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SOUTHERN VOICE
OCTOBER 21/199 3
THE MAYOR'S RACE
Davis, Campbell and Lomax talk gay/lesbian issues
Myrtle
Davis
Davis, 62, who lives in the
Collier Heights area of west At
lanta, was first elected to an at-
large post on the Atlanta City
Council in 1981. She is chair
woman of the council’s finance
committee.
Why should the lesbian/gay
community should support
you? “I think my record speaks for itself in terms of how I’ve
tried to respond to their needs and their requests.” She notes her
support of domestic partnership and measures to add sexual
orientation as a protected class in the city charter, combat hate
crimes, condemn Cracker Barrel and ban travel by city employ
ees to Colorado or other states and cities that discriminate against
gays and lesbians.
What is your agenda on gay and lesbian issues? “I
think the one thing that probably is missing just now [is a] non-
discriminatory clause for people [the city] does business with—
that they will not discriminate based on sexual orientation.” She
wants companies to be required to certify up front that they have
non-discrimination policies in order to do business with the city.
Do you support a citywide ordinance forbidding dis
crimination in housing and employment based on
sexual orientation? “I think it would be ineffective to try to
initiate that as a citywide ordinance based on the fact that we
don’t have the national legislation to back it up. I think requiring
all businesses to do that probably would be challenged in terms
of the constitutionality of it.”
What does the city needs to do to fight AIDS? “I think
that government has yet to initiate a strong .education effort.
Some of the advocacy groups have done a much better job, arid
government really has not gotten involved.”
How would you fight for PWA group homes, such as
Jerusalem House, even in the face of neighborhood
opposition? “I think the city has an obligation [to see] that
[group homes] are dispersed throughout the neighborhoods. They
are not an intrusion in the neighborhood.”
Would you actively recruit gays and lesbians to serve
in substantive, policy making roles in your adminis
tration? “I would like to see my department heads and people
who are working within my administration to be hired not based
on what they are—not looking necessarily for any kind of em
ployee but hiring them based on their ability to perform the job.”
She is committed to having a gay/lesbian liaison, whom she will
recruit through her own contacts in the community.
What would you do to combat hate crimes and im
prove the police department’s relationship with the
lesbian/gay community? She wants to recruit openly gay
and lesbian police officers and implement ongoing sensitivity
training for police officers “wherein officers know how to inter
act with people of different persuasions from themselves.”
On replacing Police Chief Eldrin Bell: She has made no
commitment to either retain or replace him. “I would give him
every benefit of the doubt to prove to me that he is not insensitive
to the gay and lesbian community. Without a doubt, that will be
one of the criteria used in determining whether he says on or not.
If he and I are on the same page singing the same hymn, I see no
reason why he can’t [stay]. If we aren’t, then I think he needs to
go”
Why do you believe discrimination against gays and
lesbians is wrong? “I’ve known discrimination. I know what
it is to be African American, I know what it is to be a woman,
and I can certainly relate to the kinds of discrimination that
people who are different than others often encounter. Simply
because you happen not to be gay or lesbian does not mean that
you are in a position to discriminate against someone who is. I
think there has to be an appreciation of the differences in people,
and what their sexual orientation is should not matter.”
Bill
Campbell
Campbell, 40, who lives in
Inman Park, is an attorney who
was first elected to the District 2
scat on the Atlanta City Council
in 1981. He was one of Mayor
Maynard Jackson’s floor lead
ers on the council.
Why should the lesbian/gay
community should support
you? “I think I have a demonstrated record of support for the
gay and lesbian community. I have initiated—I have fought
for—issues that are important to the gay and lesbian community,
all the way back before it was popular.” He notes his support of
domestic partnership and measures protecting lesbian/gay em
ployees from discrimination, banning travel to Colorado or other
states and cities that discriminate against gays and lesbians and
outlawing discrimination in private clubs with city liquor li
censes.
What is your agenda on gay and lesbian issues? He
would ban companies from doing business with the city unless
they have a written policy against discrimination based on sexual
orientation, and form an AIDS task force made up of people with
AIDS to advise him on AIDS policies, particularly housing. He
also promises open access to his office to the gay and lesbian
community.
Do you support a citywide ordinance forbidding dis
crimination in housing and employment based on
sexual orientation? He supports such an ordinance and says
he would be willing to defend it in court against constitutional
challenge. “1 don’t believe the state constitution condones dis
crimination at all”
What does the city needs to do to fight AIDS? He wants
to develop a comprehensive AIDS strategy, on housing and care
issues, that is a joint effort of the city, county and community-
based AIDS service organizations. “I think the mayor has to be
the leader in that effort.”
How would you fight for PWA group homes, such as
Jerusalem House, even in the face of neighborhood
opposition? “The mayor is really the great moral leader of the
city of Atlanta, and there needs to be strong, vigorous support for
such facilities and for embracing those with AIDS in a more
compassionate fashion than has happened in the past.”
Would you actively recruit gays and lesbians to serve
in substantive, policy making roles in your adminis
tration? He would seek out candidates with the advice of
community groups. “What we’re going to do is we’re going to
seek the best and the brightest. And by doing so, I’m certain that
gays and lesbians will be included in that number.”
What would you do to combat hate crimes and im
prove the police department’s relationship with the
lesbian/gay community? He wants stronger hate crimes
legislation and improved sensitivity training for officers. “I would
not tolerate any officer on our force or any person in the police
department who does not embrace wholeheartedly the concept
that gays and lesbians must be treated equally and must be
treated with sensitivity and must be treated with dignity and
respect. Any violation of that will result in termination.”
On replacing Police Chief Eldrin Bell: He has not made a
commitment to either retaining or replacing Bell, “but there is no
person in the city of Atlanta or in this country that has been
promised a job in the Campbell administration.” Bell’s willing
ness to repair his relationship with the lesbian/gay community
“will be a criteria” in deciding whether to keep the chief.
Why do you believe discrimination against gays and
lesbians is wrong? He says it comes from his personal
experience as the first child to integrate Raleigh’s public schools
in 1960. “I was beaten and spat upon because of the color of my
skin. They burned a cross in our yard...I learned at an early age
that you never, ever accept discrimination against any group.
And if you ever slide the line even the slightest degree, then
you’re not being true to your own beliefs.”
Michael
Lomax
Lomax, 46, who lives in south
west Atlanta, is a businessman
and college professor. He was
chairman of the Fulton County
Commission until resigning to
run for mayor.
Why should the lesbian/gay
community should support
you? “I think I’vedemonstrated
support and outreach to the gay and lesbian community, and, for
those reasons, I should have strong consideration.” He notes his
work on AIDS issues, arts issues and the fact he had an openly
gay man on his commission staff.
What is your agenda on gay and lesbian issues? “I
intend to have a total commitment and demonstration to human
rights...I’m committed to human rights and civil rights for all
people. That is an absolute value of mine, and one which will be
reflected in every element of my administration—to treat all
people equally.” He supports a ban on the city doing business
with companies that do not have a policy against discrimination
based on sexual orientation. Lomax wants to create a strong
human relations commission and will appoint a gay and lesbian
task force.
Do you support a citywide ordinance forbidding dis
crimination in housing and employment based on
sexual orientation? He supports such a measure and would
be willing to defend it against constitutional challenge. “I believe
in strong civil rights legislation, and I will continue to fight for
that.”
What does the city needs to do to fight AIDS? “Work
full time in between the special events...I don’t find that there’s
an ongoing AIDS policy at City Hall. I don’t think there’s an
ongoing office where the AIDS issue is located. There is in
county government. I think the mayor and the city need to be
taking a greater advocacy role, particularly with regard to hous
ing- ,
How would you fight for PWA group homes, such as
Jerusalem House, even in the face of neighborhood
opposition? “I think the opposition has come out of ignorance
and fear. One of the things we’ve got to do is break down the
barriers. I would sec that as the role of a human relations com
mission.”
Would you actively recruit gays and lesbians to serve
in substantive, policy making roles in your adminis
tration? “I would like to sec the workforce of the city, the
boards and commissions of the city, reflect the diversity of
population in the city.” But Lomax said “just as there is not a
special position for black people [at City Hall], there shouldn’t
be any special position, or limited position, just for gays and
lesbians.” He would fmd possible gay and lesbian candidates for
positions through his task force.
What would you do to combat hate crimes and im
prove the police department’s relationship with the
lesbian/gay community? “I am going to sit with the [gay
and lesbian] public safety task force for the first year of my
administration. I’m going to listen directly to the issues. I’m
going to work on the task force as a member to insure that City
Hall is responsive. I’m going to learn more by participating.”
On replacing Police Chief Eldrin Bell: He has committed
to retaining Bell, although he would require the chief to go
through sensitivity training. “I’m not going to make Chief Bell,
at this point, a campaign issue. I expect all department heads to
share my values and to insure that all sectors of this community
are fairly represented and responded to.
Why do you believe discrimination against gays and
lesbians is wrong? “Because I think all people are equal and
should be treated equally, and no one has the right to judge or to
treat people as less than full human beings. And my civil rights
and human rights are not secure as long as anyone else is dis
criminated against, regardless of the reason.”
RICHARD SHUMATE