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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1997)
Just out ▼ docombor 5 , 1997 ▼ 9 The plan applies to 130,000 employees on the UC system’s nine campuses. UC has estimated it could cost an extra $1.5 million to $5 million a year. Opponents, including Wilson, said extending the benefits would be “devaluing marriage.” Supporters countered it was an issue of equal ity and that without the plan, UC’s ability to recruit and retain quality professors would suffer because comparable institutions already offer such benefits. In a Nov. 19 letter to the regents, Wilson suggested the proposed benefits would conflict with existing state policy and would “spotlight the University of California as a role model for undermining marriage and destabilizing fami lies.” Gay men and a baby While the lesbian baby boom is a recognized phenomenon, it’s not as well known that growing numbers of gay men are joining the planned parenthood movement. panel has already ruled that it can’t be applied to a municipal law. Geffen gift bolsters AIDS policy center AIDS Action, an organization representing more than 2,000 community-based AIDS service providers across the country, announced Nov. 6 that it has received a $1.4 million gift from the David Geffen Foundation. The donation will be used to purchase head quarters which will establish the group as a per manent presence in the nation’s capital and ensure a voice in the ongoing challenges associated with national AIDS policy. As a direct result of Geffen’s gift, AIDS Action’s prevention initiative will be enlarged. It will promote aggressive, community-based and client-centered HIV prevention programs targeted to communities currently most at risk: women, people of color, young gay men and injection drug users. L l Survey shows voters support sex education No statistics have been compiled, but accord ing to the New York Daily News, surveys of courts in the New York City metropolitan area show that several dozen gay men successfully navigate through the adoption process each year. In neighboring New Jersey, meanwhile, a state judge issued a ruling in October allowing two gay men to adopt their foster child. As many as 50 men each month attend the New York Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center’s “Wanna Be Dads” workshop to learn about the possibilities of fatherhood, says Will Wake, a registered nurse and leader of the two- year-old group. Most of the participants are in stable relation ships of more than seven years and are hungry for information about the logistics of adoption, foster parenting, shared custody and surrogacy (which is legal in New York as long as no money is exchanged). Take a number In an effort to reprise its victory over Colorado’s divisive, anti-gay Amendment 2, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund has renewed its challenge to Cincinnati’s Issue 3, a copycat mea sure passed by voters in November 1993. Lambda and co-counselors, including the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a petition Nov. 20 for a hearing by the full federal appeals court whose three-judge panel upheld Issue 3 in October. Shortly after being passed by Cincinnati vot ers, Issue 3 was struck down by a federal district court. In 1995, the 6th Circuit reversed the lower court opinion, but was forced by the U.S. Su preme Court to reconsider the case in light of its ruling on the Colorado law. Just as Amendment 2 sought to do in Colo rado, Issue 3 would bar legislators from passing measures designed to prohibit discrimination against lesbians and gay men. In last year’s case Romer vs. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Amendment 2 violated the Constitution’s equal protection requirements by singling out sexual minorities for discrimina tory treatment. Because the text of each amend ment is nearly identical, Lambda is hoping to use that decision against Issue 3, although the appeals Poll results released Nov. 13, indicate a strong majority of U.S. voters prefer responsible sex education for school students rather than pro grams that simply advocate sexual abstinence, according to a Reuter report. The poll surveyed 1,000 people who said they planned to vote in next year’s congressional elec tions. It was jointly conducted by Democratic pollsterCelinda Lake and Republican Linda DiVall and was sponsored by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The polls carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed indi cated support for sex education in schools, with 87 percent of Democrats in favor along with 74 percent of Republicans. Given the choice between sex education and simply promoting abstinence, 57 percent of re spondents favored sex ed, while 19 percent backed the abstinence-only approach. company proi assurances Washington Viatical Network, Inc. never purchases insurance policies from its clients, therein assuring you that the transaction is in your best financial interest Close to 90 percent said family planning ser vices are necessary, with 71 percent calling for increased public funding of such services. Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt said the organization intends to launch a cam paign next year for legislation that would ensure universal access to family planning services. “We think that the public is very frustrated with the relentless debate around abortion,” she told reporters. Support for abortion rights was less strong. The survey found that 58 percent of Democrats, 54 percent of independents, and 39 percent of Republicans want abortion to be generally avail able. Eighty-five percent of respondents supported teen access to family planning services, and two- thirds felt that such access should be confidential. Sixty percent said they believe increased access to family planning could prevent abortions rather than cause teens to have sex; only 17 percent disagreed. Both pro- and anti-abortion rights voters fa vored proposals that would require health insur ance policies to cover contraceptives and birth control. Compiled by Christopher D. Cuttone Washington Viatical Network, Inc. presents your application to no less than 15 different viatical purchasers to ensure that you receive the highest possible benefits for vour insurance policy. w \ S H 1 N G T O N V 1 A 1 1 C A L Available 24 hours. ("¿ilI us now or anytime lor a consultation. Toll Free: 1 ( 888 ) 777-5432 Washiiitai metro Area: [ 202 ] 333*4100