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Police Response Inadequate To Attacks On Gays

Police Response Inadequate To Attacks On Gays image
Parent Issue
Month
December
Year
1992
Copyright
Creative Commons (Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share-alike)
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Agenda Publications
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A recent (Nov. 6) article In The Michigan Daily focused on the response of members of the Ann Arbor Police Department to reports of physical assaults on lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people. In one instance, it has been alleged that a police officer requested a survivor of assault not to press charges against her assailant because "assault is a felony, and she didn't want to ruin his career." It was also alleged that the police discouraged the survivor from seeking medical attention. In another incident, the police allegedly refused to touch the female survivor of an assault This was because of their fear that she was a lesbian and would therefore transmit the "AIDS virus" to anyone who touched her, particularly if they came in contact with her blood. In that incident, it was also alleged that the police did not pursue the assailant, even though he was in full view when the police arrived.

A few years ago, the City of Ann Arbor consulted with the U-M Lesbian and Gay Male Programs Office about arranging in-service workshops for all City employees to address concerns of race, sexual orientation, and disability. The City has not followed up on this matter. To express your concern, contact the Chief of Police (994-2848), the Mayor (9942766) or your City Councilperson.

As we move into December, we need to remind ourselves of the overwhelming stress that many lesbians and gay men experience at this time. How many families welcome to their holiday festivities the "significant other" or domestic partner of their lesbian or gay male children? How many families have rejected their lesbian or gay male children who have come out to them? How many families refuse even to acknowledge the orientation of their lesbian daughters, gay sons, and bisexual children? Silence renders invisible: silence equals death.

Fortunately, support groups for families with lesbian, gay male, and bisexual children have for many years addressed family concerns with compassion, care and skill. Our local group, Parents and Friends of Lesbians & Gays (P-FLAGAnn Arbor) meets on the third Sunday of the month at 2 pm at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 2685 Packard just west of Eisenhower. If you need support, please consider attending the meeting. If you can offer support, please do likewise. For more info., cali 741-0659, 769-1648, or 763-4186.

Gay Liberation Front's Purpose is to provide Information, counseling, and related social services for people concerned about sexual orientation. We maintain a hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling and referral. We help provide factual information to offset prejudice and misinformation about Lesbians, Gay men, and Bisexual people. We work to obtain human and civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. We help organize groups for Lesbians, Gay men, and Bisexual people and are a link to other community groups.

Community Services include: a Hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling, referral. Education: workshops and conferences on concerns of Lesbians, Gay men, and Bisexual people with an emphasis on how people in the "helping professions" and "teaching professions" can work positively with clients, patients, & students who are Lesbians, Gay men, and Bisexual people. Speakers Bureau: phone for Information. Human & Civil Rights: Information and referral to help people who are being discriminated against because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation or because of their presumed "cross-gender" characteristics; lobbying for human and civil rights. Community Organization and Liaison : information and assistance in organizing groups, setting goals, addressing conflict, linking with other groups and resources.

Gay Liberation Front Meetings vary according to purpose. Cali for time and place. Gay Liberation Front, co 4117 Michigan Union, 530 S. State, Ann Arbor, MI 481091349; 763-4186.

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