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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1981)
" . ) t f thursday, november 19, 1981 lincoln, nebraska vol. 107 no. 61 Copyright Daily Nebraskan 1981 Gay ordinance meeting prompts much discussion By Joe Kreizinger A standing ovation from backers of tiie proposed gay and lesbian rights amendment to Lincoln's human rights ordinance capped more than four hours of discussion at Tuesday night's Human Rights Commission public hear ing. Gay rights advocates stood to applaud the closing state ments of a number of Lincolnites who spoke out in favor of the controversial amendment. "This is a lifestyle I cannot accept, and I choose not for my family to accept it. If this amendment is allowed, I and my family will have no choice but to leave the city," Robert Howe. The amendment would add the phrase "sexual and af fectional orientation," to the 1966 ordinance which pro tects this city's citizens from discrimination based on "race, color, sex, disability, national origin, age,ancestry, marital status, or receipt of public assistance." A standing-room-only crowd gathered at the Lincoln City Council chambers to express opinions on the issue. Both the supporters and the opponents to the pro posed amendment were given 45 minutes to make opening statements, with individual speakers allowed five minutes each. Following a 10-minute intermission, supporters and non-supporters were given an additional 45 minutes each. Amendment backers speak Tim Sindelar, chairman of the Human Rights Commis sion, noted that about 40 additional supporters of the amendment also wished to add their comments. They were then limited to one-minute presentations. Supporters of the amendment stressed that the amend ment is necessary to ensure gays and lesbians an equal op portunity to become employed and keep their employ ment and to be ensured of security in finding and keeping their apartments. Many of those opposed to the amendment spoke out on the immorality and "perversions" of the homosexual lifestyle. Passing the proposed amendment would cause a number of immediate problems, said Robert Howe, a Lin coln businessman. "This is a lifestyle I cannot accept, and I choose not for my family to accept it," Howe said. "If this amend ment is allowed, I and my family will have no choice but to leave the city." Howe expressed concern that approval of the amend ment could result in Lincoln's becoming similar to San Francisco or New Orleans, which Howe faulted as having high ratios of immorality. He added that in these cities he has encountered "teen age girls fondling each other in the streets, men exchang ing money on the street for sexual favors and a number of homosexual propositions." These kinds of occurances must not become common in Lincoln, Howe stressed. Some stay away "No one will come and visit this city and like this type of lifestyle," Howe said. Cheryl Long, co-chair of the Lincoln Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights, presented another view of the issue to the nine-member Human Rights Commission. Long said "an incredible level of ignorance and discom fort" exists in Lincoln regarding the gay rights ordeal. She urged the commission to "be consistent with the trend to extend legal protection to lesbian and gay citizens." 'There are thousands of lesbians and gay men produc tive in this community," Long said. "They are weary of being unjustly hated and despised." Long added that it "takes great courage" for supporters of the amendment to step forth and speak. "There are thousands of lesbians and gay men productive in this community. They are weary of being unjustly hated and despised," Cheryl Long. Other amendment supporters cited specific examples oi discrimination they encountered because of their sexual preference. Gloria Swisher, a Lincoln resident, spoke of her son's being fired from his job with an ambulance firm because of his homosexuality. "He worked for five years with the firm," Swisher said. "After they found out he was gay, he was released within 24 hours. They said he was 'contagious.' " Continued on Page 3 Attorney says Uruguayans reject military rule By Jeff Goodwin The government of Uruguay has been systematically taken over by the milita ry of that country, according to a mem ber of the Lincoln chapter of Amnesty International. "!" ' Pat Williams, a Lincoln attorney, spoke at the Nebraska Union Wednes day afternoon as part of the Talks and Topics program sponsored by the Uni versity Program Council. f till Photo by Dave Bentz Lincoln Attorney Pat Williams speaks to UNL students Wednesday afternoon about the oppression of political prisoners in Uruguay. "Williams" ' said thT "military takeover began in the late 1960s when the mili tary began to crack down on urban guerrilla groups. "Unlike Chile, where the military took power in a bloody coup, the take over in Uruguay was gradual," she said. "Eventually, in 1973, the military closed parliament and took over the government completely." Williams said prior to the late 1960s, Uruguay had been one of the most democratic countries in South America. She said the Uruguayan constitution, which was passed in 1967, has many guarantees of human rights, but the mil itary, government is ignoring these. Williams said that, between 1973 and 1980, one out of 50 Uruguayan citizens was arrested and imprisoned by the gov ernment. At one time Uruguay had the most political prisoners per capita of any country in the world, she said. Williams said a vote was held on a new constitution last November. "The military was trying to give legi timacy to their rule," she said. But, in stead of approving the constitution as they were expected to, the people of Uruguay voted it down. "This says very loud and clear to the military leaders that they don't have the support of the citizens," Williams said. "The Uruguayan citizens have not for- gotteri ther democratic roots, much to the surprise of their military leaders." Williams said the government has started to crack down even more on pol itical prisoners since the constitution was defeated. There have even been some executions, she said. Williams detailed the conditions which prisoners must endure in Uru guayan prisons. Prisoners must keep their heads down at all times when they are not in their cell, she said. In addi tion, parents who are being held prison er are not allowed to show any affection toward their children when they are al lowed visits. Children are only allowed to visit their parents for nine hours every year. Even if the sentence of a prisoner does expire, the family of the prisoner ,is required to pay the government for the cost of keeping him in prison. "As a result of this, very few prison ers are ever released," Williams said. One of the two prisoners adopted by the Lincoln chapter is a Uruguayan, Wiiliams said. Alvaro Rodriguez Rod riguez is an architecture student who was arrested in June of 1977. Since January 1978, there has been no word from him. "We are currently writing letters to military and government officials try ing to determine what his condition is," Williams said. U.S. military role to be topic n . 0(K o thursday By Meiinda N orris Secretary of State Alexander Haig's Nov. 12 refusal to rule out a naval blockade against Nicaragua will be discus sed in a panel presentation Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. Jeff Hamill, a member of the Young So cialist Alliance, announced the presentation at Wednes day's ASUN Senate meeting. Entitled "Against U.S. Military Intervention in Latin America," the program will feature speakers Suzy Prenger, human rights coordinator for Nebraskaris for Peace, and Jeff Adams, a Latin American studies student. "Cuba and Nicaragua have called a military alert, Hamill told the senate. "The last time Cuba called a mili tary alert was during the Bay of Pigs." . The United States has a large number of economic in terests in Latin America, such as sugar and coffee planta tions, Hamill said. The funneling of arms from Russia through Cuba to El Salvador is a fraudulant excuse for a military move, Hamill said. The Monday presentation will be sponsored by the Feminist Action Alliance; the Student YWCA; the Young Socialist Alliance; Charles Quinn, member of the New American Movement; lecturer Joe Swanson, and Iranian supporters of the Iranian People's Fedari Guerrilla Organi zation. Concerning the city wheel tax, approved by the Lin coln City Council Nov. 16, Nette Nelson, chair of the Government Liaison Committee, told the senate that May or Helen Boosalis has until Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. to sign the proposal into law. Nelson suggested that students write, or telephone the mayor to express their opinions in hopes she will veto the proposal. Onward and Upward: Steve Sample, an NU administrat or, talks about his upcoming move to president of the State University of New York at Buffalo Page 14 Forum for a Filmmaker: An interview with Emile de Antonio, whose films are being shown at Sheldon Film Theater this week Page 10 Where Do We Go From Here?: Nebraska's volleyball team won its sixth straight Big Eight title last week and now is hoping for a berth, in the NCAA tourn ament Page 13 i