Today’s Agenda

Do gays really need their own university? Students at the Institute of Gay and Lesbian Education, which opened last September in West Hollywood, think so. In Platform, Judith Branzburg, a student at the institute, says, “One of the purposes of the institute is to provide an opportunity for an environment that is comfortable for gays and lesbians--a place where they can speak and not be left out or insulted all the time.”

But one heterosexual commenting on the issue asks how can we can gain a better understanding of each other if we create separate institutions. “The purpose of universities,” he says, “is to educate--not separate.”

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“They gave me confidence. When I had questions, they had answers, plus all the support. You can be very creative and have all these ideas, but if you don’t make money at it, it’s just a hobby,” says artist Pam Jorgensen of Long Beach of the Coalition for Women’s Economic Development. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1988, is Making a Difference in the lives of many low-income women in Los Angeles County, helping them achieve self-sufficiency through self-employment. The Coalition for Women’s Economic Development not only lends them the small sums--initially $500 to $1,500--to start their own businesses, but also gives them the training tools to be successful entrepreneurs.

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Many Korean-Americans are already successful entrepreneurs, but misunderstanding with the African-American community has hurt their businesses in Southern California. Dr. Eui Young Yu, in Second Opinion, suggests that Korean-Americans learn about African-Americans by attending their churches. Dr. Yu says that it could be a first step toward promoting understanding between the two communities.

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Women with broken bones, black eyes and bruises are walking into shelters, hospitals and courtrooms in record numbers to report physical abuse by their partners. According an American Medical Assn. study, more than 4 million women are severely assaulted by their husbands or boyfriends every year and one in four women will be attacked by their partners at some point in their lives.

Children fare no better. According to two other studies, the number of children killed by their parents or caretakers jumped by nearly 33% in Los Angeles County alone, to 61 victims in 1991, the highest level since such statistics have been kept.

In a special page devoted to finding solutions to domestic violence, Voices sought the views of people on the front-line of this escalating problem. In today’s issue we hear advice from the the people who run shelters, programs and organizations devoted to helping women and children victims of this problem. Incoming Los Angeles County District Atty. Gil Garcetti and Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn, officials responsible for prosecuting batterers were also called upon to respond.