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Nora. ísacson
Portfatidlf Afoer-nativ-e Realtor
I have chosen to take a more human approach as a Realtor.
I build my business on a referral basis and firmly believe
that the satisfaction of my client is far more important than
my financial gain. I communicate clearly and openly, and
I’m always honest with my clients. I’ll gladly climb a nearby
tree to check on a roof or get a bit dirty investigating a crawl
space or an attic. I work mainly in Portland’s close-in
Southeast and Northeast neighborhoods and specialize in
older homes with character. Whether you’re thinking of
buying or selling, please do give me a call.
Nora Isacson
ThePrudential ^
Performance Group
One, Inc. REALTORS*
215 S E 102nd, Suite 300
P ortland, O R 97216
(503) 256-1234
V M /pgr 9503) 948-5610
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C A L IF O R N IA
Leaders of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Asso
ciation met in February with U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services Secretary Donna
Shalala. The two issues discussed at the meeting
were the plight o f HIV-infected health care work
ers, and what GLM A Executive Director Benjamin
Schatz called “the need for a proactive and compre
hensive initiative by HHS on lesbian and gay health
issues.”
Shalala pledged to take action on both issues,
according toGLM A President Valerie Ulstad, M.D.,
a Minneapolis cardiologist. HHS officials have
been instructed to examine whether current Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that
restrict HIV-infected health care workers are scien
tifically valid and whether they have caused unnec
essary discrimination. Ulstad also said Shalala agreed
to determine the scope of HHS activities on lesbian
and gay health and to develop a plan for a broader,
more proactive approach.
FL O R ID A
A conservative Christian state legislator has
been charged with having sex with a prostitute.
Rep. Marvin Couch (R-Oviedo), picked up a
prostitute at an Orange County shopping center. He
paid her $22 to perform oral sex in his truck. In
addition to prostitution, Couch was charged with
exposure o f his sexual organs and with unnatural or
lascivious acts.
Couch, 42, has been a strong advocate o f the
religious right’s political agenda. Last year he re
ceived a perfect 100 rating from the Orlando-based
Christian Coalition o f Florida.
Couch’s current term ends in November. He has
said he will not seek re-election, but he would like
to finish serving this term.
IL L IN O IS
The Chicago Commission on Human Relations
fined the Chicago Area Council o f the Boy Scouts
of America $100 for violating the city’s human
rights ordinance. The commission found that the
council discriminated against a gay man when it
told him he need not apply for a job at the council.
The commission also ordered the Boy Scouts to pay
the man $500 in damages.
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The commission’s ruling orders the Boy Scouts
to refrain from discriminating against gay men and
lesbians. The national headquarters o f the Boy
Scouts of America issued a statement saying the
group will appeal the decision.
▼ ▼ T
Jamie Nabozny, a young gay man from W iscon
sin, received the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teach
ers’ Network’s Pathfinder Award in early March.
The award was given at GLSTN’s annual confer
ence held in Chicago; it is given annually to an
individual who has forged new paths in the work
against homophobia in schools.
Nabozny is the plaintiff in the first federal appel
late case challenging anti-gay violence in public
schools. He was repeatedly assaulted by fellow
students while in the seventh through eleventh
grades. He was beaten, punched and kicked. As a
result of some of the attacks, he required hospital
ization and surgery. Nabozny’s parents supported
him, constantly battling school officials who re
fused to discipline Nabozny’s tormentors.
“Jamie is the perfect recipient o f the Pathfinder
Award,” said Kevin Jennings, executive director of
GLSTN, “because his determination to pursue ju s
tice is an inspiration to youth everywhere, showing
them that they need not tolerate homophobic harass
ment.”
A second gay student has joined a $1 million
lawsuit that accuses Riverside-Brookfield High
School officials and other students of anti-gay name
calling, physical abuse and threats.
The suit was filed last year by a student known
as “Mario Doe.”
Mario Doe alleges that when he informed a
school counselor that he was being harassed, the
counselor told him to “learn karate for self-
defense.” He also claims that students pinched him,
grabbed his genitals and threatened him. Mario Doe
dropped out o f school and filed the lawsuit in Cook
County Circuit Court.
The second student, known as “John Doe,”
claims that the same school counselor told his father
John Doe was gay, despite the fact that John Doe
wanted that information kept confidential. He
dropped out o f school this year.
School officials say the suit is without merit.
N EBRA SK A
Bucking a national trend, a member of the Ne
braska state legislature introduced a bill to legalize
same-sex marriage in that state, according to a story
in the Baltimore Gay Paper.
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha knows that his
proposal, LB 1260, has a slim chance o f passing this
session. He says, though, he won’t give up.
“This is an issue related to civil rights and civil
liberties that can’t be dodged by political bodies. It
has an impact on so many people,” Chambers said.
NEW YORK
Dyke TV, a cable access television show by, for
and about lesbians, recently announced staffing and
programming changes for the upcoming season.
Produced in New York City, Dyke TV can be seen in
nearly 60 cities throughout the United States.
Changes include a new executive producer,
Cyrille Phipps; and a new development director,
Maria Petulla. Phipps will oversee implementation
o f the new organizational structure. Petulla will
manage the strategic fund-raising plan.
Dyke TV will now air twice a month. Beginning
in May, shows will focus on specific topics such as
motherhood, global dykes, virtual reality and rela
tionships.
Dyke TV has also launched its own Web site. It
can be fo u n d on th e In te rn e t at h ttp ://
www.dyketv.org.
SO U TH D A K O TA
Passage o f a law that bans the recognition o f
same-gender marriages in South Dakota may have
spelled doom for a major international ballooning
event held in the state.
South Dakota natives Jacques Soukup and Kirk
Thomas, longtime partners, philanthropists and in
ternationally recognized balloonists, have withdrawn
their support of the Governor’s Cup, a national and
international ballooning competition. They have
taken this action to protest the passage of the South
Dakota law. Soukup and Thomas had planned to
serve as officials and event organizers.
“There will probably be no measurers, stewards,
judges, meteorologists or jury members,” they said.
“Since we know most competitive balloonists world
wide, we will inform them of the actions of the South
Dakota government and will discourage anyone
from attending this event held in such an inhospi
table state.”
C om piled by Kristine Chatw ood