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ANCHORAGE (AP) — _ The Anchorage Equal Rights Commission says it will consider an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination against homosexuals. The commission will hold a special session in April to discuss the proposed measure. If it decides to pursue the matter, it will hold a public hearing before making a recommendation to the Anchorage Assembly. A similar ordinance nine years ago triggered a community uproar, and Paul Connerty, executive director of the commission, said Thursday he expects opposition to be strong again. The commission acted after Identity Inc., a local gay rights advocacy group, asked for consideration of a homosexual rights ordinance, he said. In 1976, the Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved a similar or dinance, said former Assemblyman Dave Rose, now executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. But led by Baptist preacher Jerry Prevo, a strong surge of opposition welled up. Mayor George Sullivan eventually vetoed the ordinance, and when it went back to the assembly, there weren’t enough votes to override the veto. Assemblyman Don Smith was one of those who changed his vote. “I personally didn’t have a problem, in my mind, with the issue,’’ Smith recalled. ‘‘But clearly the will of the people I represent did not want that kind of law on the books.”’ Smith said the gay rights ordinance was ‘‘the worst issue I ever had to contend with.” In the weeks following passage of the ordinance, opponents kept his phone ringing. ‘‘There were a lot of real rude and shrill people,’’ Smith said. ‘‘People got really emotionally wild on it.’’ Smith and Rose predicted a similar reaction this time. ‘I think you’ll have the same battle,” Smith said. “‘It is too volatile of an issue to be put at the assembly level. Let the public decide if that law should be put on the books.”
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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka, Alaska, US

Fri, Jan 18, 1985

Page 17

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Jakob D.

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