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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1995)
ì juat out ▼ aprii 7 . 1005 ▼ 9 L et M e E arn Y our B usiness I work to combine professionalism with personal attention in all phases of real estate. Whether you ’re buying or selling, 1 provide extensive knowledge of neighborhoods and complete commitment to serving each of my client's individual needs. Back to the drawing board A Georgia court upholds Atlanta’s partnership registry and right to ban discrimination against gay men and lesbians, but strikes down benefits ▼ by For personal, professional service and a free consultation call: (503) 220-1144 • Mobile: 970-3801 R ic h a r d S h u m a te B The court’s ruling against partnership benefits y a 4-to-3 vote, the Georgia Supreme was based on technicalities in Georgia law. The Court struck down an Atlanta ordi majority held that the city council exceeded its nance that granted insurance benefits authority by improperly rewriting the definition to the domestic partners of city em of what constitutes a legal dependent— some ployees. thing only the legislature can do. But supporters But the court, in deciding a wide-ranging believe the council can rewrite the law to over assault on the city’s sexual minority rights protec come the court’s concern. tions brought last year by conservative activists, “What they told us was that we wrote it wrong, upheld the city’s ordinance allowing unmarried not that we couldn’t have [partnership benefits],” people— gay or straight—to register as domestic Pellegrini said. partners. It also upheld an ordinance forbidding City Councilwoman Mary Davis, who spon discrimination based on sexual orientation by city sored the partnership ordinances when they were government, on city property, or by operators of narrowly approved in August 1993, vowed to bars and taxicabs, which are regulated by the city. reintroduce the measures. Mayor Bill Campbell, And in a decision released on March 14, six of who voted for them when he was a member of the the court’s seven members went out of their way council two years ago, also expressed support. to reject the notion that measures outlawing dis crimination amount to giving gay men and lesbi However, whether partnership benefits can get through the coun ans “special rights.” cil again is an open Despite the rejec In a decision released on March question because tion o f partnership benefits, rights activ there was substantial 14, six of the court's seven turnover on the coun ists said that, overall, the court’s action was members went out of their way to cil during city elec more positive than reject the notion that measures tions in November negative. 1993. On the plus side outlawing discrimination amount for “It’s the first time partnership sup to giving gay men and lesbians porters, however, is in this state that we have a validation of the fact that the two “special rights. ” our relatio n sh ip s,” strongest opponents says Larry Pellegrini, of the ordinances the the lobbyist for GAPAC, a gay and lesbian politi last time around are no longer on the council. cal group, in reference to the partnership registry. The legal challenge to the city’s three lesbian Some of the language in the majority’s deci and gay rights measures was brought by the sion also indicated that those justices would not Southeastern Legal Foundation, a conservative look favorably upon m easures sim ilar to public-interest law firm, on behalf of a group of Colorado’s Amendment 2. That was good news plaintiffs led by State Rep. Billy McKinney, a for the state’s gay men and lesbians because, liberal Democrat who has long been a strident although Georgia doesn’t currently allow such opponent of measures protecting lesbians and gay initiatives, a bill to open up the ballot to public men. Ironically, he is the father of U.S. Rep. initiative is pending in the legislature. Cynthia McKinney, a Georgia Democrat who is The battle over partnership benefits will now one of the strongest supporters of sexual minority rights measures in Congress. shift back to the Atlanta City Council. Armed McKinney claimed victory after the court’s with the Supreme Court’s ruling, supporters of the measure plan to rewrite the ordinance so that ruling, calling domestic partnership benefits ordi it will survive future court attacks. nances “repulsive.” it 4 SPECIALIZING IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS I T \d\isors 228-5212 Calculate Your Fax Savings PC Advisors has the software package for your TAXING needs T urbo Tax • Q uicken • Q uick B ooks • Sylvia Porters We offer product training, installation, and support! Our Just Out tax season special: 486/66 mhz with 850mg bring first \ ¿ \ \\ Hard disk, SVGA Monitor, 8meg ° RAM $ 1198.00 cla.ss seZ'ce and expertise Finance and leasing options available to your computing needs ombard : L O W E R Proudly Serving The Greater Portland Metro Area 503/ 2 86 -1330 ! Located in Historic St. Johns 8 3 0 2 N. LOMBARD • PORTLAND, OREGON 9 7 2 0 3 Hu Ptt^WiC Resources supporting and empowering women A Lesbian Owned business O pen 7 days a week ! 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