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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
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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
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