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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1985)
Victory in challenge to Georgia law In a 2-1 decision, a Federal Appellate Court has held that the C onstitutional right to p ri vacy protects hom osexual activity. The ruling , was made in a case that challenged the con stitutionality o f the Georgia sodom y law. In addition, the 11th C ircu it C ourt o f Appeals ruled that Georgia would need to show some com pelling state interest if it wanted to regu late private adult sexual activity at all. The C ourt’s decision has been hailed by gay leaders as a m ajor victory. Jean O ’Leary, Executive D irector o f National Gay Rights Advocates, said: “T his decision is significant because sodom y laws are the bedrock of discrim ination against gay m en and wom en in this country.” O ’Leary also pointed out that since these laws crim inalize our very exist ence, lawsuits w ill be filed against every state that still has one on their books. Abby Rubenfeld, M anaging Attorney o f Lam bda Legal Defense and Education Fund, said: “The C ourt set an extrem ely im portant precedent in this case. It’s the first tim e a U.S. C ourt o f Appeals has held that the right to privacy protects lesbians and gay men." Rubenfeld noted that it is also the first tim e that such a cou rt has forced a state to justify its reasons fo r having a sodom y statute. The case was filed tw o years ago when M ichael Hardwick was arrested in his own bedroom and charged with sodomy. Sodomy in Georgia is a felony that carries a sentence o f 20 years in prison. Cathy W ilde, an attorney in Atlanta, represented Hardwick at both the D istrict C ourt and C ourt o f Appeals. Gay men and lesbians, 55 and older Previous research in the gay/lesbian co m m unity has indicated a preference fo r retire m ent housing and long term care facilities w hich are hom osexually oriented. To elicit m ore detailed and accurate inform ation con cerning interest in such facilities fo r older lesbians and gay men, a nationwide survey is being conducted by Dr. A J . Lucco, Fellow in G eriatric M edicine at The Johns Hopkins University School o f M edicine in Baltim ore. Gay m en and lesbians who w ill be at least 55 years old by the end of the current calendar year are needed to com plete an anonym ous, self-adm inistered questionnaire which asks fo r dem ographic data as well as opinions in A M O R E H U M A N A N D N A TU R A L K IN D OF H EALTH CARE regard to and retirem ent housing options and preferences. If you qualify and are w illilng to participate, please contact: A J. Lucco, M.D., The Beacham Center. 5200 Eastern Avenue, Baltim ore, Maryland 21224. O rganizations w illing to distribute questionnaires are also asked to reply. The study is being funded privately by the principal investigator. Results will be com piled and m ade available to gay/lesbian organiza tio n s around the country w hich are interested in developing retirem ent facilities for older Just O ut. August. 1985 ABA rejects gay rights advocacy The Am erican Bar Association's House of Delegates rejected, by nine votes, a proposal to use the resources o f the lawyer's group to lobby at federal, state and local levels for civil rights fo r lesbians and gays. The resolution on behalf o f gays and les bians urged governm ents to adopt legisla tio n p ro h ib itin g discrim in atio n in em ploy m ent, housing and public accom m odations on the basis o f sexual orientation. Debate preceding the 161-152 vote rejec tio n included the reading o f a letter o f support fro m Cardinal Joseph Bernardin o f Chicago, w ho stated that although he advocated civil rights fo r lesbians and gays, he did not endorse th e ir lifestyle. be sold ^ $ 500,000 nr someone youtove for you or som an honest 40 % - 63 % discount a m Ita nevai i/ M ig iio r u n ify * 10% down buys anything! N eckw ear I4K and IXk gold chains Stunning 9 ct $ 696 blue topaz & diamond pendant 380 Rare handmade pink tourmaline 398 Modern I4K pearl & ruby pendant 360 Gorgeous 14 K diamond & ruby butterfly Designs N a tu ro p a th ic P hysicia n 503/244-8476 7912 SW 35th Ave. Day or Evening Appointments lesbians and gay men. mam Nov» ofT Now $348 Now 190 Now 199 Now 180 Earrings Im porter’s S 18-24 closeout! Silver & bl.uk Italian 30-30 Assorted I4K sol ill gold earrings 14 k fresh 228 water pearl hoops Fiery rhodite 88- 344 garnet earrings Dazzling 148-3268 diamond earrings Now $ 7 Now 15-50 14k diamond S 475 Now $237 & ruby ring 1480 Now 740 Royal American sapphire & diamond ring 18k hand designe 5 396 Now 2698 shimmering diamonds 3998 Now 1999 Scintillating pave diamond band 18k Heavy 14k gold S I 250 Now $625 diamond & ruby ring 3594 Now 1797 Outstanding I lk channel set diamond M 99 Now 599 Textured 14 K solitaire diamond Now 174 Now 44-172 Now 74-1634 d&V] from some o f the w orld’s best jew elry makers. KING’S JEWELERS-------------------- RANSOM ---------------------FINE 5 2 0 S.W. Fifth A venue Across from Frederick and Nelson’s 5