Free at Selected Business Locations Home Delivery at$5 per Year szmc'roN GAY/LBSBIAN snvrcn oawxzuxon, v.0. BOX 11471, mum-mu, x: 40575 LOUISVILLE GAY ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE STALLED The Fairness Amendment to Louisville human ri hts ordinance, that would prohibit city-wide discrimination on tfie basis of sexual orientation failed to get out of committee at the Dec. 23 meeting of the city's Board of Aldermen. The amendment was the focus of a six week lobbying effort by those who supported and opposed it. Supporters of the measure say that if the ordinance were brought to a vote it would probably result in a tie vote and therefore not pass. Their are two newly elected members of the board, one is considered to oppose the amendment and the other is thought to support it. Support for the measure grew following the unanimous endorse- RESEARCH ON TWINS SUGGEST ment of the amendment by the GENETICLINKTOBEINGGAY Louisville and Jefferson County Human Relations Committee in August. A study of twins done at During the fall supporters of Northwestern University suggest the measure met with all twelve that being gay has a genetic or aldermen to argue for its passage biological basis, questioning the and blanketed the communit with arguments that same—sex orienta- buttons, pamphlets and T-sxiirts. tion results from maladjustment or An extensive letter—writing and moral defect. phone-call campaign to the Board "We found 52 percent of of Aldermen was also undertaken. identical twins brother of gay The Board adopted a hate crimes men were also gay, compared Wit ordinance in early November. This 22 percent of fraternal twins, was seen as a good omen for the compared with 11 percent of passage of the addition of a genetically unrelated (adoptive) sexual orientation clause to the brothers," said co-author J. city's anti—discrimination law. Michael Bailey, professor of The amendment was introduced at psychology. the board's November 12 meeting, "which is exactly the kind of with seven aldermen as cosponsors. pattern you would want to see if The board held five public something genetic were going on," hearing during December. Many he said. citizens appeared at the hearing In August of last year to speak for and against the researchers in California reported proposed ordinance. At the Dec. 5 identifying brain cell cluster meeting citizen testimony lasted traits that indicate being gay for five and one—half hours. could have a biological trigger. Opposition to the measure seems The Northwestern University to have weakened the support of of study, published in December, west Louisville Alterman Paul examined 56 identical twins, 54 Bather for the amendment. Seven fraternal twins and 57 adoptive votes are needed to pass the law; brothers. at present supporters of the Identical twins are genetic measure count only six aldermen clones, they develop from a single who will vote for it. egg that split Continued on page 7