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<br />- <br /> <br />Mr. Delay supports the resolution but spoke of an upcoming meeting that <br />has been scheduled a long time in advance and many City Council members <br />are planning to attend. There is no way to change the locale of the <br />meeting and it is important that representives attend it. Ms. lamberts <br />agreed that it is a very difficult question but she feels that the long- <br />term effects out-weigh the short-term benefits. She noted she is going to <br />a conference herself in an unratified state and has agreed to absorb the <br />cost. She said she cannot recommend that to all people but it is her <br />personal feeling. <br /> <br />Mrs. Smith said she is in complete agreement with the Women's Commission's <br />stand but she shares Mr. Delay.s concerns about attendance at already <br />scheduled meetings. She wonders if the City might go on record as con- <br />tacting any national organizations that hold meetings with which staff or <br />City officials would be connected, requesting that in the future they <br />schedule meetings only in ratified states. Ms. Lambert said the trouble <br />with that is that many organizations plan as long as five years in advance. <br />In that regard, she said the deadline for ratification of ERA is March 22, <br />1979. She is afraid the impact of letters written to such organizations <br />would be minimal. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Mr. Obie said he thought it was wrong to tell others in other parts of <br />the country what to do. It seems like coercement to him and it seems <br />better that proponents should go to the meetings and share their knowledge <br />and reasons with those states rather than refusing to attend. He felt <br />that would be the same as not going to Springfield to attend a meeting <br />because they do not have a gay rights ordinance. He feels Council should <br />carryon with reason rather than trying to strong arm people into doing <br />something. <br /> <br />Mr. Williams does not think boycotting should be taken on as a city <br />policy without some very detailed thought on the subject. He said that, <br />when he first became aware of the human rights movement in this country, <br />he was led to believe discrimination was wrong and that it was not proper <br />for one person or group to discriminate for a reason having no relation- <br />ship to what anyone is or is not doing. Also, employment is supposed to <br />be based on whether a person can or cannot do a job. Before Council now, <br />he said, is a very specific request by a human rights entity saying <br />"discriminate". He feels that it does not make sense to discriminate on an <br />action a certain state has failed to take that is irrelevant to the trip <br />being taken. <br /> <br />Mr. Delay said that the issue under discussion is the level of Council's <br />commitments to equal rights for women. He feels the economic boycott is <br />a viable tool. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />1/11/78--5 <br /> <br />2~ <br />