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Did You Know?
by Terry Zimmerman
At the beginning of
this issue, Don Brown expressed surprise
at learning that job discrimination, based on sexual orientation,
was legal in 41 states. Well these laws do not just apply to
employment, but also to housing and many other issues.
Alaska, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, N. Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, S. Dakota, Vermont,
Washington, W. Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming are the only states
that private, consensual homosexual acts are not a crime. As of 1991,
26 states and the District of Columbia, our nations capitol, had
criminal laws that prohibited Gay Love. In Rhode Island the penalty
is not less than 7 years nor more than 20 years. Watch yourself if you
ever visit that state.
Many of the states
listed above, including Ohio, still do not protect
us from discrimination in jobs, housing, and other important areas.
How would you like
to know that you could come out at work with
no threat of being fired for it? How would you feel if you knew you
had a legal right to defend yourself against gay prejudice, hate
crimes, and sexual harassment? If you think these issues don't touch
your life, what about your gay comrades?
Unity and taking your
business to places that do not discriminate,
are our major strengths. Let's make sure we use them. We must
bring our community together on the issues that affect everyone
involved.
What's Up and its staff
will continue to promote these important
factors and present the Gay community in a positive way. We are
grateful for the loyal support of our steady advertisers, and happy
to welcome the new ones that have joined us. Some Gay businesses
wave the Rainbow Flag simply to fatten their pocketbooks, while
others realize that they are an integral part of the whole gay
socioeconomic picture. We salute those who get it!
If you appreciate What's
Up, please take note of its financial
supporters and patronize those businesses that make printing this
booklet a possibility --our advertisers. When you do, be sure and
tell them you saw their ads in What's Up! Thanks.
TZ
:o{)
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