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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1994)
ju s t o u t ▼ Ja n u a ry 2 1 , 1094 ▼ Waddell & Reed FINANCIAL SERVICES Change from the inside Donna Shalala, secretary of the U.S. Dept, of Health and Human Scrv ices, circulated a strongly worded anti-discrimination policy for employ ees in her department that includes protections for sexual orientation. By doing so, the HHS becomes the fifth federal department that has issued a policy forbidding discrimination against gay and lesbian federal employees since Presi dent Clinton took office last January. Shalala said in her statement, “My per sonal commitment to diversity and equality is long-standing and non-ncgotiable.” Shalala’s policy differs somewhat with those already is sued from the Departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Justice, the Office of Personnel Management and the White House. A separate statement issued at the same time directs lop managers of the HHS on the specifics of carrying out the policy. Shalala’s policy calls for “provid ing training on diversity issues, taking measures where mistreatment of employees exists or per sists, and clearly communicating the policy by incorporating it in your internal personnel pro cesses.” The memo also delineates remedial ac tions available to employees who feel they have experienced discrimination or harassment. This series of departmental directives is, ac cording to Rep. Barney Frank, the process Presi dent Clinton is using to protect gay and lesbian federal workers from discrimination instead of issuing an executive order. Sources say that an executive order might provoke appeal measures from homophobic members of Congress. Frank said, “By January, it will be made clear that all civilian employees in the government will be free of anti-gay discrimination.” Frank also projects that directives will be issued by agencies who require security clearances, similar to the one issued by Attorney General Janet Reno, to prohibit discrimination against gay men and les bians in granting and retaining security clear ances. Montana’s sodomy law challenged Six people from the state have filed a lawsuit that challenges the state’s sodomy law provision that makes sex with persons of the same sex a felony. The state law is the most severe in the country, say legal experts. Those convicted can serve up to ten years in jail and be charged fines of up to $50,000. Although the law has never been enforced, Diane Sands co-chair of the gay and lesbian rights group Pride Montana believes the law “is an affront to the dignity, privacy and humanity of Montana’s gay and lesbian citizens.” She added that the law is damaging because it justifies discrimination and violence toward lesbians and gay men. Rosemary Daskicwicz, an attorney for the • • • • • plaintiffs, said the lawsuit challenging the law is based on the slate constitution’s guarantee of individual privacy. She said, “Clearly, if the con cepts of individual dignity and privacy mean anything, they must protect the rights of consent ing adults to engage in acts of intimacy in the privacy of their homes.” Earlier last year, the state of Montana rejected two bills protecting the rights of gay men and lesbians. Florida groups fight homophobic initiative Twelve civil rights groups have filed a brief with the state S upremc Court to keep a homophobic initiative off next November’s ballot. The groups argue that the proposed amendment to the stale’s Constitution is misleading, vague, loo broad, un constitutional and would not only affect gay men and lesbians but other groups as well. The amendment entitled "Laws Related to Discrimination are Restricted to Certain Classifi cations” contains no mention of gay men, lesbians orsexualorientation. Rather, the proposed amend ment forbids the state or any municipality from recognizing “any right, privilege or protection for any person based upon any characteristic, trait, status or condition other than race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, ethnic back ground, marital status or familial status.” There fore, the proposed amendment, if passed, would eradicate legislation currently protecting lesbians and gay men in four of Florida’s cities and three of its counties. Moreover, it would prohibit any future anti-discrimination laws in the state. In addition, opponents argue, if passed, the amendment could strike down laws affecting groups such as veterans, students, corporations and consumers. ‘T his amendment could void all consumer protection statutes which provide pro tections based upon a person’s status or condition of being a consumer,” the brief says. The American Family Political Committee of Florida, an arm of the American Family Associa tion, is initiating the proposed amendment. A spokesperson for the group has denied that the initiative would affect a variety of groups. The group has made copies of the petition available to anyone calling the AFA at (800) GAY LAWS. Callers also receive a cover letter stating, ‘This petition is designed to stop homosexual activists and other special interest groups from improper inclusion in discrimination laws,” and a brochure entitled, “Are Homosexual Rights Traditional Civil Rights?” Florida slate law requires that the state Su preme Court must certify, in advance, that the title and text of a proposed amendment accurately state its purpose, and that the amendment deals with only one subject. To the Lesbian and G ay communities ~ Thanks for your support! Call today for information: ( 5 0 3 ) 238-6036 Eric Brown Florcid Walker 500 NE Multnomah, Suite 278 Portland, Oregon 97232 J O Y ENTERPRISES Ron Joy We love our ju s t out customers. See us for your automotive needs. 5111 NE Fremont Portland, OR 97213 MS! ONI B R O A D W A Y 2300 NE BROADWAY • PORTLAND 284-2300 THOMAS M. 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