Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 08/06/1992 MINUTE'S 111611'' OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MELTING AUGUST 6, 1992 Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent Dr. Kate Haltom, Chair Grandis Lenken Sarah Guidry, Vice Chair Sandra Longoria Green Jimmie McCurn Elida Gonzalez Staff Present Rosalie Beaty Jacquelyn Harrell Lynda Herndon-Sutherland Henry Gorham Terry Mills Rosie Alaniz Clyde E. Bourke Adell Lucas Mousumi Shaw The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by the Chair, Kate Haltom. The roll call was taken and a quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES It was moved and seconded the Minutes of July 2, 1992 be approved as read. CHAIRPERSON"S COMMENTS Commissioner Haltom stated it has come to her attention the Commission does not have a travel policy. Commissioner Haltom discussed this and it was reconmiended a resolution be drafted. Commissioner Haltom also stated the Ordinance Committee will continue to work on the Ordinance, and the Travel Policy and will draft a recommendation to bring to the Commission for approval. OLD BUSINESS Ordinance Committee Report Commissioner Guidry stated the Ordinance Committee has worked on a proposed draft, and Ordinance Committee members will be turning in their changes to the Human Relations Office by August 19, 1992. Commissioner Guidry also stated she and Commissioner Beaty will look at the proposed changes. The Ordinance Committee will begin to work an the final draft. I HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 2 Charter Revision Update - including Demographic Report Commissioner Beaty, Chair of the Charter Revision Sub-committee, stated the Sub-committee will make formal reconanendatiorrs, and the removal of phrases from biographical data on requirements for perspective City Commissions or Board Mermbers. Commissioner Beaty stated the phrase on the biographical requirements that anyone "should be a member of the clergy, etc." is not a legitimate requirement. Commissioner Beaty also told the Commission the Sub- committee will also look at female and minority ratios, and three or four other }major areas. NEV1 BUSINESS Job Corps Cob ti issioner Bourke requested postponement of his report on the Job Corps until next meeting. He stated he will attempt to have a representative from the Job Corps to make the presentation. Aids Commission Commissioner Sutherland reported the Mayor's Committee on Aids is no longer meeting at the present time. Coiimissioner Guidry suggested some type of formal reconrmnendation be made directly to the }Mayor az how urgent this matter is and the Commission would be willing to serve as a liaison, if necessary, to form a committee. Commissioner Bourke suggested a mini-committee be appointed to make a recommendation to the Mayor on how to proceed on this. He stated this issue is too important to the Community and the Nation. A motion was made, seconded and it was voted unanimously to send a letter to the Mayor. Commissioner Haltom appointed Commissioner Sutherland, Commissioner Mills, Commissioner Guidry, and Jacquelyn Harrell, Director of Human Relations to draft a letter to the Mayor. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES 410 PAGE 3 Leo Guerrero - Bayfest Controversy A discussion ensued and it was reported that discriminatory remarks had been attributed to City Councilman Leo Guerrero an the subject of Bayfest admittance and certain members of the community which it had been suggested be excluded from Bayfest annual festivities. Chairperson, Dr. Haltom stated she thought it was an Spanish radio where Leo Guerrero allegedly first made comments that homosexual should not be allowed at Bayfest. Commissioner Sutherland stated "homosexuals shouldn't be allowed on the sea wall" was translated to english and it was misunderstood as to what Mr. Guerrero really said, She continued, it was taken out of context and could not be translated. Commissioner Bourke stated the reason the issue is an agenda item is because as Commissioners, we need to know why a City employee or person being paid as an elected or City official has any comment on any group via sterotyped remarks or publicly air any bias whatsoever against citizens of this community who pays taxes. Mr. Bourke continued he personally feel we, as the Human Relations Commission need to censor Mr. Guerrero in some way the least of • which would be a letter of reprimand, or bring him up for some kind of charges. Commissioner Sutherland stated "whether he is right or wrong is not the question. Is what Mr. Guerrero did legal because our City Charter, Article #39, states, "To take all measures, including but not limited to the right to permit, prohibit, regulate or license, any activity in order to promote and protect the health, and morals for the public". Commissioner Bourke stated, sex perverts, child molesters, flashers are no more present in the homosexual community than there is within the heterosexual community, there is statistical proof available. We need to stop this infusion, next time it will be baldheaded people. Commission Bourke asked, is the statement condemning homosexuals as people or the deviant behavior according to his (Guerrero) standard and maintaining they should be barred from City activities such as Bayfest? They cannot go to football games in the future? What is this? They have to wear something similar to a Star of David an their shirt like in pre-war Germany? Commissioner Beaty stated, we can put out a strong letter, go visit him personally or we can appear before the City Council since Mr. Guerrero even said he is not going to apologize to the gay and lesbian community, " cause I don't care". 1 0 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES 1110 PAGE 4 Commissioner Beaty said the least the Commission can do is to go on record as being against these comments and his (Leo's) way of presenting them to the oonu pity. This is a polarizing situation, left and right, and the Commission should come out publicly against. Commissioner Beaty said there are now laws broken and this can divide the community When you start judging people based on sex, color, creed, or sexual orientation. Commissioner Bourke stated homophobic reactions are quite often from people who possess latent homosexual feelings. Commissioner Guidry stated, she thinks we should form our own committee to look into what steps we can take to insure people are not mistreated and have the same rights. The discussion ensued for quite some time. It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to publicly reprimand Mr. Guerrero in the form of a letter. Chairperson Haltom requested a committee of the same people named earlier to draft a letter to the Aids Committee draft a letter to Mr. Guerrero. A discussion ensued on the manner of presentation of such a letter. Commissioner Guidry suggested a committee on public awareness be formed as a project, they could read the letter as part of the presentation. Chairperson Halton stated, Lynda, Jackie and she would draft a letter and included Sarah. Commissioner Beaty agreed to read the letter. Commissioner McC1urn asked if the consensus was a formal apology to the • cat uunity at large was to be given? Cbmmissioner Guidry stated she felt the issue goes deeper than just his opinion because his bigotry is affecting his decision on the City Council. Therefore, his supporters and the City Council needed to take a closer look. It was suggested a meeting be held in the next ten days on this subject alone. Chairperson Haltom asked Mrs. Harrell, if a special meeting could be held. The response was "yes, all we have to do is make sure we publish an agenda 72 hours in advance of the meeting". Commissioner Guidry suggested a public forum be held instead of a special meeting to allow the gay and lesbian community to speak and provide public education. 16 HUMAN RELATIONS CCMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 5 A motion was made, seconded and voted to hold both a special public meeting and a forum. Commissioner Haltom said, time is important and the draftees must meet Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. She continued and asked Sarah to draft both letters on the radio comments and Aids. She said, Lynda, Clyde, Terry want to get on board. Mrs. Harrell said, she would be out of town, but would draft the letter and leave it for the Chair. CLOSED SESSION A closed session was held as previously published. PUBLIC C MOW A citizen commented on the Junior Teague as sponsors of Bayfest whose membership included no Hispanics. She said it is appalling the City contracts with them and perpetuates discrimination because of race. She continued that Mexican Americans are a protected class and a suspect class and are excluded by the Council as well because they voted to approve a contract with a discriminatory board. She continued, "If you are going to send Leo Guerrero a letter of reprimand I think you should, but send one to all Council members • that voted with a discriminatory voice. A citizen, Ron Hudson, commented the Mayor and Council opinions should be separate, making sure it is clear the comments are not speaking for the Council or Mayor in anyway, explain to people. He said the proposed meeting should have public input frau everybody interested or had a discriminatory problem or felt bigotry was present. Furthermore, he caumanted homosexuals, disabled or religious discrimination could be accommodated at the forum. Religious access usage was also mentioned. He also stated the closed session for this meeting is illegal. A homeless person also gave his concern about transients being talked about in ' sh radio. Suzannette Locke, a reporter from Leo Guerrero's statements on S }. p�v- Gay Magazine spoke briefly to the Commission and said she wanted to become involved in these issues. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, to cone before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. 1110 Chair Date