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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1997)
j u s t o u t T J a n u a ry 1 7 . 1 9 « 7 T 9 Depression-Drugs-Anxiety Nondiscrimination policy adopted by postal service The U.S. Postal Service’s law enforcement branch, which employs 4,600 inspectors, police officers and support personnel, has issued a new code o f conduct for bidding employees to discriminate against sexual minorities even during off-duty hours. Each employee o f the agency is required to sign the new code, but some are protesting out of belief that the rules will intrude upon their private lives. ~ ^ * ^ 1 » » - The discrimination clause states that “Em ployees acting in an official capacity will not directly or indirectly authorize, permit or partici pate in discrimination based on age, gender, eth nic origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation against anyone, whether or not they are employees. Because we are a law enforce ment agency, off-duty conduct that demonstrates an inability to be fair, objective and unbiased in dealings with others will not be tolerated.” The statement does not include religion, which is generally protected under federal nondiscrimi nation policies. A U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesman said “the policy will only affect any action that is a violation o f the law,” as opposed to situations, such as speaking out against same-sex marriage, which would be a matter o f free speech. Dornan-Sanchez race still not over Nineteen people interviewed by The Los An geles Times admitted that they inadvertently cast illegal votes in the hotly contested Nov. 5 election in which political novice Loretta Sanchez un seated longtime Rep. Bob Doman. The report links many of those noncitizen voters to Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, an or ganization which offers citizenship classes and registered at least 916 people in Doman’s district last year. Representatives o f the group conceded that some o f its students voted before they were sworn in as citizens, but blames misunderstand ings and over-eagerness. Interviewees told the Times they were encour aged to register and vote by people they believed were affiliated with Hermandad, and that they were given voter registration materials and ab sentee ballot applications immediately after pass ing tests or interviews with immigration officials. but before attending the swearing-in ceremony which completes the naturalization process. They were apparently unaware they had broken the law by registering and voting early. Hermandad executive director Nativo Lopez insisted that organization staff made the guide lines clear to students, and said he did not know the source o f the widespread misunderstanding. He pointed out that many people walk away from their INS interviews in an excited state, often believing that they have completed the process. It is a felony under state law for someone who is not a citizen to vote or register to vote; nonciti zens who commit felonies are subject to deporta tion. The Orange County Registrar of Voters Office has completed a review o f the election results which found no irregularities, the district attorney ’ s office in Orange County is conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, and the U.S. House of Representatives is considering its own investi gation in response to charges levied by Dornan that 100 people voted twice, 195 people improp erly returned absentee ballots, and as many as 1,000 noncitizens and convicted felons voted. Doman was accused of racism after he blamed his defeat by 984 votes on noncitizen voting. Trials begin on anti-HIV gene testing According to the San Francisco Chronicle, biotechnology researchers have won government approval to begin the first human gene therapy trials in the fight against HIV. The tests, based on a discovery made by Stanford scientists nearly a decade ago, seek to provide patients with newly formed and fully functioning cells created from their own immune systems which are genetically capable o f preventing HIV from reproducing. Doctors plan to remove bone marrow from 60 volunteers and collect the highly specialized stem cells, which are the pro genitors of red blood cells, platelets and all the differ entiated white blood cells that comprise the body’s immune system— includ ing the T cells that are at tacked by HIV and mac rophages that attack invad ing viruses. Using a harm less virus as a carrier, sci entists will insert into the purified stem cells a mu tated form of the “rev gene,” which normally makes a protein that is essential to the early reproductive cycle of HI V. Each succeeding generation o f stem cells, Tcells and macrophages produced, scientists hope, will then be genetically resistant to HIV. Trials were set to begin in early January at AIDS clinics in Redwood City, Calif., and Ala bama using participants whose infection ranges from recently diagnosed to late-stage AIDS. Charlotte Bunch honored Lesbian activist, writer and international ad vocate for the human rights o f women Charlotte Bunch, 52, was inducted Oct. 5 into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, N. Y., site of the first Women’s Rights Convention in 1848. Bunch, who works for the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University, is a leader in the international movement for women’s rights, including reproductive rights, education, freedom from violence, and adequate nutrition and sanitation standards. Bunch cofounded the journal Quest: A Feminist Quarterly in 1974 and served on the board of what was then called the National Gay Task Force. Compiled hy Christopher D. Cuttone Now, There's Light at the End of the Tunnel Pride and Solutions is the nation's leading provider of mental health and addictions treatment to the lesbian/ gay and bisexual communities. HIV/AIDS-related stress, depression and grief treatment specialists. Call Us Today 1-8 0 0 -D IA L -G A Y Medicare and Most Insurance Accepted Photo: Martin Ryter were identified by a witness, attacked Wagner while shouting anti-gay epithets and expletives. Police are reportedly not considering the case a hate crime. Wagner’s parents and many fellow students believe the attack was motivated by homophobia. Since coming out at age 14, Wagner has been subjected to daily verbal and physical abuse at school. His mother told the Times that most school officials have refused to take action on com plaints about the abuse. She also charged that several teachers ignored harassment which oc curred in the classroom. Shortly after news o f the attack appeared in local papers, another woman came forward to report her frustration at the lack o f response from school officials to the physical and verbal assaults suffered by her 12-year-old daughter over a two- year period. The woman, who requested anonym ity to protect her daughter, said her daughter is teased in school for having a lesbian mother and has been slapped, kicked and spat upon. She also claimed that teachers and the vice principal did not pay attention to her daughter’s complaints. PRIDE IN S T IT U T E A T S O L U TIO N S Los Angeles (three facilities) New York Washington, D.C \ Pride Institute at So lu tio n s