The Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 12:00 am
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The chairman of Cheyenne Frontier Days vigorously denied that the group discriminates against women and called the charges leveled by a city councilman irresponsible.
Ken McCann, general committee chairman for CFD, said that women hold several prominent roles with CFD and the fact that none serve on the general committee should not be taken as a sign that CFD discriminates against women.
McCann's comments came in response to City Councilman Pete Laybourn, who said during a May 23 council meeting that "sex discrimination at Cheyenne Frontier Days (should be) dealt with and terminated …." The city's lease with the CFD organizers bans discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex.
McCann said Laybourn "does not care about facts and could really care less about the damage.
"It was a slap in the face, an undeserved slap in the face," McCann said.
He also said several women already had been approached about the possibility of serving on the general committee.
On May 24, Laybourn and McCann spoke privately about the issue. McCann said he felt Laybourn had threatened legal action against CFD; Laybourn said the meeting was cordial, but that both sides had said this was an issue that would require legal interpretation.
Cynthia Lummis is a member of CFD's board of directors, the group that oversees the general committee and hires the chairman. Lummis said CFD should have a woman on the general committee, but that she'd seen progress in the ways women were involved with CFD.
"Among the things the board has discussed is the importance of recognizing longtime women volunteers by moving them into leadership positions," Lummis said. "That was noted as an important incentive for volunteers."
Information from: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com