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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1995)
j u s t o u t ▼ ju n o 2 . 1 9 9 5 ▼ 5 e national briefs C e l e b r a t i S A T . JUNE 17th w DJ M E L OF E A S T A V E O U T MELODY GRAND BALLROOM -JÉ CALIFORNIA In an intriguing twist on the “walk for life” concept, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Ser vices Center is sponsoring YDIVE, a skydiving fund-raiser for youth programs set for Aug. 19. Organizers expect 600 participants to take the 3,500-foot leap and raise a predicted $500,000. To take the plunge, each prospective skydiver must raise at least $750 in pledges. The Center’s youth programs—targeted to gay, lesbian and bisexual street youth—include a transitional shelter, help with food and clothing, counseling, case-management, HIV and AIDS prevention and education, referrals and support services. Funds raised through YDIVE will also go toward creating a clinic for young people with HIV. For more information, call (213) 469-3483. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.), the Senate Major ity Leader and yet another candidate for the Re publican presidential nomination, signed on as a co-sponsor of the Ryan White CARE Reauthori zation Act of 1995. Log Cabin Republicans, a national organization of gay and lesbian Republi cans, lobbied for Dole’s support of this measure. MARYLAND The Pentagon’s infamous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has taken another direct hit from the federal judiciary. At the end of April, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Young granted a six-month injunction in the case of Navy Lt. Richard “Dirk” Selland. According to a story in the Baltimore Gay Paper, Young said there were questions about whether the Navy had violated Selland’s due process rights. The injunction allows Selland to stay in the Navy while Fighting his discharge. Selland has Filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. His case is expected to come to trial this summer. MASSACHUSETTS Liberation Publications Inc., parent company of The Advocate, and Alyson Publications Inc. announced May 5 that LPI will purchase the Alyson book publishing business. Sasha Alyson, founder and president of the gay publishing com pany, will continue to act as publisher. Alyson Publications published its First book 15 years ago. In addition to its long list of gay and lesbian titles, the company also publishes a line of children’s books, including Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy s Roommate. MONTANA The Montana state legislature has Finally ad journed, and sexual minorities and their support ers are relieved. According to a story in Stonewall Hews Northwest, an attempt to amend Montana’s Deviate Sexual Conduct Law to deny child cus tody and visitation rights to gay men and lesbians convicted under the law was defeated. Also de feated was a move to require gay men and lesbians convicted under the Deviate Sexual Conduct Law to register with local police for life. Efforts to repeal the sexual conduct law itself, spearheaded by senators supportive of gay and lesbian rights, also failed. That law is now being challenged in court; a date is set for late October. NEW MEXICO Having cast a record number of vetoes, New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson adds to that history making list the state’s Hate Crimes bill. Accord ing to a story in Phoenix’s Echo Magazine, Johnson said, “I feel all crimes is hate.” The bill was supported by the state attorney general and dis trict attorneys across the state, the Catholic Church, and leaders in the gay and lesbian community. The only real opposition came from religious right organizations. NEW YORK October is Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Month, and a new organization has been formed to coordinate planning and implementation of the yearly celebration. The “Lesbian, Gay and Bi sexual History Month Project” will act as a na tional information clearinghouse, provide educa tional materials to students and teachers, coordi nate national media relations, and establish Local Coordinating Councils throughout the United 6 1 5 A L D E R $8 A D V A N C E • $10 AT THE DOOR I # TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: IT'S MY PLEASURE • TURNTABLE MARY'S • EAST AVE TAVERN • THERE WILL BE A RAFFLE TO BENEFIT W O M E N 'S SHELTERS • v s / An East Ave Out & Cygnet Productions Event w IST ravel A gents I nternational / "fervin? O u r C o m m u n ity . . . B y ÍJleetin p 9our fle e d i" Sail into the Christmas Season with this pre-Christmas Group Booking! Royals Caribbean The entire project falls under the auspices of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network, which offers a new History Month brochure. Write History Month, c/o GLSTN, 2124 Broad way, Box 160, New York, NY 10023-2098; call (212) 387-2098; or e-mail LGBHM@aol.com. OHIO In what may prove to be a major blow to lesbian and gay civil rights, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled May 12 that an anti-sexual minority charter amendment, Issue 3, passed by Cincinnati voters in 1993, is constitu tional. This decision reverses an August 1994 ruling by a U.S. District Court judge that struck down Issue 3 on constitutional grounds. This new decision flies in face of every previ ous ruling on this issue. It has been denounced by a wide range of civil rights organizations. PENNSYLVANIA For lack of a simple legal document called a “Body Disposition and Burial Instruction,” a Phi la- delphia gay man was powerless to stop the parents of his deceased lover from taking his lover’s cremated remains to Florida with them. Craig Owens cared for his lover, Scott Scheingold, for six years. Scheingold told Owens of his wish to be cremated so that he could remain with Owens. In the absence of legal documents stating otherwise, the wishes of the next of kin—in this case Scheingold’s parents— took precedence. WASHINGTON Kevin Tebedo, executive director of Colorado for Family Values, is making the rounds in Wash ington in an attempt to rally support for the anti- sexual minority Initiative 166. According to a story in the Seattle Gay News, Tebedo is spread ing the word that Washington’s gay and lesbian community is more aggressive and organized than Colorado’s. "The homosexual lobby is definitely more belligerent and angry [than in Colorado], They have no qualms trying to make public policy that supports their point of view,” Tebedo told a group of Initiative 166 supporters at a meeting in Bellingham. Compiled by Kristine Chatwood We are pleased to announce We are holding 10 cabins for the Dec 3 sailing o f the Song o f N orway M E X IC A N R IV IE R A ONLY $937 Per Person D ouble occupancy 7 D ay C ru ise w it h S to p o f f s in CABO SAN LUCAS, MAZATLAN S PUERTO VALLARTA Price includes R T Airfare from Portland. R T transfers between airport a n d pier. 7 night cruise, all meals, and all taxes and port charges. $150.00 per person deposit due by July 15. 1995. (Note: We strongly encourage the purchase of cancellation waiver insurance, at additional cost) C l 995 RCCL. Ships of Norwegtin Registry P âB A QV M E M II K K S et 9