THE DES MOINES REGISTER
Des Moines, Iowa

Wednesday, July 10, 1996

By Kathy A. Bolten

After nearly an hour of public comment, the Des Moines school board voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of a resolution that defines the term "sexual orientation."

The board has grappled with the controversial issue for weeks and has heard hours of public comment - both from those who want the term "sexual orientation" eliminated from the district's anti-discrimination hiring policy and from those who want the policy left alone.

Tuesday night was no different.

Nine of the 13 speakers asked the board to either delete the term from the policy or spent their five minutes of speaking time condemning homosexuals. Others applauded the board for defining "sexual orientation" and explaining in the resolution that the policy doesn't protect people who have committed illegal acts.

Doris Swanson was one who objected to the resolution.

"Sexual orientation is not needed in the hiring policy," said Swanson of 3301 Terrace Drive. "The homosexual has legal rights identical to those of any other citizen, but he wants the right that the heterosexual does not have. ... Harassment of anyone for any reason is not appropriate.

"However, there is a moral difference between giving special protection to people of good character and giving special protection to men who commit sodomy with other men," Swanson added.

Sam Massey, a Des Moines minister representing the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, called the resolution "a good one."

"It reflects the rule of law which is so precious to all of us as Americans," said Massey. "In my opinion it doesn't endorse anything or anybody. But rather it holds up anti-discrimination as a virtue in this democracy."

Massey also told the school board: "it is my hope that once you have adopted this resolution that you can move ahead and concentrate on educating our young people and preparing them for citizenry."

LITTLE COMMENT

Board members had little comment on the resolution and voted 6-0 to adopt it. Board member Suzette Jensen was absent for the vote.

Member Laura Sands said the resolution reflected a common ground between two differing viewpoints.

The resolution defines sexual orientation as "homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism, and heterosexuality." The definition comes from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision Romer v. Evans.

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