CLEVELAN

gay people's

HR CONI

Cleveland, Ohio

December 18, 1992

Colorado

boycott meets rough ground

by Anne Danahy

Numerous gay organizations and individuals in late November added their names to the list of those boycotting Colorado, but support for the boycott has already begun splintering. Some people have begun advocating that the boycott should exempt the annual Lesbian and Gay Ski Week in Aspen, some believe it should exempt the three cities which have passed non-discrimination laws protecting gays, and others are arguing against the boycott altogether.

The boycott was called by a group called "Boycott Colorado' in reaction to Amendment 2, the anti-gay ballot initiative passed by Colorado voters on Nov. 3 with 53 percent of the vote. Boycott organizers insist that hurting Colorado economically is the only effective strategy in trying to undo the initiative.

But some gay people say that Aspen, Denver, and Boulder should be excluded from the boycott for several reasons. They point out that residents in those three cities voted against Amendment 2, that all three cities have officially joined a lawsuit challenging Amendment 2, and that all three have ordinances in place prohibiting discrimination against gays. Those ordinances would be nullified by Amendment 2, which could take effect in January.

The boycott debate has been particularly hot in Aspen because that city has been the site of the Lesbian and Gay Ski Week for the past 16 years and is slated to host the event again, the last week in January 1993.

Aspen Mayor John Bennett issued a statement saying that a boycott of Aspen "will not help any greater cause" and that the city "deserves special consideration."

"All the people who voted no [on Amendment 2] were in the tourist areas, and that's who [the boycott is] going to hurt," said Terry White, chair of Aspen Gay and Lesbian Community.

Bob Schlaff, a member of a Colorado gay business, said he doesn't believe a

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Penny Rachelle won Women's Runner-Up for her rendition of the Barbara Streisand hit at the Center's Talent Show. Story and more photos on Page 8.

Australia is latest country

to drop military gay ban

by Aras van Hertum

The Australian government decided November 23 it will allow gays to serve in the military, following by less than a month a decision by Canada to lift its ban on gays in the military.

Prime Minister Paul Keating, the country's top executive, persuaded his cabinet to overturn the ban despite strong opposition from the Minister of Defense, senior military officers, and a soldiers' union.

"The government appreciates the high standards of dedication and professionalism expected of [armed forces] personnel,

but considers that the decision will not have the adverse effect on morale and cohesion

predicted by some," the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald quoted Keating as saying

Nov. 23.

U.S. President-elect Bill Clinton's promise to repeal the Pentagon's ban on gays was one deciding factor in the government's change of mind, a Melbourne daily, the

Continued on Page 6 Age, quoted senior government sources as

saying.

Ohio House passes bill barring college ROTC bans

The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill prohibiting state colleges and universities from banning ROTC or any other federal or state agencies from recruiting on campus.

The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Gary Suhadolnik of Parma and seven others, is an attempt to stop moves at Ohio State University and other state campuses in Ohio to bar ROTC because the military's gay ban vio-

Review of the ban followed a complaint to the federal Human Rights Commission by a lesbian army reservist, who charged that her dismissal constituted workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

She was later reinstated, but federal Human Rights Commissioner Brian Burdekin nevertheless presented a report to the parliament that said the ban violated international treaties.

Although Burdekin would not discuss the contents of the report, gay activists have pointed to the International Labor Convention, signed by Australia, which bans discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexuality.

The Minister of Defense, Senator Robert Ray, in June announced a comprehensive new policy dealing with "unacceptable

sexual behavior" in the armed forces. The

policy outlawed sexual harassment, but retained the ban on gays, stating that, "Homosexual behavior is not accepted or condoned in the Defense Force." Then, in September, a special committee of the ruling Labor Party recommended that the government remove the ban.

The Rev. Fred Nile, a member of parliament representing the conservative Call to Australia party, issued a statement the next

ROTC bans day in which he called the government's

lates the institutions' human rights codes, which include protection against anti-gay discrimination.

The bill passed in a 73-21 vote on November 19. Among local state representatives, Madeline Cain, Jane Campbell, and Judy Sheerer voted against the bill. Ron Mottl, Jr. and Barbara Pringle voted for

it.

decision "disgusting" and "limp-wristed." He said "decent family patriotic Australians' should vote for his party to send a message to Keating that "enough is enough," the Morning Herald reported.

Following his remarks, Nile is now under investigation by the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board for allegedly inciting violence based on gross discrimination.

Support for removal of the ban came Continued on Page 6

Cincinnati

passes gay civil rights ordinance

Religious right plans Colorado-style statewide initiative

In late November, Cincinnati's city council passed a Human Rights Ordinance, 7-2, which includes sexual orientation discrimination protection in the areas of housing and employment. Like similar ordinances in several other cities, religious organizations and businesses with fewer than 10 employees are excepted from the requirement. The Cincinnati resolution also excludes state and federal jobs, and fraternal organizations. However the regulations, which went into effect immediately, do apply to restaurants, hotels, and labor organizations.

The two council members who voted against the measure were Nick Vehr and David Mann. Mann is now a representativeelect to Congress.

Right-wing religious and business leaders have already called for a referendum next year to repeal the ordinance. These include Vehr; Charles Winburn, who is policy director for a coalition known as New Wave 2000; the Citizens for Community Values (CCV); and the Baptist Ministers Conference. It requires almost 9,800 signatures to get a referendum on the ballot. CCV, which was the loudest opponent of the Robert Mapplethorpe photography exhibit in Cincinnati several years ago, also plans a statewide ballot effort to outlaw similar ordinances across Ohio. (CCV was founded in the late 1970s by Charles Keating, now serving time for the Lincoln Savings affair.)

The Queen City joins Columbus, which passed a similar ordinance in June which prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment. Cincinnati had extended protection to its gay and lesbian city work-

ers more than a year ago.

Roger W. Crice, Ron Buckmire and Patrick A. Gee contributed to this article.

CONTENTS

ROTCS must sign affidavit... Clinton letter greets conference. 4 Gay rights in Dade County? Audre Lorde dies of cancer 1982 murder yet to be solved Not common-law in Pennsy Buses to March on Washington . 9 WVIZ to show In the Life.... 11 Children of gay parents 20 New play fest has gay plays.... 23 Honor Bound & Joy of Gay Sex 24 Charlie's Calendar 28 Personals, Classifieds 30-33 Resource Directory. 34

Guess what? The Bible praises gay and lesbian love.

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