Vol. 118, No. 20, May 27, 1994. 8 pages. View this issue
The JACL National Board’s vote on same-sex marriage ran through this eight-page issue. The board voted 10-3, with 2 abstentions, to support the concept after the Honolulu Chapter brought it forward, and Gwen Muranaka reported the debate over whether it should have gone to the National Council instead. Columns and letters from Mike Masaoka, Patrick Takasugi, Steve Ueda and the Honolulu Chapter took up the question from different sides. The board also approved a $30,000 settlement with Pacific Citizen’s former Little Tokyo landlord, with Paul Shinkawa, Peggy Liggett and Lillian Kimura giving their accounts.
Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa wrote about the myth of Asian affluence, and Bill Marutani reflected on what he called psychic freedom. Randy Senzaki’s column looked at telling and re-telling Japanese American stories during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Lillian Kimura wrote about the Stamp Out Hate campaign.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- National Board Passes Same-Sex Marriage Resolution, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. The JACL National Board voted 10-3 with 2 abstentions to support the concept of same-sex marriage after the Honolulu Chapter brought the issue forward following Hawaii’s legislature outlawing such marriages. All seven vice presidents voted in favor while district governors were split, with debate continuing on page 4 about whether the decision should go to the National Council instead.
- Board Approves PC Lawsuit Settlement, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Board voted unanimously to approve a $30,000 settlement in a dispute between Pacific Citizen and its former landlord, Oakwood Associates, after PC vacated its Little Tokyo offices in November 1993 citing safety concerns. The settlement terms include $10,000 payable immediately and $1,000 per month for 20 months, with various board members offering differing accounts of how the situation was handled.
- Same-Sex Resolution Debate Continues Among Board Members, by Gwen Muranaka, page 4. Extended coverage details the National Board’s lengthy discussion on the same-sex marriage resolution, with governors like Jeff Itami and Larry Ishimoto arguing the decision should go to National Council while others like Ruth Mizobe defended the board’s authority to vote. Chapter member Reid Tateoka expressed concern the issue could divide the Mt. Olympus Chapter’s membership.
- Tell and Re-tell Our Stories, by Randy Senzaki, page 7. National Director Randy Senzaki reflects on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the importance of educational advocacy through the JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide, as well as securing the $5 million Redress Public Education Fund. He discusses balancing Japanese American identity with broader Asian Pacific American and multicultural concerns as he completes six months touring JACL districts.
Commentary
- Stamp Out Hate, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 3. JACL National President Lillian Kimura discusses her endorsement of an American Jewish Committee ad campaign against hate speech and describes the New York Chapter JACL’s participation in a New Jersey coalition’s ‘Stamp Out Hate’ campaign. She cites Sen. Bill Bradley’s remarks on how hateful language precedes violence and calls for continued efforts against bigotry and intolerance.
- The Myth of Asian Affluence, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa critiques media coverage of a UCLA study by Prof. Paul Ong that found significant poverty among some Asian Pacific American groups, arguing that the press wrongly lumps all Asians together as a monolithic group. He explains that different immigration histories account for varying economic outcomes among Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian communities.
- Psychic Freedom, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Marutani reflects on the concept of ‘psychic freedom’ experienced by African Americans in Japan, recalling his own similar sensation while riding a Tokyo trolley 25 years ago when his race went unnoticed. He also recounts an ironic incident where he was barred from British Army headquarters due to his Japanese ancestry despite being a U.S. Army officer, and describes being taunted as a child in Hiroshima for being seen as different.
- Deficit, Other Issues, More Important Than Same-Sex, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka argues that JACL should prioritize declining membership and budget deficits over endorsing same-sex marriage, questioning whether the votes in district councils like Northern Cal and PSW truly represented a quorum. He contends that JACL’s advocacy of certain civil rights issues will not attract younger, more conservative members and calls for the organization to focus on core Japanese American concerns.
- JACL Leaders Are Off Course, Says Member, by Patrick Takasugi, page 6. A letter writer criticizes JACL leadership for pursuing an agenda beyond the organization’s original Japanese American-focused mission, comparing it unfavorably to broader civil rights coalitions. Takasugi calls for leadership that represents the majority of the membership rather than what he calls a radical minority pushing controversial issues like same-sex marriage endorsement.
- PSW Official: Negligent to Publish Remarks, by PSW Regional Director, page 7. A letter from the PSW Regional Director criticizes the PC’s decision to publish a previous letter questioning Trisha Murakawa’s marital status and sexual orientation, calling it a double standard and unethical editorial practice. The editor’s response defends the publication of reader opinions as part of a free press while acknowledging discomfort with some content.
- Sogioka Is Narrow Minded, Says Reader, by Steve Ueda, page 8. A Stockton reader challenges Beans Sogioka’s earlier letter questioning Trisha Murakawa’s personal life, arguing it reflects narrow-minded elitism that drives Sansei members from JACL. The writer urges JACL to address future concerns like same-sex civil rights just as it supported redress for past injustices.
- Same-Sex Matter Is Really a Gender Issue, by Honolulu Chapter, JACL, page 8. A letter from the Honolulu Chapter clarifies that the Baehr vs. Lewin case in Hawaii centers on gender discrimination rather than sexual orientation, since there is no state requirement regarding sexual orientation for marriage licenses. The writer criticizes the conflation of marriage with religious concepts and challenges the term ‘gay lifestyle’ as a politically loaded phrase.
National
- Suit Settlement Details Disputed by Board Members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Board members including Peggy Liggett and Allen Kato disputed lawyer James Uyeda’s characterization of the case, with Liggett noting two June 1993 communications alerted the landlord to power outage problems. Legal counsel Kato complained he was never consulted about the move or the new lease signing.
- Kimura Disputes Liggett’s Allegations on PC Move, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Following accusations from board member Peggy Liggett that National President Lillian Kimura directed the PC board’s decision to move, Kimura refuted the claims saying she did not direct the discussion and believed negotiations with the landlord were underway. She said she only later learned of the move to a new location.
- Shinkawa: Safety of Staff Was Reason for Lease Termination, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Former PC board chair Paul Shinkawa explained that staff safety was the primary concern behind the decision to break the Little Tokyo lease, despite awareness of potential lawsuit risk. He detailed a pattern of break-ins, vandalism, and threats against PC employees that led to the board’s decision, calling the $30,000 settlement a reasonable cost for staff safety.
- Problems PC Encountered at Old Facility, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A detailed list documents incidents at the Little Tokyo PC offices including two break-ins in June 1992 resulting in stolen equipment, repeated vandalism of staff cars causing hundreds of dollars in damage, and multiple incidents of staff being threatened or accosted by vagrants. The list also cites unsanitary conditions including human feces found in the building’s alcove and bathrooms.
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