County’s Vote on AIDS Victim Discrimination

At a recent board meeting of the Orange County chapter of the American Jewish Committee, a resolution was passed commending Supervisors (Thomas F.) Riley and (Harriett M.) Wieder for their support of the county’s proposed AIDS anti-discrimination ordinance. A request is being made for reconsideration of the proposed ordinance (defeated by a 3-2 vote) by the Board of Supervisors.

Persons living with AIDS are currently subjected to discrimination in housing, health-care services and employment. Although there are existing laws that prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons and those with health-related disabilities, the current laws are not sufficient to protect these unfortunate victims of discrimination due to the limited life span of persons with AIDS.

It is therefore imperative that our Board of Supervisors take the legislative steps to implement the proposed ordinance (or modification thereof), which would expedite the judicial process and deter the current illegal practices.

To rely on laws, and not follow the lead of all the other urban counties in California, leaves many of our fellow citizens without adequate legal protection to live the rest of their lives with the security of housing, health care and employment.

The American Jewish Committee, America’s oldest human relations organization, protests any erosion of civil rights that is not justified by documented risks to others and strongly supports efforts to combat unwarranted discrimination against AIDS victims, including legislation that specifically prohibits such discrimination. We therefore urge the Board of Supervisors to reconsider the proposed ordinance (or modification thereof).

RICHARD GOODMAN

President,

American Jewish Committee

Orange County Chapter