Vol. 118, No. 23, June 24, 1994. 8 pages. View this issue
JACL’s National Board vote on same-sex marriage filled most of this eight-page issue. Commentary from Bill Hosokawa, William Kaneko, Neal Taniguchi and R. Mike Hamachi, along with letters from chapter leaders and readers, argued both sides. Some called it a civil rights matter, others said it did not belong to JACL. A news story reported on coverage of the split, including legal counsel Allen Kato’s resignation. The front page carried news that a House subcommittee voted to include $5 million for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, part of the redress effort.
Elsewhere, the paper told readers it had missed an issue because only $338 was left in its bank account. Other pieces covered JACL’s opposition to Clinton’s welfare reform plan for legal immigrants, a report of 335 anti-Asian hate crimes in 1993, California primary results, and Bruce Yamashita’s new Navy appeals. A Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery appeared on the cover.
What’s in this issue
National
- House Subcommittee Includes $5 Million for Redress Education Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, State, Justice and the Judiciary voted to include a $5 million appropriation for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, fulfilling a request President Clinton made earlier in the year. JACL praised subcommittee members including Mollohan, Smith, Carr, Skaggs and Price, as well as Reps. Mineta and Matsui, for their efforts, while noting continued opposition from Rep. Harold Rogers and the need to overcome Sen. Ernest Hollings in the Senate.
- California Asian Incumbents Fare Well in Primaries, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Despite record-low voter turnout in California’s June 7 primaries, Asian American incumbents including Reps. Robert Matsui, Norman Mineta and Jay Kim advanced, while Mark Takano will again face Ken Calvert in November. The article also details state legislative races involving George Nakano, Nao Takasugi, and the posthumous election win of San Jose City Councilman George Shirakawa.
- JACL Opposes Clinton Welfare Reform Proposal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL expressed opposition to provisions in President Clinton’s welfare reform proposal that would make legal immigrants ineligible for SSI, AFDC and Food Stamps for a minimum five-year period. National Director Randy Senzaki and Washington Representative Karen Narasaki warned the measure would disproportionately harm Asian Pacific American immigrant communities in high-cost urban areas.
- Yamashita Seeks to Correct U.S. Navy Appeals Process, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bruce Yamashita filed new appeals with the Board for Correction of Naval Records and the Naval Discharge Review Board over his 1989 disenrollment from Marine Officer Candidate School following racial harassment. Yamashita, since commissioned as a Marine Corps Reserves captain, seeks recognition of jurisdiction and correction of negative OCS evaluations tainted by racial discrimination.
- Report: 335 Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Occurred in ’93, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A nationwide audit by the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium found 335 reported anti-Asian incidents in 1993, including at least 30 suspected or proven racially motivated homicides. The report identified contributing factors such as economic recession and poor police response, and made recommendations including better hate crime data collection and hiring more Asian-language interpreters.
Community
- PC Resumes Publishing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pacific Citizen apologizes for missing the June 17-23 issue due to a severe financial shortfall that left only $338 in its bank account. The paper has since received $5,000 from National headquarters and hopes to continue providing uninterrupted service to readers.
- Newspaper Covers JACL Split on Same-Sex Marriage Issue, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. The San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle ran a story on JACL’s internal split over its National Board’s support of same-sex marriage, including legal counsel Allen Kato’s resignation and comments from National President Lillian Kimura and staff. May Yamamoto of the APAN Chapter spoke publicly as a lesbian for the first time, describing the debate as having become a war between liberals and conservatives within JACL.
Commentary
- Will JACL Reduce Its Spending?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa examines JACL’s worsening financial situation, noting the organization went $75,000 in the hole in 1993 with worse shortfalls projected for 1995 and 1996. He questions whether proposed dues increases will be enough, especially amid membership unrest over the same-sex marriage resolution and Allen Kato’s resignation as legal counsel.
- Change for Change Sake?, by Karl K. Nobuyuki, page 5. Nobuyuki critiques the Committee on Organization Structure’s proposed bylaw amendments, arguing they lack supporting data and would add cost and confusion without justification. He specifically objects to proposed new Vice President roles, District Representatives, at-large Board members, and changes to the Nominations Committee.
- Letter: Reader Pledges Contribution Toward Lawsuit Settlement, by Barry Sack, page 5. A former PC columnist expresses concern over the paper’s fiscal troubles and the National Board’s handling of a $30,000 lawsuit settlement related to the move from Little Tokyo to Monterey Park. He proposes a fund drive and encloses a $150 contribution, urging other readers to do likewise.
- NCWNP Same-Sex Decision a Result of Misleading Actions, by R. Mike Hamachi, page 6. Hamachi describes how the NCWNP District modified the Honolulu Chapter’s same-sex marriage resolution by dropping resolve number 3, only for a differently reworded version to later appear before the National Board. He argues chapter delegates were misled about the changes and calls on convention delegates to review the process, which he calls unethical and inappropriate.
- Same-Sex Is an Appropriate JACL Issue, by William Kaneko, page 6. Kaneko defends the National Board’s vote recognizing the prohibition of same-sex marriage as a Fourteenth Amendment violation, tracing JACL’s history of supporting sexual-orientation rights since 1988. He compares opposition to gay marriage to historic justifications for banning interracial marriage and urges JACL to embrace civil rights leadership despite internal disagreement.
- Same-Sex Issue Is a Civil Rights Matter, by Neal Taniguchi, page 6. Taniguchi argues that denying marriage rights to same-sex couples is unequal treatment, comparing it to past miscegenation laws JACL once opposed. He contends that even those who view homosexuality as immoral should not impose personal morality through law, and that JACL should support equal access to marriage rights and benefits.
- National Council Should Decide Same-Sex Issue, page 7. The writer disputes PSW governor Ruth Mizobe’s assumption that district chapter votes align uniformly on the same-sex resolution, citing the narrow 12.5-3.5-1 NCWNP vote as evidence otherwise. The piece argues the decision should be deferred to the National Council at convention rather than decided hastily by a few leaders, urging JACL to instead focus on core organizational and financial problems.
- JACL Objectives Lost in Gay Rights Support, by Edward Takeuchi, page 7. A Brown University freshman argues that JACL should focus on its core mission of securing civil rights for Japanese Americans rather than taking positions on the morality of gay rights. He suggests the leadership may have used the issue as a strategic stepping stone rather than out of genuine conviction, and urges members to reason objectively about what best serves Japanese Americans.
- West Valley JACL Lost in Same-Sex Issue, by Ray Ratto, page 7. The West Valley Chapter president laments that the same-sex marriage debate has torn apart the institution of marriage and questions why gay couples must alter marriage itself rather than seek separate legal recognition of benefits. He suspects JACL was manipulated into a vote that ultimately made the organization look foolish.
- Same-Sex Not a JACL Issue, Says Arizona Chapter, by Joe R. Allman, page 7. The Arizona Chapter board voted to abstain from any future actions on the same-sex marriage issue, considering it beyond the scope of the JACL charter, constitution and bylaws. The chapter’s decision was reported ahead of the National Convention discussion in August 1994.
- Reader Disagrees with Allen Kato on Same-Sex Issue, by Norman Masaki, page 7. A reader criticizes the National Board’s same-sex marriage resolution as immoral and a mockery of marital relationships that damages JACL’s credibility. He voices support for Allen Kato’s resignation stance and urges the organization to reinstate Kato and refocus on heterosexual family values and core Asian American issues.
- Reader: Same-Sex Issue Is Not a Civil Rights Matter, by Masake T. Regart, page 7. Citing scripture from Romans, the writer argues that homosexuality is sin rather than a civil rights issue, drawing parallels to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and ancient empires. He urges the National Board to rescind its same-sex marriage decision.
- Reader: National Board Right on Same-Sex Issue, by Tasaka, page 8. A Honolulu Chapter JACL member commends the National Board’s stance supporting same-sex marriage rights as consistent with JACL’s civil rights mission. The writer expresses frustration with opponents within JACL, drawing a parallel to the historic discrimination Japanese Americans themselves faced.
- Youth Chair Responds to Nobuyuki Column, by Kim Nakahara, page 8. National Youth Council chairwoman Kim Nakahara corrects factual errors and responds to Karl Nobuyuki’s column questioning the constitutionality of the National Youth Program, clarifying officer ages and explaining that no arbitrary age limit exists for NYC participation. She invites continued dialogue and thanks Nobuyuki for raising awareness of the youth program.
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