From: li40163@prism.gatech.EDU (Mary A. Axford)
Newsgroups: soc.bi
Subject: Maybe why Colorado lost
Date: 12 Nov 92 19:42:23 GMT
Article-I.D.: hydra.74599
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


	Told a friend about this discussion on a library related
discussion group on bibliographic instruction called -- are
you ready for this -- bi-l.  I think it points up what some
people are saying, that the loss in Colorado was in part due
to the selling of the concept that it merely prevented GLB's
from gaining protected minority status.  The discussion has
been edited to remove names.
	The discussion from the first message is of a committee of
ALA, the American Libraries Association.  It does, by the way,
have a Gay and Lesbian Task Force (I'm not a member of ALA, so
am not on it) which I hope will at some point become the Gay,
Lesbian and Bisexual Task Force.  By the way, a small mailing
list of GLB librarians has begun because of Colorado, and I
brought up the issue of bisexuality -- that since the
amendment included bisexuals, efforts should be made to
include bi's in the fight, and asked if anyone on the list had
a problem with that.  The only two replies were positive, one
from another bi and one from a gay who said we all need to
fight together.

OK, now the stuff from the BI-L list (I do get amused by some
of the subject headings when reading this list, such as BI
instruction, BI clients, marketing BI, etc.).



A couple of notes from the bibliographic instruction discussion group.  Dave
------------------------*

Reply-To: Bibliographic Instruction Discussion Group
From: "(Axford, Mary A.)" <ma14@prism.gatech.edu>
Subject:      Re: BI at Mid-Winter ALA?


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> AS a member of the BIS Instruction for Diverse Populations Committee
> I cannot find words to express my excitement at this session to be held
> in Denver.  Our committee is made up of people genuinely interested
> in issues that affect "DIVERSE USERS" . I will strongly encourage
> everyone to attend this program, and also to come to our meetings
> not only as observers, but also as active participants in the
> discussions and plannings that go on.
>
> It is so gratifying to know that there is a group that cares
> for the elderly, those with disabilities, international students,
> returning adults, gay and lesbian, various groups that will
> comprise the American citizenry in the future .... these are
> just a few groups.

     Please remember, however, that the meeting is being
held in Colorado, the state that just passed a state amendment
allowing discrimination against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
It is to hoped that those attending will do what is possible
to express their displeasure to the state, through such things
as contacting the tourist board and other agencies that deal
with the impact of people's displeasure on the state economy,
and that suggestions be made that the next scheduled ALA
meeting in Colorado be cancelled.

-------------*

Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 1992 12:19:21 ECT
Reply-To: Bibliographic Instruction Discussion Group
Subject:      Re: BI at Mid-Winter ALA?


>
It is my understanding that the "state" in the form of the governor
and other officials lobbied hard against this measure.  So how should
we show our displeasure, by throwing rocks at the people on the street?

----------------*
Reply-To: Bibliographic Instruction Discussion Group
Subject:      Amendment 2


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Moderator's note:

When I posted the comment about Colorado's "Ammendment 2"
I had two worries.  (1)  What did it have to do with library
instruction?  (2)  Would it ignite a flame war?  Good questions.
So why did I post it?

Well, although it was not directly related to BI, it *was* a
logical extension of an earlier item.  But I made a mental
note not to allow any further discussion to get out of hand.
So I will post the two responses received today (the one below
plus one from Zane Clark) but no others.  If you wish to continue
the discussion, please do so privately, or on another list.
And since I am the person who started all this by asking about
ALA Mid-Winter, I will now slink into my corner and be quiet....

************************************************

An announcement on this listserv concerning the Denver meeting of the
Diverse Populations Committee had an added comment asking librarians to
show displeasure over a recent amendment "allowing discrimination against
gays".  First, this is not an accurate representation of Amendment 2.  It
is not in the power of a state to deny civil protections to any group.  A
majority of those voting in Colorado democratically decided that a group
that is defined by sexual orientation should not be accorded specially
protected minority status.  That is all.  This is not about denying equal
rights, but denying special rights.

Secondly, does this discussion really belong on a BI listserv?  Can we
please keep this forum, if not this profession, non-partisan and
ideologically neutral?

-- 
Mary A. Axford
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332-0900
Internet: li40163@prism.gatech.edu
Man is born to live, not to prepare for life. -- B. Pasternak