West Hollywood : Gay, Lesbian Council OKd

The City Council has voted to adopt a report by the Gay and Lesbian Task Force calling for the creation of a permanent Gay and Lesbian Advisory Council that would offer recommendations on policies and programs that affect the city’s large homosexual community.

City Councilman John Heilman said the new council will continue work started by a task force created in January to document the concerns of homosexual residents.

The task force, consisting of eight gay men and eight lesbians, also recommended that the City Council pressure the Sheriff’s Department to hire openly gay and lesbian deputies and assist in establishing formal communication between the department and homosexual residents.

“We want the Sheriff’s Department to take the lead in the recruitment of gay and lesbian officers the same way it recruits minority deputies and women,” said Jean Conger, a co-chairwoman of the task force. “It’s like black communities who resented having all-white cops. The Sheriff’s Department should be reflective of the community it protects.”

According to city estimates, homosexuals are the largest demographic group in West Hollywood, making up about 35% of the population.

Sheriff’s officials said the department already has nondiscriminatory recruitment policies and does not question prospective deputies about their sexual preferences.