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Support Gay Pride Week

Support Gay Pride Week image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
June
Year
1975
OCR Text

Gay Pride Week, this year celebrated June 22-29, has a history going back to 1969. In New York City that year, gay people rebelled against continuing police harassment.

In Michigan, Gay Pride Week is celebrating its 4th anniversary with activities in both Ann Arbor and Detroit. The public events remind each of us of the barriers this society has put up to prevent people from accepting natural sexuality in all forms. For those who have openly proclaimed their gayness, harassment is still a daily occurence outside the community of people who already have come out.

In this issue, the SUN has reports on the Human Rights Ordinance of Ann Arbor meant to end discrimination based upon sexual preference. But as too many of us already knew, it is rarely enforced. In another article, the SUN examines Michigan's outdated sex laws which can send a homosexual or lesbian to prison for fifteen years. Too often, enforcement of this one exists. While plans are underway to eliminate these Victorian concepts from the books, no legislation will automatically eliminate the stereotypes this culture portrays of gay people, nor end the harassment aimed at those whose lifestyles are different.

On Monday, June 23, HRP Council member Kathy Kozachenko will introduce a resolution urging the city to recognize and support Gay Pride Week. In 1972, Democrats and HRP members passed a similar resolution. But for the last two years, the Republican dominated Council showed their "homophobia" by refusing to endorse Gay Pride Week. Former mayor James Stephenson went so far as to claim "There is no proof that homosexuals as a group, because of their sexual preference, have made a contribution to the community"

The gay community in Ann Arbor has made a major contribution by forcing each of us to examine our own sexuality, and deal with the hangups which separate us from the people around us. We wholeheartedly support the Gay Pride Week, and urge Council to join us by supporting Kozachenko's resolution. We believe this year such a resolution will pass, proclaiming the end to Byzantine rule of this city.