back." When specifically asked about Mayor Young, Henderson commented that, "He has been an outstanding, mayor. I think that his background (having served as a State. Senator) gave him the expertise that allowed him to see both sides; the executive branch and the legislative brach. He was able to understand what his responsibilities were at the outset." Henderson went on to indicate that Mayor Young benefitted greatly from his relationship with former President Carter. "He was able to talk with Carter. He gained leadership in the Democratic Party over the years... (Young is) one of the most outstanding mayors in the country." Henderson went on to concede that "Reagan's policies are not dedicated to solving the problems of urban areas" and that Detroit will not benefit from a Reagan administration. She mentioned, for example, her support of a subway system and the fact that she expects little progress in the area of transportation under the current administration. When asked about possible future political plans, Henderson said, "Right now, just to serve as the best council president," she paused and said, "Hopefully, the president ... as possible." She went on to say, "beyond that, there may be a possibility that in the future I might want to run for mayor but would not commit myself to that at this point."

PHOTO BY SHEFFICK

Erma Henderson and METRA Editor Doug Logan at the Detroit City County Building.

ISSUE 59