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Show Gay Club Bill Too Sheiiics on-Qualifications for Bans Editor's Note: ic hor isa in BY ROBERTSTEINER SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE I have decided to record some of myobservations on the debate of Sen. Craig Taylor's Senate Bill 1003, banning gay and lesbian clubsin high schools, in the Legislature’s special session April 17 As a participant in the debate and as a close observer of the bill's legislative coursesince it original- ly appeared as SB246 and SB262 in the 1996 generalsession, I feel myperspective mayin somesmall way enlighten public discourse on the newlaw. On the morning of the special session, I arrived at the Capitol for an 8 a.m, committee meeting. It ran until lunch. Most lawmak- ers were similarly occupied with such ordinary businessall morning. $B1003 and some supporting documents finally were printed and placed on our 10:30 a.m. The final bill was approved 2:32 p.m. It varied desks around version of the for filing at slightly from ist by this section of thebill? broad, including as they do large should be forbidden. I suggested Christians are people of strong conviction. They maybe intolerant of different groups, perhaps Muslims or perhaps homosexuals. Interpreted literally, clubs investigating medicine or clubs performing Shakespeare's comedies more sharply delimited by using specific language like acts or ‘sexual actions.” again, the areas of biology and literature. Woulda Christian Bible club be that this language could also be sponsor preferred the broader. original language because, as I understood it, the school boards will know what we mean by“involve human sexuality.” I'm not so sure. Could a clu t ea promotes teen-age sexuala ence be forbidden because th sex: club would “involve human ality?” Could a “gay. /straight all ance” formed to provide suppor to schoolchildren whosufferfror See SCHOOL CLUBS,AA- “promotingbigotry” by condemning homosexuality? Or, could a Republican political club be considered “bigoted” because it opposes affirmative action? Taylor replied that his team of lawyers didn't want to define bigotry in the bill. The real definition Summer Program For Children and Teens Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-3:30 pm 8 Weeks of the term will be decided by the local school boards and — as the bill later was amended in the Ages 5-18 © Starts Late June ¢ Ages 13-18 House — by the state school board as well. Perhaps this means that ‘‘as applied” to various orga- + Impulse and Anger + School Performance miro) Enhancement + Assertion Training « Symptom Reduction + Self-Esteem Enrichment for Shy Children + Parent Consultation Expressive + Social Skills Training + Sports Recreation nizations across the state, the ‘promotesbigotry” language will not be too broad because our school boards will be so careful when they determine what bigotry means. I would have preferred to tighten up this language. The bill also proscribes those student organizations that “involve human sexuality." In my opinion these terms are fairly CHILDREN WITH HAY FEVER Participants will receive " to $200 for their participation in the study. Children ages 6 to 11 whoarecurrently experiencing hayfever symptomsare invited to call: For More Information Call: 483-1600 for bate regarding this investigational research study. 8AM - 5PM, Mondaythru Friday Intermountain Allergy & AsthmaClinic AAAA Medical Research Group 150 S. 1000 E., SLC, UT 84102 | Program Directed by Steven Ssykula, Fh.D. the one distributed before lunch. The text of SB1003 had not been available before this time The fact that we had not had timeto study the bill and that we had not held public hearings to re- ceive public comment becameal- most as importantto the debate as the substance of the measureitself. At lunch, Sen. DaveSteele, R-West Point, strongly expressed his concern. Later, during debate, Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City, made a motion to consider the bill again May 15, permitting ourselves and the public to study it in the intervening month. Sen. Dave Buhler, R-Salt Lake City, wonderedif the bill ought to be takenup for voting in the 1997 general session. Thrust of Presentation: Taylor explained his bill on the Sen- ate floor in some detail. We took up consideration of his bill around 3 p.m. Taylor spoke for nearly an hour. He followed the sense of a text that had beendistributed with the bill -and titled “Legislative History.” It is an 18- page legal brief presumably prepared by Dan Berman, Dave Jor- dan and school board attorneys They were asked by Gov. Mike Leavitt to help Taylor draft a better bill than $B246, which Leavitt had vetoed in March. Taylor's main arguments were that homosexuality is a dangerous and destructive lifestyle and, therefore, the state may act to forestall this lifestyle choice for the health, safety and morals of its young citizens. The premise was that homosexuality is danger- ous and destructive because ofits . high correlation to HIV. Taking action to prevent susceptible people from experimenting with homosexuality may help them delay or altogether avoid those de- structive actions, he said. Taylor also argued that some young people could be recruited into homosexuality by the exis- tence of a school gay club. He supported this argumentwith ref erences to a couple of psychiatric opinions that were forcefully ex- pressed but not qualified as to whether they represented the views of most psychiatrists, a re- spected minority or other group. Finally, Taylor asked the rhetorical question of whetherthe interests of the state and its young people were to be better served by those intending to protect the young people from the dangers of homosexuality or by those who would permit the clubs in our schools — making possible the recruitment to homosexuality of students underthe guise of offer; ing “support” to them. Incidenta! Problems? $B1003is too broadin at least two respects: First, the bill proscribes any student organization seen to “promote bigotry.” Bigotry is un- defined in the bill and, consequently, the bill will gather too many organizations into its net. There seems to be some overiap in meaning between the wards bigotry, racism and prejudice. Prejudice is “pre-judgement” about anything. It means you have * made up your mind before you : have heard the whole story. Racism means categorizing people ac‘ cording to their race, especii by one group that aeento have power over another gro» ' The meaning of “bigotry” ia is * clear to me. Black’s Law Dictionary de+ fines bigot as an obstinate person, * + | » one that is wedded to an opinion, in matters of religion, etc. The American Heritage Dictionary defines bigot as a perecn ofstrong conviction or prejudice, especial} ly in matters of religion, race or politics, whois intolerant of those who differ with him. The Oxford hagiish dictionary defines bigotry as the condition ef a bigo', obstimate and unenlightened attach- ment to a particular creed, opinion, system or party. By these definitions, could a Christian club be forbidden to ex- Whetherforlife's nec ities or its enjoyments, chances are pretty good you're going to need extra cash nowand then. Frankly,if you use it wisely, a Zions Bank homeequityline is the smartest placeto getit. First off, the interest is usually tax deductible® the annual rate Secondly, is terrific. rowup to 100%of your home's value.® Thirdly, the 6 month introductoryrate of5.90%is as good SIX MONTH APR VARIABLE APR asit gets. INTRODUCTORY RATE 25 Mh) LOAN-2O-VALUE And another big plus is that No Points / No FEEs you can use the money however you want—wheneveryou want. more attractive than all those campaign promises vou ve been hearinglately. ‘fo apply, stop byyour local Zions Bank office, or better yet call 1-800-789-LOAN (637LOAN in the Salt Lake area). 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