Jim Dressel

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Captain James K. Dressel (October 14, 1943 – March 24, 1992) was an Air Force pilot, and a Michigan politician in the 1970s and early 1980s. Although he was a conservative Republican, in 1983 he co-sponsored the state's first bill to protect gay and lesbian people from discrimination in employment and housing. He was profiled in Randy Shilts' book Conduct Unbecoming in the chapter "Heroes".<ref name=Shilts/>

Biography

Dressel was born in Holland, Michigan, to German and Dutch parents, and raised in the United Methodist Church.<ref name=Shilts>Template:Cite book</ref> He graduated from Hope College in 1967, then enlisted in the air force. Beginning in 1970, he served a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, piloting fighter jets and bombing enemy supply runs from a base in Thailand, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and other decorations.<ref name=Shilts/>

Following his military service, he became a member of the Air National Guard and began a career in politics as a Republican. He was elected to the Ottawa County Commission, and served as county treasurer before being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1978, serving the 95th District.<ref name=graveyard>Template:Cite web</ref> Although he was a conservative Goldwater Republican, he cooperated with Democratic legislators on programs to aid the city of Detroit and other practical issues facing the state.<ref name=Shilts/>

He surprised his constituents in October 1983 by co-sponsoring House Bill 5000, an amendment to the state's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" in employment and housing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A 40-year-old bachelor, he was subsequently speculated to be gay, but refused at the time to confirm or deny it, citing the principle he was trying to demonstrate: that it shouldn't matter.<ref name=Shilts/> He was soundly defeated in the Republican primary for re-election in 1984, by a candidate he had easily out-polled in the previous primary.<ref name="TVB"/>

He was later somewhat more open about his homosexuality, and became active in advocating civil rights protection for gay and lesbian people, including a stint leading the Michigan Organization for Human Rights.<ref name="TVB"/> He died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1992, at the age of 48.<ref name="TVB">Template:Cite news</ref> The Michigan Legislature passed a resolution honoring him upon his death.