Lori: And I think that we are beyond the point
of symbolic action.
I think we have to move for six votes.
Man: And the last question,
do you believe that a qualified gay man
or a lesbian should be denied employment,
including employment by the police and fire departments
by the city of Dallas,
solely because of sexual orientation?
Lori: No, I mean, under no circumstances
can I support sexual orientation
as being a criteria for hiring.
And I know that, for example,
outside of city police and fire
which is one of the issues that's often discussed.
I can tell you that I'm sure that at City Hall,
we have gay men and lesbians who are working at City Hall,
and so I think that the focus
probably continues to still be on police and fire.
I'm told that there is no questioning that's done
in the hiring of police or the interviewing
and the hiring of police and fire people
that deals with sexual orientation.
I'm sure however, that where it could impact the decision
would be probably in the background checks
because they have to do extensive background checks
before they, we have thousands of people
who apply for those jobs.
And so, as they whittle that down to the final
pool of people, they do send people out.
And if that turns up, I don't know.
I don't know how that's...
I know that's discussed to incorporate
in discussions or not.
I think that what we have to begin to do is, well,
first of all, we have to recognize
that I can't get very far these days
as long as 2106 is on the books.
And basically forcing the issue of hiring
in police department and fire department.
What needs to be done though is we have to begin
to continue to create the environment
where people throughout city organization,
but I think we should focus with more in police and fire.
Where people in those departments begin
to become less ignorant, more informed, more educated
and more exposed to the issues and the concerns
and not feel that somehow or another, there is this...
You know what it comes right down to?
It's the fear on the part of the police officer
that if he or she should be with a person
who is either a gay male or lesbian,
that somehow or another, they won't be able
to depend upon that person to protect them
in a dire situation.
And that is a critical piece of information
to have to work with.
You know, there probably are some people
in those departments who have a homophobic
sort of orientation, but then there's another,
there's another orientation which is very, very important
to know because I think this is how we have
to break through the concerns.
Because they're based on stereotypes
and they're based on lack of information.
And if you recall, Roy Clark, the officer who testified
basically in the Gary Blur shooting case?
Well, he got pulled off of the beat
because the other officers would not command.
This is what I hear.
This is what I'm told.
That there was reason to believe
that other officers were angry with him
and that he could not depend upon them to protect him
in the event that he needed cover.
Now, that is a powerful piece of information.
And one of the things that we find
within the police department is the bonding
within that department is almost like
an anthropological tribal bonding.
(crowd laughing)
It has to be.
It is like any military organization.
It is like in war, it is like men and women
who must depend upon each other for their life.
And when there is that bonding, there is a another set
of expectations that supersede the expectations
that one might have working at 1500 Marilla,
with somebody that you are working with,
you know, a peer or a supervisor or subordinate
in an office.
And so, I think we have to begin to focus on,
where are the fears specifically?
What is the worst case scenario that officers have
if they were to have a buddy in the squad car
who was a gay male or was a lesbian?
And I really think that if we began to lay the groundwork
because we have to do two tracks at once.
We can't wait for 2106 to be repealed.
And then say, given that, then we begin
with the public education and the conditioning
and all the work that needs to be done
to look at attitudes and behaviors.
We have to basically say, no.
That is a political track over here that has to be followed.
But over here, we really do need to continue to work
towards the reduction of the ignorance and the stereotypes.
And finally, I do wanna say that I have reason to believe
that the academy has really improved a module
for training officers to respond to concerns
within the gay community.
Oh, you don't want to stop me now Michael.
(crowd laughing)
Man: Of course not.
(crowd laughing)
Thank you.
(crowd laughing)
Lori: Thank you.
(indistinct speaking)
And I have seen...
(crowd laughing)
I have seen the module that was prepared.
The proposal was that Sergeant Newsome begin the training.
In other words, up until now, Newsome is not going
to be training in the academy.
The training's being done by people within the academy.
And they're good people,
but Newsome's got a much better, I think,
much better understanding
and he's really able to articulate it.
And so I really feel that it's important to recognize
that there is an evolutionary process.
That we can go ahead
and begin and reinforce and support.
And then basically, prepare those departments
for what I consider to be inevitable.
I mean, I'm sure right now that there are homosexuals
in both departments.
I mean, I don't have any way of knowing that
and you don't have any way of knowing that,
but I'm sure--
(crowd laughing)
And so the question becomes that it's okay to be able
to say, you know, I'm a homosexual
and I can be a good police officer
and I can be good firefighter.
And somebody said to me one time that,
it was a woman who was heterosexual and she said, you know,
she said, if I'm in my home and I'm being assaulted,
she said, when that police officer arrives,
I don't care what that person's sexual orientation is.
I'm just damn glad the police officer has arrived.
And I think when it comes right down to it,
that's the point that we're talking about
in terms of public safety.
Man: Thank you very much.
Time has elapsed.
Unless, someone wishes to make a motion
and the candidate is wishing,
or agrees to stay.
(indistinct speaking)
All in favor say, aye.
(multiple agreeing)
Any opposed?
That all right with you?
Lori: Oh yeah.
Man: Good.
(indistinct speaking)
Man: I was wondering if,
well last time in the last session, we had a meeting
with community leaders to get together
and discuss our concerns.
Lori: At the library?
Man: Right.
What I'm wondering is if we can do that again
but on a more regular schedule?
Say once a quarter or every six months
so that we can keep track of what's going on.
So that we can keep (coughing).
And the second one, I guess is
you said six votes on the council.
What does it take to sway a council?
I know I live in district one now
and despite fierce (indistinct speaking)
just wouldn't do it all the time.
Would not listen to me.
(indistinct speaking)
Lori: Okay. Good questions.
The first one, I think it be great if we get meetings.
and if someone could take responsibility for, you know
identifying who all needs to be invited
and where it can be and whatever.
It's really no different than regular meetings
with any constituency group.
And the value of those meetings,
if we were to set it up that way,
would be to not only be able to discuss
and share information that might be of immediate concerns
and specific concerns to the gay and lesbian community
but also to talk about a lot of other city issues
because I'm very aware that all of you
have a lot of interests in a lot of different areas
and it's as much of importance to you
that we make a decisions down there.
And when it comes to fiscal matters, budget matters,
other priorities and a variety of different kinds of issues.
So I think it would create a good opportunity
for broadening the sort of information base
within the community about a lot of different issues.
And plus, I mean, I view you as
one of my many constituencies.
And while we may talk because of the way in which
you view your constituency a little bit more about
issues of specific concern to the gay and lesbian community.
I'm also aware that you're also very interested in
a variety of other issues that City Hall makes decisions on.
So it would be really helpful to be able to create
a regular opportunity to do that.
Plus the side benefit is, obviously it creates, you know
additional opportunities for cohesion and unity
and cross sharing among many organizations.
I mean, like, if everybody who gave me a rose
at the benefit at the church, you know, on the mailing list
and every one of those organizations who are on
the mailing list, that probably be a really good start.
The second question about influencing and lobbying.
You know, obviously the first step has to do
with electing a person who has some sensitivity
to the issue, even though that person may not
be able to be fully able to say, you know
this is what I can, and this is what I cannot do.
But somebody who has some ability to articulate
and create some sort of empathic dialogue that deal with
with important personal and psychological
and social ramifications of all of this.
Now those of you who don't live in district two.
I think it's really important to, you know
identify ways that you can work with the council member.
Many council members have appointments
on Tuesday afternoon before Wednesdays.
Now it's not going to be like you have a lot of
things coming up on a Wednesday that you would want to ask
that council would be voting, house versus vote for.
But that is when they are accessible.
Often Tuesday afternoons, they're around City Hall
preparing for the next day.
And so if you wanna be able to find a time that's
more likely than not likely to call up,
call up, get an appointment through their aid, with them
and just go in.
Now, I feel that it's really helpful
if those of you who do have other interests
and all, I'm sure all of you do.
That you begin to be seen as a person who might be talking
about housing or human services or the budget situation
or a bond item that you'd like to see scheduled
earlier than later.
And then also be able to say, you know
in however way you say that,
I am a gay male, I am a lesbian.
I want to make sure that you understand that.
But I also want you to know
that I really believe that what we really wanna
talk about today is low-income housing.
Or budget cut backs or something
because I think what happens, people at City Hall,
council people, who, first of all, don't acknowledge
that they have gays and lesbians in their district.
I mean, everybody still thinks
that everybody's in district two.
(crowd laughing)
And they really know that's not true
but they like to talk about it as if that were the case.
And so I think, you know
first it's really important continually
for council members to be confronted with that reality.
Second of all, though, the way in which they're confronted
with that reality will be most helpful
If you can also identify something that
that council member is interested in.
Where you can be of assistance.
That you can help, that you can share a point of view.
That you can say that you're there to be of assistance
in some way, because it begins to break down the stereotype.
It's so odd, but my perception of the way people
who do not have much experience working
with people who are gay and lesbians,
it's kind of like the feeling is, well
if you're homosexual, that's your only interest.
Now, of course, we know that
because you're heterosexual that isn't your only interest.
(crowd laughing)
But there is this sort of thought process that goes on.
And Craig and I, I think have a real good track record
of appointing people from the gay community
to boards and commissions, and people who are openly gay.
And while we don't go, you know, waving the banner
around City Hall about that, I think that it's fairly clear
to our colleagues on the council, that we are proud
of all the appointees who are openly gay.
And so that is something that I really hope
that you can continue to look at.
Is how you can build constituencies for council members
where they believe that you do have
a broad base of interests.
And it happens that you are also gay or lesbian.
And it happens that you're gonna want them
to try to put into the legislative package
repeal of 2106 and sensitive hiring practices
and more AIDS funding and things that are
of critical importance to the community.
Man: Time has elapsed.
Thank you very much Miss Palmer.
(applause)