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Essay Subject: Compares 1992 & 1994 campaigns in Colorado & Oregon. Legal, religious, social, political, ethical, economic & labor issues separating pro- & anti-gay factions.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Compares 1992 & 1994 campaigns in Colorado & Oregon. Legal, religious, social, political, ethical, economic & labor issues separating pro- & anti-gay factions. Paper Introduction: GAY RIGHTS INITIATIVES: A COMPARISON CAMPAIGNS IN COLORADO AND OREGON Introduction In November 1992, Colorado voters approved an initiative prohibiting the enactment of anti-discrimination laws covering homosexuals (Hill, 1993, pp. 26-28). The Colorado initiative has never been implemented because it has been tied up in court ever since the Colorado electorate voted to make it law. The Colorado State Supreme Court in October 1994 upheld a lower court ruling permanently enjoining the measure (Gallagher, 1994, p. 53). The significance of the success at the polls of the Colorado initiative, however, is not that the initiative has not become law. Rather, the significance of the initiative lies in the fact that its success at the polls provided encouragement to opponents in Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. This line of reasoning is usuallyextended to the idea that such conditions are "unfair and ought to beremedied" (Klappholz, 1989, p. In the intervening time, and perhaps even subsequentto such a determination should it ever occur, homosexuals will be subjectedto societal discrimination and recrimination that will, in turn, generate asignificant requirement for effective psychological therapy for homosexualpersons that is not associated with any consideration of homosexualbehavior as a mental disorder (Morin and Rothblum, 1991, pp. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, pp. Washington Post, A27.Bilts, J. Providing equal opportunity to minority groups within a society ismore a social issue than it is a legal issue. They did not. The avalanche that buried Aspen. Rather, the real losers are ordinarycitizens who will be ill represented in the halls of government. Thesecharacteristics involve "goal orientation, assertive activity, self-development, and separation from others" (Cook, 1987, p. 46-49). (5th ed.). As a practical matter also, however, the opponents of anti-discriminationlaws covering homosexuals continue to launch new initiative campaignsregardless of their past failures. Homosexuality "as a clinical or diagnostic term is misleading,however; it implies a unity of behavior and meaning that does not exist"(Gadpaille, 1989, p. (1992, June 3 ). Sexual behavior in the human male. Such an objective is appealing bothintellectually and politically. 1 86). Most of the supporters of theinitiative among the general population thought that they were doing thework of the Lord. Thus, while Colorado business won the battle, the pricewas far higher than anticipated, and the war eventually be lost.Colorado's Fundamentalist Christians, conversely, were exultant in victory,and the boycott of ski areas such as Aspen was viewed by this group as abonus they had not expected (Lichtenstein, 1992, p. New York: Longman.Gadpaille, W. The Anti Gay-Rights Campaign in Colorado Fundamentalist Christian churches and dominated organizations inColorado successfully spearheaded a campaign in 1991 to place an anti gayrights initiative before a statewide electorate (Gay rights, 1991, p. Spotlight's on Streisand as tensions keep rising over a boycott of Aspen. 1 86-1 96.Gallagher, J. Nevertheless,the finding of an absence of major endocrinological differences betweenhomosexuals and heterosexuals argues against a physical causation ofhomosexual preferences (Gadpaille, 1989, pp. B1). The Oregon CitizensAlliance (OCA), an amalgam of Fundamentalist Christian churches andorganizations, was successful in 1992 in persuading backwoods communitiesand blue-collar towns in Oregon to enact anti homosexual rights ordinances(Blue-collar, 1992, p. The right's new strategy. (1993, July 29). A16). The equality of outcome concept, as opposedto the equality of opportunity concept, will have adverse impacts on boththe short-run, and on the long-run profitability of business and industry,as well as on the economic and the social health of the country (Lynch,199 , pp. 38). Affirmative Action. In theory, employment discrimination regulation has a sound basis. Income distribution objectives, laws prohibiting socialdiscrimination, and, in some instances, policies intended to rectify theeffects of past discrimination--affirmative action goals--have all become apart of "the rules of the game" for American business. Upon reconsideration, the Superior Court continued touphold the action of the school board, and Gaylord again appealed. 2. Theviolence directed at homosexuals produced two outcome that harmed the OCAcause. 472). New York Times, 35.Booth, M. Altschiller,(Ed.). White Plains, NY: International Arts and Science Press, pp. . Fundamentalist Christians find the homosexual lifestyle abhorrent. Woman of the year. Advocate, 46-49.Gallagher, J. Polls conducted shortly before the initiative vote indicated that theanti gay rights measure would be defeated easily (Gallagher, 1993, p. This pigheaded approach certainly deserves some of thecredit for the backlash of the population majority in Colorado that wasevidenced by the passage of the anti gay rights initiative. D. Such an attitude isdifficult to comprehend, as Colorado has never been noted for eitherdeveloping or embracing progressive social policy. 472). The Colorado State Supreme Court in October 1994 upheld a lowercourt ruling permanently enjoining the measure (Gallagher, 1994, p. By contrast, In Colorado, the anti-initiative forces were notsuccessful in gaining the backing of the major print media. 46-49). 12).Upon consideration, many entertainment bright lights decided that thepleasures of an Aspen vacation superseded the need to support civil rights(Weinraub, 1992, p. (5th ptg). . The androgynous personality, thus,possesses "expressive/communal . (1993, February 1 ). Library Journal, 118(16), 16.Lee, G. Gottfredson. The Colorado businesscommunity, however, was taken aback at the success of the national boycottof the state because of the passage of the initiative (Lee, 1992, p. The Coloradobusiness community, however, was chafing under affirmative action, and thepassage of the anti gay rights initiative was viewed as an important stepin the battle to role back affirmative rights laws. Commentary, 9 , 44-47.McDonald, A. The success of the anti-initiative forces in Oregon was largelycredited to superior political communications (Shell, 1993, p. The shelter that many of these people seek to protectthemselves from massive societal changes is the Fundamentalist Christianmovement (Gallagher, 1992, pp. Publishers Weekly, 12.Pendleton, C. Failure, however, only spurred the OCA to renew itsefforts. . (1992, November 16). Washington Post, D1.Lynch, F. The renewed anti gay rights effort by the OCA met strong resistancefrom much of the business community in Oregon this time around, because ofa rear of the type of boycott that struck Colorado in the wake of thepassage of the anti gay rights initiative in that state (Romano, 1993, pp.78-81). As was true of its predecessor, this measure was also defeated. Employment Relations Today, 21(2), 131-136.Bernstein, R. During the initiative campaign, Colorado Family Values raised onlyhalf as much money as was raised by the Equal Protection Colorado Committee(Gallagher, 1993, p. National Review, 45(17), 26-28.Jenner, L. Homosexuality. A. 7-17). 11). In D. D1). HR Focus, 71(1), 11.Johnson, D. Homosexual behavior,thus, may be defined as a "sexual pattern of preferential . (1992, November 15). 53).The significance of the success at the polls of the Colorado initiative,however, is not that the initiative has not become law. 188). (1992, December 16). 31). Inside Communications, 3rd ed. (1991). New York Times, A1 .Harlan, C. As a practicalmatter, the anti-homosexual initiatives did not become law in either state. In Peston, M., & B. (1993, August 1 ). The dimensions of thevarious definitions of androgyny "are potentiality independent. The ski meccas,Denver, and Boulder were viewed by the Fundamentalist Christians asprovinces of the Devil, and thus were deserving of the punishment. . A good cause, after all, can be carried only sofar. L. Themajor print media in Oregon opposed the initiative (Stein, 1994, pp. So toowill the congenitally stupid eventually sink to the bottom. When the matter was brought to theattention of the school board, Gaylord was dismissed from his employmentwith the Tacoma School District on the grounds that his immoral behaviorcompromised his ability to perform effectively as a teacher. The likelihoodis, however, that the polls accurately reflected the general opinion ofColorado residents. eroticinteraction between persons of the same sex despite the availability ofwilling opposite-sex partners" (Gadpaille, 1989, p. Affirmative action generally requires a firm to focus on legalrequirements associated with recruitment, hiring, promotion, and dismissal(Jenner, 1994, p. Real equality of opportunity will not occur, however,until such time as the great majority of individuals and organizationswithin a society voluntarily behave in a socially responsible manner. J. 35). B6).Rather, in an action that pleased Will Perkins of Colorado Family Values,the state appealed to decision of its own Supreme Court to the UnitedStates Supreme Court. Advocate, 53.Gallagher, J. DSM-I classifiedhomosexuality as a single diagnosis--Sexual Deviation. New York Times, B1.Weissberg, R. 131-136). The OCA petitioned for a new anti gay rights initiative in Oregonin 1993 (Gallagher, 1993, pp. Did the public knowledge of Gaylord's homosexuality impairhis ability to successfully perform as a teacher in the Tacoma Schooldistrict. To their dismay, they learned that such was not thecase. R. Colorado's anti gay rights vote faces fight. The absurdity of the affirmation action approach to social engineeringhas produced many conflicts between the protected and pampered segments ofthe population and the more qualified people who are denied jobs andpromotions so that the pampered ones may be accommodated. Bracing for battle. Transaction Social Science and Modern Society, 27, 4-11.Blue-collar town in Oregon becomes a gay rights battleground. (1993, July 21). The difference in the successful efforts of the two groups,however, was not a function of fund raising or campaign spending. Rather,initiative backers were successful because organizations such as ColoradoFamily Values made sure their supporters went to the polls on election day. (1991, May 23). . Rather, the polls simplydid not reflect the vast difference in voter turnout between the proponentsand opponents of the anti gay initiative. The Kinsey, Pomery, and Martin (1948, p. Little regard is given by government affirmativeaction enforcers to considerations of qualifications, training education,or general intelligence differences between the people an organizationwould prefer to hire, promote, or retain and those people that theaffirmative action police insist that an organization hire, promote, orretain. The real losers in such situations, however, are not therelatively honest politicians. The legal dimensions of affirmative action. Thus, aperson may be biologically female, have a secure feminine gender identity,prefer males as sexual partners, adopt a social role as a mother and a paidworker, and be androgynous," with respect psychological sex role, orpersonality (Sedney, 1987, p. Saunders.Klappholz, K. (1987). 17). The Supreme Court of Washington found that homosexuality was animmoral act as defined by the Constitution of the State of Washington, andthat Gaylord's admission that he was homosexual thus constituted immoralbehavior on his part. This definitionstates simply that a choice of a same sex partner must be made where analternative choice is available for a person's behavior to be characterizedas being homosexual. 472). (199 ). More groups join boycott of Colorado. The groups is hell-bent on crushing gay rights movement. 312; Cook, 1987, p. As is so frequently the case withFundamentalist Christians, however, there is no honesty in their publicstatements. M., & Huron, D. Coloradans on the gay amendment. Rocky Mountain News, A16.Cook, E. . and instrumental/agentic . Washington: Hemisphere Publishing.Equal protections for all. 37).When the opposite result occurred, most people who thought at all about theanomaly concluded that respondents lied to the pollsters. Affirmative action is amajor contributor to the development of this conflict (Barenholtz, 1994,pp. Largely however, the anti gay rights initiative in Colorado did notsucceed because of the big lie of the Fundamentalist Christians. The 1992 anti gay rights campaign in Oregon sparked an increase inviolence directed toward homosexuals (Gallagher, 1992, pp. 5 -55). Psychological androgyny. The corporate dance. Bycontrast, feminine psychological characteristics are considered to be"expressive/communal" in nature (Cook, 1987, p. New York Times, 19.Kinsey, A., Pomery, W., & Martin, C. Shutout in Oregon. In practice, affirmative action attempts to compensate specificpopulation groups (women, racial and ethnic minorities, and thecongenitally stupid) for presumed past discrimination. Los Angeles Times, A2 .Carrol, V. Advocate, 3 -31.Gallagher, J. (1992, March 1 ). To a certain extent, even the definition of homosexual behavior canbecome charged with emotional controversy. Public Relations Journal, 49(1 ), 11.Weinraub, B. That such equality of qualifications has notoccurred has not dissuaded the social engineers. The OCA contended that the state was attempting to muzzle thevoice of the people in small Oregon communities. 1 86). Kaplan & Benjamin J. The strategy and tactics followed by these reactionary Christianorganizations was developed largely by the Pat Robertson organization inVirginia; however, the Family Protection Council based in the State of newYork was also influential in the development of the strategy and tacticsemployed by the Colorado Family Values organization. Equal opportunityand fair employment practices legislation has been enacted and enforced(with varying degrees of vigor, depending upon the philosophical stance ofthe administration in power) since the early 196 s. (1992, December 15). Los Angeles Times, B6.Foltz, R. (1994, March-April). Corry, (Eds.). Equality or lasting inequality? The awful truce. An inflammatory issue pursued by opponents of anti-discriminationlegislation protecting homosexuals in both Colorado and Oregon is the so-called danger of a homosexual person holding the position of a publicschool teacher. The action of the Colorado electorate is approving the initiative wasattributed to widespread homophobia in the state (Johnson, 1992, p. 16).Clearly, in 1993 the OCA was on the business end of a strong backlash thatthe organization has not anticipated. With respect to the support for initiatives designed to preclude theextension of anti-discrimination laws to homosexuals, many (perhaps most)of the supporters of such initiatives are people who feel powerless in theface of the enormous social changes sweeping the county (Minkowitz, 1993,pp. Black Collegian, 24(4), 127-13 .Diamant, L. (1989). 11). They were correct about the majority of the population, but theywere woefully incorrect about the majority of the voters. (1992, October 13). Gay rights. (1948). (1987). In the 1992 anti gayrights campaign, Senator Bob Packwood of sexual harassment fame backed theOCA-sponsored initiative, while United States Representative Les AuCoinopposed the measure (Knickerbocker, 1992, p. A13). TheSupreme Court of Washington was then required to address to issues, asfollows: 1. The Superior Court of Pierce County found in favor of the schoolboard, and the Gaylord appealed. Rather,the campaign succeeded because of the "no special rights" message that,while it was parroted by Colorado Family Values spokespersons, was dictatedby Corporate Colorado. The constitutionalityof the new law was quickly challenged in state courts (Harlan, 1992, p.B2). The polls were not wrong. James M. Advocate, 5 -55.Gallagher, J. Conflict associatedwith the rise of work place diversity has become an important issue forAmerican corporations (Davis, 1994, pp. It is unlikely that the participation of entertainmentindustry luminaries in the initiative campaign had any substantial effectone way or the other, as their participation in political campaigns in theUnited States traditionally has produced little effect. S. American Psychologist, 46(9), 947-949.O'Brien, M. Gaylord, a teacher,had consistently received outstanding performance reviews. A1 ). 1). The androgynous personality is a manifestation of an individual'spsychological sex role (Sedney, 1987, p. The specter of homosexualschool teachers seducing and subverting innocent children is a campaignploy use in both Colorado and Oregon. The Oregon legislaturealso enacted a law prohibiting libraries in the state from banning thecirculation of books dealing with homosexuality (Law backs, 1993, p. Donna RedWing led the successful fight against the OCA initiative in 1992 (Zia,1992, pp. Throughout history, the term androgyny has been used "to denote anyblurring or blending of the distinctions between the sexes" (Cook, 1987, p.471). The Fundamentalist Christians whocrafted the Colorado initiative contended that the intent was not to denycivil rights to anyone, but rather to assure that no group was accordedspecial rights (A vote, 1992, p. (1987, July). 471). The Colorado initiative has never been implemented because ithas been tied up in court ever since the Colorado electorate voted to makeit law. (1994, January). (1994, November 15). 14).Charges of homophobia generally as bogus as are the professions of theFundamentalist Christians with respect to their true agenda, which ofcourse is to compel all Americans to accept their Neanderthal vision oflife. Additionally, the Oregon state legislature enacted a law intendedto nullify local government bans on homosexual rights (Gallagher, 1993, pp.3 -31). B1).The intra state boycott of areas that supported the initiative, however,served to motivate initiative supporter organizations such as ColoradoFamily Values to defend the new law against legal attacks by the heathens. In Harold I. Wall Street Journal, B1 .Hill, C. 947-949). (1992, December 3 ). Adult preferential homosexuals "aredistinguished simply by the conscious awareness of greater or exclusivesexual arousal by persons of the same sex. 11). Advocate, 27.Stein, A. Affirmative action has been in place long enough to have assured thatthe presumed equality of qualifications across all population spectrumswould in fact now be real. TheSupreme Court of Washington found further that the public knowledge ofGaylord's homosexuality would impair his ability in the future to performeffectively as a teacher. The voters in Oregonrejected the anti-homosexual initiative. 33). Colorado boycott divides the stars. F., & Rothblum, E. Ground zero: Fear and renewal in Colorado. (1993, October). L. In 1972, aformer student at the high school where Gaylord taught in Tacoma told theschool's vice-principal that he, the student, thought that Gaylord washomosexual. Thedanger of such outcomes increases with the increasing of single-issue votermotivations in the United States. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 11, 311-326.Shell, M. (1982, October). Homosexuals, for their part, appear to think that anyone whodislikes their behavior is necessarily afraid of them. Fighting hate in Oregon. The intent of theColorado initiative was prohibit the enactment of any laws that wouldprovide any protection to homosexuals. First, a multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed against theFundamentalist Christian anti gay rights activists, and second the majorityof Oregon's voters quickly turned against the OCA. Therefore, the findings of thisexamination are relevant to contemporary activities. This designation ofhomosexuality as a mental disorder remained unchanged until DSM-II waspublished in 1968. Therefore, the findings of thisexamination are relevant to contemporary activities. There is littlequestion that the affirmative action policy creates a situation of reversediscrimination in which innocent people are penalized for sins presumed bythe affirmative action police to have occurred at some point in the past. Many of the politically active groups supporting the anti gay rightsinitiative in Colorado were not as interested in denying civil rights tohomosexuals as they were seeking to reverse the political objective ofaffirmative action generally (Carrol, 1992, p. Colorado Springs, a Fundamentalist Christiancenter, became the target of an intra state boycott (Booth, 1992, p. "Contemporary Communications." In Carol Reuss and Donn Silvis, (Eds.). Colorado's new ban on gay rights laws is challenged in lawsuit. (1994). . Nevertheless, oncethe anti gay rights initiative had been approved by Colorado voters, theentertainment industry stars on the losing side quickly lent their supportto a movement to boycott the State of Colorado (O'Brien, 1992, p. Packwood, a Republican,and AuCoin, a Democrat, mirrored the national platforms of their respectiveparties in the 1992 general election. This research examines some of the factors that may explain thedifference in outcomes at the polls in Colorado and Oregon. Corporate Colorado was not inherently anti gay rights. Rather, an assumption is made that skills, intelligence,motivation, and other relevant factors are distributed equally among allsegments of the general population. 312). Advocate, 34-42.Gallagher, J. 3 ). 472). They need not be sexuallyactive; persons . The revised and diluted anti gay rights initiative was submitted tothe voters of Oregon in the general election of 1994 (Bernstein, 1994, p.A27). The androgynouspersonality is a manifestation of some combination of masculine andfeminine psychological characteristics. Advocate, 42-48. (1993, January 19). Philadelphia: W.B. The word was spread primarily through the pulpits of the state'sFundamentalist Christian churches, which was a relatively cost-free effort. Racial and ethnic minority groups inOregon largely refused to oppose the anti gay rights initiative on thegrounds that an extension of civil rights protections to homosexuals woulddilute their own quest for greater rights protection. 3 -32). ReferencesA vote could bar gay rights. Requirements for equalitymay be legislated and those requirements may be enforced with some degreeof effectiveness. One theoristconcluded that most assessments asserting that equality of opportunity isabsent are actually saying that "certain individuals, or groups, do nothave . Quite obviously, however, a sexual preference cannot be ascribed toa person unless that person has available alternatives. Christian Science Monitor, 1.Law backs gay materials. H., & L. The vice-principal confronted Gaylord with the allegation, andGaylord admitted to being homosexual. Village Voice, 3 -32.Morin, S. Diversity management. (1992, December 14). Colorado Family Values lived up to the Fundamentalist Christiantradition of spreading lies and innuendoes to bring down their opponents.Colorado Family Values depicted homosexuals as persons who are promiscuous(the Fundamentalist Christian preachers who continually fall to thetemptations of the flesh conveniently overlooked by Colorado FamilyValues), prone to pedophilia (again, Colorado Family Values ignored thefact that almost all pedophiles are heterosexual), and practitioners of adiseased lifestyle, overlooking the current direction in which the AIDS(acquired immunity deficiency syndrome) is moving--toward the heterosexualcommunity (Gallagher, 1993, p. Colorado in the gay nineties. . (1992, November 8). 4-11). Supporters simply assumed that Colorado voterswould grasp this point. (1992, June 14). Nevertheless, the firstDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-I) published bythe American Psychiatric Association in 1952 "considered heterosexuality tobe the behavioral norm, while homosexuality was seen as the mark of amentally ill individual" (Diamant, 1987, p. (1992, November 4). (1993, October 1). P. 26-28). Affirmative action legislation in the United Statesat both the federal and state levels of government establish guidelines forthe development and implementation of social policy with respect to equalemployment opportunities and with respect to the rectification of past actsof employment discrimination against selected population groups (Pendletonand Huron, 1991, pp. Advocate, 3 .Gay rights bill. Senate race mirrors presidential contest. (1992, December 29). Did Gaylord's admission that he was homosexual constituteimmoral conduct. Colorado: A victory in the courts. Rather, they askedOregon voters to stop government from promoting homosexuality. Opponents of the anti gay rights initiative might have achievedgreater success if they had emphasized the threat to individual privacyimplicit in the initiative. On 21 February 1994, the United States Supreme Courtagreed to hear the case. 247). (1992, December 2). 44-47). Counseling Psychologist, 15(3), 471-513.Davis, G. 19). As a practical matter also, however, the opponents of anti-discriminationlaws covering homosexuals continue to launch new initiative campaignsregardless of their past failures. 34-4 ). Equality of opportunity, fairness and efficiency. Rather, thesignificance of the initiative lies in the fact that its success at thepolls provided encouragement to opponents in other states of anti-discrimination laws covering homosexuals. B1). 312). 1) study Sexual Behavior andthe Human Male made a strong case for the argument that homosexuality is anormal variant of human sexual behavior. The provinces of the Devil, however, were not the only places to feelthe sting of a boycott. (199 ). Asthey consider homosexuality to be ungodly, the Fundamentalist Christianshave few compunctions about the use of outright lies and misstatements tocampaign what they consider to be the work of the devil. 7-17.Romano, M. 38). One implication of these trends is that relatively honestcandidates for political office (it is difficult to rate any politicianhigher than relatively honest) who assume that solid performance will earnvoter respect in the absence of political communication characterized bymanipulation, misstatement, and pandering more often than not will bedoomed to defeat. Editor and Publisher, 127(12), 15-16.Signorile, M. Motivations for Anti Homosexual Voting in Colorado and Oregon Fundamentalist Christians are adamantly opposed to homosexuality, andthey are unwilling to exist quietly in a live and let live situation.Fundamentalist Christian strength is substantial in the rural areas of bothColorado and Oregon. The significance of the ruling of the SupremeCourt of Washington was that, within Washington, in the absence of anyovert immoral acts and in the absence of any dereliction in performance, apublic school teacher may be dismissed from her or his position if thatindividual admits to a preference for a life style, the behavior associatedwith is defined as immoral by the Constitution of the State of Washington. 27). (1993, September 6). Thepopulation in Oregon has a tradition of acknowledging and protecting civilrights. 247). New York Times, 31.Barenholtz, R. While the somewhat milder anti gay rights initiative in Colorado wasapproved by that state's voters, the Draconian initiative in Oregon wasrejected by the voters of that state (Boxall, 1992, p. When the initiativewas approved by Colorado voters in November 1992, Colorado voters claimedthat they had been betrayed (Johnson, 1992, p. Pastdiscrimination, whether actual or real, is presumed if the favoredpopulation groups are not represented in hiring, promotion, and retentionin the organization in proportions comparable to their representation inthe general population. Sadock,(Eds.). Surviving affirmative action (more or less). Corporate Colorado thought that the passage of the anti gay rightsinitiative would be a big plus in its effort to be free of the shackles ofaffirmative action, but they had not considered the potential damage of anational boycott. Their successes in the hamlets and ArchieBunker towns of Oregon persuaded the OCA that they represented mainstreamthought in Oregon. New York Times, 14.Johnson, D. 1. (1992, May 24). A strong campaign was waged inOregon in 1994 for an initiative similar to that which was approved byColorado voters (Gallagher, 1994, pp. New York: Wilson Co., pp. New York Times, B1.Weinraub, M. The government of the State ofColorado was unwilling to accept the verdict of the state's own SupremeCourt which upheld a lower court ruling that the law created by the passageof the initiative was unconstitutional (Equal protections, 1993, p. Denver Post, B1.Boxall, B. This finding was reached in the absence of anyevidence that Gaylord had actually engaged in any homosexual acts. In practice, thegreatest emphasis is placed on discrimination which is based on either onsex or on racial or ethnic background. G. The word "homosexuality" isderived from the Greek word meaning "same," and "generically refers to anysexual activity between members of the same sex" (Gadpaille, 1989, p.1 86). Summary This research examined some of the factors that may explain thedifference in outcomes at the polls in Colorado and Oregon. Androgyny is used, thus, to denote: (1) biological sex--hermaphorditism; (2) dress styles; (3) careers not dominated by a singlesex (Cook, 1987); (4) societies characterized by political and economicequality between the sexes; (5) gender identity--"an awareness and comfortwith one's biological sex"; sexual orientation--"choice of sexual partner,"which, when androgynous, refers to bisexuality; (6) social sex role, whichrefers to "the social role one chooses, such as wife, mother, and/or paidworker"; and (7) psychological sex role, which is defined in terms of"similarities and differences among individuals according to the degree towhich they or others describe themselves in terms of personalitycharacteristics traditionally associated with men (masculine) and thoseassociated with women (feminine)", and which includes the personalitytraits and behaviors that, although not involved in actual sexual behavior,are included in people's stereotypes notions about how females and malesdiffer" (Sedney, 1987, p. Male and female homosexuality: Psychological approaches. As a practicalmatter, the anti-homosexual initiatives did not become law in either state. 1 86-1 95). .dimensions (Cook, 1987, p. The Family Protection Council based in the Stateof New York also provided funding to the Colorado Family Valuesorganization. Inpractice, however, the proponents of such legislation, having found thatthe elimination of discrimination on the basis of sex, racial or ethnicbackground, religious preference, or age would not result in therepresentation of individuals with these characteristics in all types andlevels of employment and in all compensation levels in the same proportionsas such individuals are found in the general population, began to demand anequality of outcome, as opposed to an equality of opportunity (Bilts andGottfredson, 199 , pp. certain opportunities" that are available to other individualsand groups (Klappholz, 1989, p. The public statements of the backers of the Colorado anti gayrights initiative were characterized by subterfuge designed to sell apoison pill to the unsuspecting Colorado electorate. These politicalgroups were funded principally by a Colorado business community desirous ofridding itself of the irritant of affirmative action. Most homosexuals reject the notion that either illness or antisocialbehavior correctly characterizes their sexual preferences. 472). (1993, August 1 ). Colorado homosexuals feel betrayed. This eminently reasonable definition engendershostility among many psychiatric professionals and lay people, however,because of a belief that the definition attempts to perpetuate an inferencethat homosexuality is a deviant behavior (Morin and Rothblum, 1991, pp. Restaurant Business, 92(12), 78- 81.Sedney, M. Unlike Colorado Family Values, the OCA in 1992 did not campaignagainst so-called special rights for homosexuals. This issue has a precedent in an action by a public schooldistrict in the State of Washington in 1977. Development of androgyny: Parental influences. (1992, December 23). Public Opinion and Popular Government, 4th ed. 15-16). 127-13 ). Such a position isrubbish, and promoting that position weakens their efforts to attractvoters to the goal of a non discriminatory society. . Essays in honour of Lord Robbins. The concept of equalopportunity, however, often appears to defy precise definition--definitionstend to change with the perspective of the protagonist. Masculine psychological characteristics are considered to be"instrumental/agentic in nature" (Cook, 1987, p. The OCA benefited, however, fromsupport that had not been expected. Cold shoulder for super cop. (1994, November 18). (1992, November 13). The Anti Gay Rights Campaign in Oregon The anti gay rights initiative placed before the voters of the Stateof Oregon in 1994 was not the first such initiative considered by thevoters of that state (Signorile, 1992, p. Cultural diversity and corporate America. The sects are also strong in some Colorado cities. Once again, the OCA was successfulin persuading a few small towns in Oregon to enact anti homosexualordinances (Gallagher, 1993, p. What theseadvocates of affirmative action and equality of outcome failed to grasp isthat, in a democracy when conflict develops between a population minorityand an overwhelming population majority in which an adversarial third party(the affirmative action police) attempt to overtly discriminate against themajority, the minority and its henchmen will eventually be crushed. Noted figures from the world of American entertainment threw supportto each side in the Colorado anti gay rights initiative campaign (Weinraub,1992, p. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Zia, H. Gaylordbrought action in the Superior Court of Pierce County, Washington torequire the Tacoma School District to reinstate him. In the face of theevidence of their own disastrous reasoning, they now pursue a policydesigned to yield an equality of outcome regardless of any differences inindividual merit. Campaign Effectiveness The effectiveness of political campaigns in the United States isincreasingly dependent upon the skillful use of political communications(Foltz, 1991, p. 246- 289.Knickerbocker, B. A. There is also increasing evidence that voters in theUnited States are making decisions based on the effectiveness of thecommunications skills of candidates, and that the effectiveness of thepolitical communications function can preclude any real investigation byvoters of the validity of the political messages delivered (Weissberg,1994, p. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 27(6), 516-518.Minkowitz, D. (1993, September 7). 42-48). Although anti-homosexual legislation and initiatives have beenunsuccessful in recent years in the State of Washington, the precedentsetting Gaylord case continues to provide the opponents of anti-discrimination legislation protecting the right of homosexuals a strongbasis for the continuation of their efforts. 1 93). (1989). Washington Post, A13.Lichtenstein, G. 947-949). Theregulation of business and industry in these contexts is intended toeliminate overt discrimination on the basis of gender, racial or ethnicbackground, religious preference, or age, and, in many instances, as statedabove, such regulation is also intended to rectify the effects of pastdiscrimination based upon these same characteristics. An unusual conference on homosexuality. Oregon measure condemning homosexuals is trailing. Initially, the Supreme Court of the Stateof Washington reversed the action of the Superior Court and remanded thecase to the Superior Court for further action under a correctedconstruction of the applicable statute. Thesecharacteristics involve "emotionality, selflessness, sensitivity, andinterpersonal relationships" (Cook, 1987, p. Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry/V, Vol. Genetic researchcontinues, however, that may eventually find that a homosexual preferenceis a state of nature. Homosexuals present a good targetfor the Fundamentalists because the homosexuals can be portrayed as devilswho can be blamed for the societal changes that are unsettling to theconfused. (1991, September), Removing the stigma: Fifteen years of progress. may be sexually inactive, yet be clearly aware oftheir arousal patterns" (Gadpaille, 1989, p. (1991). The Superior Court had interpretedthe applicable statute to indicate that greater weight should be accordedto the testimony of school district personnel than to the testimony ofother individuals. A2 ). Colorado goes straight to hell. (1994, Summer). A. Boycotting a news council. Library group moves meeting from Springs. They were driven by that motivation, unlike thecomplacent opponents of the initiative who simply were incapable ofaccepting that a majority of the population would vote to deny civilrights. GAY RIGHTS INITIATIVES: A COMPARISON CAMPAIGNS IN COLORADO AND OREGON Introduction In November 1992, Colorado voters approved an initiative prohibitingthe enactment of anti-discrimination laws covering homosexuals (Hill, 1993,pp. (1994, March 19). Social responsibility is imposed on business and industry in theinterest area of employment discrimination in the contexts of hiring,promotion, retention, and compensation (Jenner, 1994, p. Colorado voters needed to be told.The last hope of the opponents of the anti gay rights law in Colorado isnow the United States Supreme Court. This tradition carried the day in both 1992 and 1994. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.