THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150215
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG GOLDFARB, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
Virginia Beach Police Lt. Wray Boswell isn't gay, but he knows the discrimination and harassment many gays experience.
He witnessed it and learned about it from his brother, John, a 47-year-old Yale University history professor who was gay.
After his brother's death a year ago, Boswell became an advocate for gay and lesbian rights. Last spring, those efforts led the city to add ``sexual orientation'' to its list of protections against discrimination in the workplace under the city's Equal Employment Opportunity policies.
On Monday, Boswell's efforts earned him an award from the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission during its annual public forum and awards ceremony at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts. He was one of 17 honorees.
``It was a great honor to be recognized by the Human Rights Commission,'' said Boswell, a Fourth Precinct patrol officer. ``Human rights is a very important issue and working in law enforcement, I feel that so much of the problems we encounter are from people who don't feel that their human rights are protected, or who feel alienated.''
A 19-year veteran of the city's police corps, Boswell is also chairman of the city's 12-member Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, a city-appointed advisory and referral body that serves its 5,000 full- and part-time employees, not including school workers.
Until last May, Boswell said, the city's EEO policies only covered claims of discrimination in the areas of race, sex, religion, national origin and disability.
Boswell said as many as 250 gays are working in city government and many worry that they must keep their homosexuality secret or run the risk of being harassed by their co-workers, or worse, fired by their superiors. That's what led him, he explained, to do something to teach others to be more tolerant of those whose behavior, customs and actions are different from a community's prevailing mores.
``Gay people can avoid discrimination by keeping their sexual orientation concealed,'' said Boswell. ``But then, they can't go to Christmas parties together; they can't put a picture of their loved one on their desk. My effort was to expand EEO policy to include gays and lesbians in employment protection.''
Although Boswell admitted that a policy changed on paper would do little to actually change people's views, he began working with city staff to add a new category covering homosexuality and still be sensitive to, and respectful of, the area's religious and political currents.
``To me, it was a very symbolic thing to do,'' said Boswell. ``It had to be done.''
Commissioner Sylvia Primm, who nominated Boswell for the award, agreed.
``The city's intent was to say, `Yes, it's the right thing to do,' '' said Primm. ``It was a brave thing to do. It was a big step. But Wray didn't have to force it on the city.''
Boswell was one of 17 people and groups recognized by the commission for their work in promoting cultural diversity.
Among the other honorees was L. Michael Cloud-Butler, a 30-year resident who's worked to increase awareness of Native American history.
In addition to being vice president of the Richmond-based Virginia Native American Cultural Center, Butler is acting chairman of the Minority Round Table of Hampton Roads; co-chair and public relations director of the governor-appointed Virginia Council on Indians; a Virginia Beach Minority Business Council member; and an alternate to the Virginia Beach Investigation Review Panel.
Butler traces his family's history to the mid-1700s, when his ancestors lived in a Midwest village as members of the Lac Oreilles Courte band of the Ojibwe tribe of Wisconsin.
His first encounter with the Human Rights Commission came in 1994, when he informed its members of his plans to reinter this spring the bones of about 60 Native Americans, known as the Chesapiocs, who lived during the 1500s and 1600s near what it now Great Neck.
He never expected that the commission would formally award him for his work.
``I was extremely honored,'' said Butler. ``In actually doing the work and as we try to help ourselves, we find out that we have to help the entire community. One leads to another.''
About 14,500 Native Americans live in Virginia, Butler said, with about 2,500 of them living in Hampton Roads and about 250 in Virginia Beach.
In addition to Native Americans, numerous other minority populations reside here, Butler said, and city officials are doing a good job of caring for them all.
``We have compassionate leaders,'' said Butler. ``When they get up and say they're doing something for your benefit, they mean it. That goes from the mayor, to the City Council, to the police department to the fire department. The city listens. It's aware. It's doing things that are friendly. That's good policy.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Award Winners
In addition to Police Lt. Wray Boswell and Virginia Native
American Cultural Center vice president Michael Cloud-Butler, the
Human Rights Commission presented awards to the following
individuals and organizations:
Dr. Elaine P. Witty, a Norfolk State University professor, for
working with public schools to increase educational diversity and
the number of minority teachers.
Maria Santos, for helping the homeless.
Brenda McCormick, for helping the homeless.
African American Cultural Council of Virginia Beach (Freddi
Moody), for promoting African American cultural education programs.
Holocaust Commission of the Jewish Federation of Tidewater
(Monica Stein and Wendy Juran), for programs fostering interfaith
understanding.
City Manager James K. Spore, for his continued support of the
Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission and it programs.
Staff of the Virginia Beach Department of Human Resources, for
its staff support of the commission.
Joyce Winn, for encouraging positive parenting and cultural
diversity education through her newborn announcement business.
Virginia Wesleyan College President's Task Force on Multicultural
Diversity, for promoting religious freedom, cultural diversity.
Ruth Hodges Smith, for her charitable and humanitarian efforts,
in addition to her support and work as city clerk.
A. William Reid, president, Cellar Door Productions, for bringing
more multicultural entertainment to the city.
Ronald Villanueva, for working with kids and being appointed to
the state Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Yolanda Cardelli Hampel, for her work with the aging.
Philippine Community of Tidewater, for more than 20 years of
sponsoring a Friendship Day picnic at Princess Anne Park.
Max Frias, for his work as an attorney helping immigrants, and
other service community projects.
Church of the Ascension (Father James Park), for promoting
cultural diversity, hosting a Jewish temple for years while it
sought its own home, and for holding a community ``gang truce
dance.''
by CNB