U-M Regents Outlaw "Sexual Orientation" Discrimination
On September 24, the U-M Regents voted to include "sexual orientation" in Non-Discrimination Bylaw 14.06. The vote was seven to one, with Regent Deanne Baker not unexpectedly casting the dissenting vote. New Regents Rebecca McGowan and Laurence Deitch sparked the long-awaited change; President Duderstadt, Provost Gilbert Whitaker, Vice-President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford, and all the Deans of the University supported the measure. The first attempt to effect inclusion of sexual orientation among the categories protected from discrimination was made by the Lesbian-Gay Male Programs Office (then entitled the Human Sexuality Office) in 1972. The office was advised to desist from this effort until the State of Michigan had removed legal sanctions against same-sex sodomy and gross indecency.
A second attempt was made in 1976 through the organizing efforts of community activist Jonathon Ellis. Early in the 1980s the Lesbian-Gay Male Law Students Group began a third effort, which resulted in the formation of the group Lesbian & Gay Rights on Campus (LAGROC). In response to this and other considerations, then-President Harold Shapiro issued a "Presidential Policy Statement" in April 1984. The Statement prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and educational decisions. A Task Force on Sexual Orientation was organized in December 1984 to help explain, disseminate, and implement the Policy Statement.
The regental bylaw change approved last month means that "it is the policy of the University of Michigan that no person, on the basis of race, sex, ...sexual orientation...shall be discriminated against in employment, educational programs and activities, or admissions." As was the case for the Presidential Policy Statement, inquiries or complaints may be directed to the U-M Affirmative Action Office, Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor. Ml 48109 (313-764-3423).
J. Bernard Machen, Dean of U-M Dental School, will chair a new committee to study how particular employment benefits, family housing. financial aid packages, and student residency status would be affected by the bylaw change. The change will not apply to those concerns until after the committee has finished its study and after President Duderstadt or his delegate determines how, and to what degree, the bylaw change should apply to those areas.
We greatly appreciate the support of all who have contributed to the bylaw change. Twenty-one years of effort have resulted in one more step toward our liberation!
If any of our readers would like to express their written thanks to any members of the U-M Administration who supported the change, please call 763-4186 for information.
Many thanks to all who helped make Pride-Awareness-Commitment Week (PAC Week) such a success: Mayor Ingrid Sheldon for her PAC Week Proclamation; Ken Blochowski and other members of the Club Fabulous Planning Committee; Chuck Hampton; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church; Vicki Hayes, Len Scott, and U-M Counseling Services; rally MC Billi Gordon and speakers Ryan Bradley, Charley Sullivan, Chad Beyer, Pat Smith, Mary Bejian, Jeff Montgomery, and the Rev. Jodi Atwood (whose speech went largely unheard because protesters of the Cal Thomas event had left the rally area); the Dooryard Moses band; Access Productions; the Rackham Graduate School and students who tried to study during the amplified hours of the rally; the Michigan Union; the Michigan League; the U-M School of Music (who kindly cancelled their planned carillon recital during the rally hours); the U-M Lawyers Club; the U-M Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Center; the U-M Network for Cultural Democracy; Van Sheets, Taylor-Anne Wentworth and Billi Gordon for their workshops; Terri Jewell for her poetry reading; Common Language Bookstore; Sunday workshop presenters Terri Jewell, Lynn Wright. Jim Toy, Gen Stewart, Molly Reno, Mark Erichson, Karen Miller, and Vicki Hayes; LGMBPO staff members Andrea Constancio, Camille Brewer, Natasha Raymond, John Smith, Ryan Bradley, and Jim Toy; TV channel 50; The Michigan Daily; The Ann Arbor News; The University Record; the U-M Office of Student Affairs administration members Richard Carter, Royster Harper, and Maureen Hartford; and all whom we have failed to mention.
Note that on Wed. November 10, from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the LGMBPO Lounge, 3116 Michigan Union, there will be a Brown Bag Lunch Discussion on the topic "Follow-Up on Billi Gordon's Workshop: Art as Oppressing? Art as Liberating?" For information call 763-4186.
A Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to all!
Gay Liberation Front's Community Services include: a Hotline tor 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 tor 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 includes U-M students, staff , faculty and people from the larger communities.
Gay Liberation Front, c/o 3116 Michigan Union, 530 S. State, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-1349; 763-4186.