•
Clear Sailing
shred of evidence that dealt
with the beating of gays and
lesbians.
"I never saw any docu-
mentation of any kind that
would substantiate the in-
clusion of sexual orienta-
tion," Judge Nichols said.
"In fact, we asked 83 pros-
ecutors if they perceived the
beatings of gays and les-
bians as a widespread prob-
lem."
But Mr. Lobenthal, who
has a gay nephew, said this
is an especially critical time
for gay rights legislation.
"The homosexual popula-
tion in the United States is
growing by leaps and
bounds," Mr. Lobenthal
said. "According to
statistics, it's becoming one
in ten. Yet, the homosexual
population is still the only
group whom it's still ac-
ceptable to publicly condemn
— as if they were fair game.
"People use the terms fags
or queers without em-
barrassment; yet few would
feel comfortable talking
about niggers or kikes.
We've all but stopped referr-
ing to Japanese Americans
as Japs. Only the. homosex-
ual population c an be so
labeled and so viciously
targeted."
Mr. Lobenthal said that as
rampant as homophobia has
Richard Lobenthal
become, the ADL doesn't see
many Jewish - gay cases.
"There are gay rights
groups for that," he said,
"and someone Jewish who is
victimized because they are
gay and Jewish, they'll still
probably tend to go to gay
rights organizations."
Mr. Lobenthal said the
only other civil rights bill in
Michigan that could be
amended to protect gays and
lesbians would be the Eliott-
Larsen Civil Rights Act,
which was passed in 1982.
"That is the state's basic
civil rights bill, but as yet it
doesn't include any provi-
sion for sexual orientation,"
Mr. Lobenthal said.
However, in Oak Park, one
David Honigman
Hoya, charting the
future of fine design.
The sailboat of purest
crystal in two sizes.
Small, 6 inches in height,
$350. Large, 73/4 inches
in height, $495.
From our giftware and
tabletop collection.
Jewish woman decided to
change the law at the local
level.
Harriet Arnowitz, whose
30-year-old son Jonathon is
gay, is the architect of a
1990 gay rights resolution.
She and her husband,
Mickey, are also officers of
the Detroit area chapter of
Parents and Friends of Les-
bians and Gays.
Mrs. Arnowitz, who is 68,
said that her son, who lives
in San Francisco, has
witnessed examples of job
discrimination and police
harassment of gays.
Mrs. Arnowitz said
Jonathon went to Oak Park
schools until he graduated
high school. He went on to
study at Michigan State
University.
"One of the reasons my son
doesn't live at home is be-
cause he doesn't consider
Michigan as progressive as
other states have become
with regard to civil rights for
gays and lesbians."
Michigan legislators at-
tempted to pass a gay rights
bill in 1983, but it never
made it out of committees
and eventually died.
In most cities and towns in
Michigan, a gay person who
is fired or denied housing be-
cause of his or her homosex-
uality has no recourse. The
only cities in Michigan that
bar housing and employ-
ment discrimination against
gays are Detroit, Flint, Ann
Arbor and East Lansing.
Saginaw prohibits housing
discrimination.
Oak Park's resolution
makes it the city's policy not
to discriminate against gays.
Mrs. Arnowitz said she's
unclear whether the policy
has the force of law.
"Our initial motivation
was to see to it that our son
had his civil rights," Mrs.
Arnowitz said. "Now, we
won't stop until everyone, no
matter who or what they
are, has their civil
rights." ❑
ChARIES W. WARREN
JEWELERS SINCE 1902
SOMERSET MALL, (313) 649-3411
FEDERAL FIREPLACE
HOMESTEAD WIND 1 OR 2
A truly contemporary fan. A clean, sleek fan system
whose design is both contemporary and elegant. No hum
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of several different
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SALE ENDS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1991 AT 5PM • HOURS: MON-FR110AM-9PM • SAT 9AM-8PM • SUN 10AM-5PM
In F&M Plaza • Southfield Rd. at 12 Mile Rd.
1 mile north of 1-696
557-3344
• PRIOR SALES EXCLUDED•
Federal Fireplace
BARBEQUE & PATIO FURNITURE
a is
In Pine Ridge Center • Novi Rd. at 10 Mile Rd.
1-3/4 miles south of 12 Oaks Mall
348-9300
•SOME ITEMS NOT EXACTLY AS PICTURED•
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
15