Experts discuss gay rights in workplace

Two experts on gay rights in the workplace discussed the topic Thursday afternoon at Bennett Hall. "It's the civil rights battle of the decade," said Kevin Vaughan, executive director of the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission and a University alumnus. Vaughan and Kevin Cathcart, executive director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, dispelled the myths surrounding employer's policies toward sexual minorities. "A lot of the people don't know what the legal aspects are," said Vaughan. "When you discover you're gay, you don't run to the law library to see what your legal rights are." They explained to the group of 20 University and community members that discrimination ordinances will not protect gay workers at companies that have fewer than a certain number of employees. Often basic employee benefits, such as health insurance, pension funds and bereavements are not provided for gay couples, they said. "We might have the law in the books," Cathcart said. "That in itself does not stop discrimintation from happening -- none of these things guarantees that discrimination will not occur." Cathcart said that he notes a "backlash" in response "to the fact that we're making gains." But he said that those gains were not enough and that a federal law granting equal rights to gay people is needed. Citing employee activism and governmental response as the key to establishing workplace protection, Cathcart said he feels "things are going to explode over the next couple of years." "I've certainly talked with alumni who've experienced discrimination," said Patricia Rose, the director of Career Planning and Placement Services. "[But] it's more common now to see people doing well in their careers." Vaughan said he believes recognition of discrimination is not enough. "Organize on college campuses and work places and make your feelings known to your senators and congressmen," Vaughan told the audience. CGS student Todd Wharton said he was "impressed by the gay legal perspective" provided by Vaughan and Cathcart. "The gay community on campus needs to extend off campus and interact with the larger community . . . on the outside," Cathcart added. The program was co-sponsored by CPPS and the Program for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Community at Penn.