ju s t o u t ▼ augu st 15, 1007 V 5
national briefs
ID A H O
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit
July 31 alleging that the Idaho Board o f Education
violated the First Am endm ent when it rejected a
professor’s grant proposal because it deals with
sexual minority issues.
The ACLU says the board infringed on the
academic freedom o f Dr. Peter Boag, a historian
who submitted a proposal to research gay and
lesbian com m unities in the Pacific Northwest
between 1870 and 1920.
According to the ACLU, the proposal was the
only one of 16 not to be approved, despite the
recom m endation o f the board’s higher education
council.
Since the board’s decision involves public
funds, the ACLU says the First A m endm ent’s
free-speech protections apply.
M A S SA C H U SE T T S
Harvard University enacted a policy in July
allow ing students, em ployees and alum ni—
though not the general public— to hold same-sex
marriage cerem onies in its main chapel, M emo­
rial Church.
The school is believed to be the first major
university in the country to endorse same-sex
unions by allowing marriages on its Cambridge
campus, reports United Press International.
Conservative groups responded quickly and
negatively, accusing Harvard o f condoning sinful
sexual acts.
According to the Rev. Peter Gomes, the openly
gay pastor o f M emorial C hurch, clergy o f any
faith will be free to conduct the ceremonies.
N EW M E X IC O
A woman who claim ed to have been attacked
in her home after her name appeared on an anti­
gay “hit list” has been arrested for allegedly
faking the crime.
Police in Portales
told The A ssociated
P ress they b e lie v e
M iranda Prather, 23,
a graduate student at
Eastern New M exico
U n iv ersity , d is trib ­
uted fliers displaying
the list herself and
later staged the attack.
P r a th e r
fa c e s
charges o f making a
false report to the authorities and seven counts o f
harassment— one for each person named on the
fliers (all professors and graduate students at her
school). The fliers urged people to “beat up a
queer,” “harass a queer” and “kill a queer.”
If convicted, Prather could be sentenced to
nearly eight years in prison.
NEW Y O RK
Stunning other members o f New Y ork’s AIDS
advisory panel. Dr. David S. Hodes suggested at
a July 2 meeting that gay organizations urge “their
followers” who are HIV-positive to have sex only
with other HIV-positive people, the New York
Times reports.
Hodes, a pediatrics specialist in infectious
diseases, added that he supports mandatory HIV
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antibody testing and feels more em phasis should
be placed on personal responsibility. “Most pub­
lic health measures that are successful are not
voluntary, but m andatory,” he said. “T h e current
approach hasn’t worked for 15 years. It’s time for
some new direction.”
Gay M en’s Health Crisis is calling for Hodes’
resignation from the panel, while Gov. George
Pataki, who appointed Hodes to the panel in 1995,
said through a spokesperson that he does not
agree with H odes’ statements.
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O H IO
An Ohio appeals court ruled June 16 that a
parent’s sexual orientation has no relevance in
child-custody cases and that judges must “disre­
gard adverse impacts on the child that flow from
society’s disapproval of a parent’s sexual orienta­
tion.”
A ccording to the Washington Blade, the case
in question involves Herbert Inscoe, an openly
gay father who in a lower court lost custody o f his
12-year-old son.
A gay New Jersey couple and a family advo­
cacy group, meanwhile, are challenging a state
law that forbids joint adoptions by same-sex
couples. The Philadelphia Gay News reports that
M ichael Gallucio and Jon Holden o f M aplewood,
N.J., filed suit in state Superior Court on June 19.
TEN N ESSEE
During its national convention in M emphis in
July, the National Organization for W omen passed
a transgender-inclusion resolution.
‘T ransgender people are now doing the pio­
neering work in exposing artificial constructs of
gender and breaking
down the stereotypes
and barriers which di­
vide us all,” declared
NOW m em ber and
lo n g tim e
a c tiv is t
Rosemary Dempsey.
T h e re s o lu tio n
states, in part, “ NOW
and its sub-units en­
courage education and dialogue within NOW and
other organizations on gender and sex stereotypes
including those who are transgendered and trans­
sexual people.”
TEX A S
One week before he would have qualified for
full retirement benefits, the Army discharged Lt.
Col. Steve Loomis, 50, for engaging in “conduct
unbecoming an officer,” including homosexual
acts and use of “force, coercion or intim idation.”
In an Associated Press report, Loomis claimed
Army officials were being vindictive because of
his sexual orientation.
F u rth e rm o re , L o o m is ’ a tto rn e y , D avid
Sheldon, says evidence used to establish Loom is’
orientation, namely a videotape which showed
Loomis participating in “homosexual acts,” was
improperly obtained via civilian authorities who
confiscated the tape during the investigation of an
arson at Loom is’ home.
VERM ONT
Three sam e-gender couples filed suit July 22
in Chittenden Superior Court seeking the right to
marry.
According to a press statement from Gay and
Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, the couples
are suing the State o f Vermont as well as the
m unicipalities o f Shelburne, South Burlington
and Milton, because town clerks there refused to
issue marriage licenses to them.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs maintain “the re­
fusal to allow our clients to marry violates both
state marriage laws and the state Constitution,
which require that all citizens and families have
the same access to the legal protections and obli­
gations o f civil marriage.”
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F L O R ID A
Court officials say a palimony suit underway
in W est Palm Beach has the potential to become
a landmark case for sexual minorities in Florida,
reports United Press International.
Craig Bums Eberhardt, 40, was adopted by
John Henry Eberhardt, 72, because they could not
be legally married. Now Burns Eberhardt is suing
for a share of the $1.48 million mansion the
couple shared for 13 years before their relation­
ship soured.
Bum s Eberhardt claim s he was to inherit ev­
erything in the event that Eberhardt died, and that
he was dependent upon him and worked to keep
his business profitable.
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