The Los Angeles
City Council agreed Wednesday to reinstate policies
banning discrimination in the hiring and promoting of gays
and lesbians in the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to a
report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the
12-0 vote stemmed from a 14-year-old harassment suit
filed by gay former police sergeant Mitch
Grobeson against the LAPD. The council also agreed to
pay $695,000 in attorneys fees for Grobeson, whose
case in 1993 resulted in LAPD policy changes regarding
discrimination.
Under the terms
of the agreement, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
will reissue an executive order first issued by former mayor
Richard Riordan banning discrimination in city
agencies based on sexual orientation. In addition, the
council agreed to improve training for officers on gay
and lesbian issues, develop an outreach program to
various organizations to recruit new officers, and change
questions on background checks.
The LAPD under
police chief William Bratton is actively recruiting gays
and lesbians. (The Advocate)
