UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, December 7, 1994
7A
Lawrence's anti-discrimination law could be amended to include gays
City Commission sets date for study session on issue
By Carlos Tejada
Kansan staff writer
"This is the first time the calendar has been the most interesting item on the agenda," Jo Andersen, Lawrence mayor, told the audience.
The commission approved that and three other study sessions 5-0 last night as part of its calendar, a part of the commission agenda that is usually dealt with quickly and quietly. However, about 30 people, either for or against the measure, showed up for the study session scheduling.
The measure is being pushed by a group called Simply Equal, which wishes to add "sexual discrimination" to racial, religious and other forms of discrimination outlawed by
A proposal to extend Lawrence's anti-discrimination laws to include homosexuals will be the subject of a Lawrence City Commission study session Jan. 18.
Commissioners will not vote on the issue at the study session. The commissioners instead will listen to both sides and then schedule a vote for a later meeting if they feel they understand the issue.
the city. The same measure was first defeated by the commission 3-2 in 1988 after a long and bitter debate. Some commissioners fear another angry debate when the issue finally comes before the commission.
The only public speaker on the scheduling was the Rev. Leo Barbee of the Victory Bible Church. Barbee, an opponent of the measure, suggested the city appoint a task force, with representatives from both sides, to talk about the issue.
"I realized how divisive it was when I got letters and calls about it," Andersen said after the meeting.
"I feel there's another side that needs to be heard," he said.
But Simply Equal members disagreed. Ben Zimmerman, professor emeritus of social welfare and a leader of the effort, said the issue already had gone through five task forces since 1986.
"I don't think it's necessary, personally," he said. "I think people will have a xyxice at the study session."
After the meeting, Andersen did not rule out the possibility of a task force. She said if the commission was satisfied after the study session, it would schedule the issue for a vote.
But if commissioners had more questions, she said, a task force would be appropriate.
Andersen also said a task force would help heal the cracks in Lawrence's social climate that the Simply Equal debate had caused.
"If you got a task force with both sides of the issue represented and moderates on both sides of the issue represented and we gave them specific questions to answer, then it might bring a sense of healing to this community." Andersen said.
In other business, the commission examined a guideline for improvements to North Lawrence. The guideline, recommended by commissioners Doug Compton and Bob Moody, suggested renovating much of the area's drainage. It also suggested keeping houses from being built too close together and called for wider roads in new developments.
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