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ALABAM A
wo women who sell sex toys and four
women who claim they need the devices in
order to have orgasms are challenging a new
state law, effective Julyl, that criminalizes distri­
bution of “any device designed or marketed as
useful primarily for the stimulation of human
genital organs.”
Most city businesses that might be subject to
the law, such as gyms, car rental companies and
insurance agencies, already comply. Still, super­
visors are determined for the city to set a stan­
dard for human rights.
T he U .S. House, meanwhile, recently voted
214-212 to block the city from receiving federal
housing money because of its year-old Equal
Benefits Ordinance, which requires businesses
with city contracts to extend health benefits to
their workers’ domestic partners.
The House measure, which still has to be
approved by the Senate, could cost San
Francisco up to $260 million.
“We should not force or coerce [businesses]
to adopt policies they find morally objection­
able,” says Rep. Frank Riggs, a Republican with
a mostly rural constituency in Northern
California.
According to The Associated Press, violators
face up to one year in jail and a maximum fine
of $10,000. Possession of sexual appliances,
however, remains legal.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which
is helping the women with their lawsuit, issued
a statement calling the law an invasion of priva­
cy and a misguided attempt to impose a moral
viewpoint on adults.
tate Senate President Pro Tern John Burton,
a San Francisco Democrat, issued a state­
ment July 30 announcing that his Senate Bill
844, which would create a red ribbon license
plate to help fund A ID S research, had passed
with a 22-4 vote and awaited the governor’s sig­
nature.
If Gov. Pete Wilson signs the bill, the
Department of Motor Vehicles will begin pro­
ducing the plate once it has received 5,000
applications.
Burton’s statement explains the fee for the
plate is expected to raise $500,000 annually.
T he money would fund A ID S research con­
ducted by University of California grant recipi­
ents.
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ALASKA
oters are preparing to decide in November
whether they want to ban same-sex mar­
riage. The Alaska Civil Liberties Union has
other plans, though, according to a July 31
report in the Anchorage Daily News.
The A CLU is basing its challenge to the pro­
posal, known as Measure 2, on the grounds that
it would change the state’s constitution— an act
allowed only through a state constitutional con­
vention, not the ballot box.
“Our constitution is based on the underlying
notion that all people are supposed to be treated
equally under the law,” says Measure 2 opponent
Jennifer Ruddinger. “Measure 2 so fundamental­
ly alters that philosophy of government that it
requires a revision of the constitution. That
can’t be done by voters.”
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ARKANSAS
he Child Welfare Agency Review Board
approved a proposal July 28 prohibiting pri­
vate agencies from allowing gay men, lesbians or
unmarried heterosexuals to serve as foster par­
ents, the Arkansas Democrat & G azette reported
July 29.
Exemptions might be made available to
cohabiting or single heterosexuals, but not to
gay men or lesbians.
The motion to add the restriction was made
by board member Robin Woodruff of Little
Rock. T he sole dissenter, pediatric medical con­
sultant Dr. Bob West of Little Rock, called the
measure impractical.
“1 think there are a lot of foster children out
there and not enough foster parents, and we
may run into trouble if we try to limit it to cou­
ples only,” West observed.
The new regulation must undergo a public
comment period before becoming effective.
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HAWAII
n a July 30 press release, the Human Rights
Campaign claims the Christian Coalition is
blatantly breaking Hawaii’s campaign spending
laws.
According to H RC , state law requires any
group raising more than $ 1,000 to support a bal­
lot question— in this case, the ballot measure
that would give legislators the power to bar
same-sex marriage— must register and file
reports with the Campaign Spending Commis­
sion.
W hile neither the Christian Coalition nor
the Hawaii Christian Coalition have registered,
they’ve embarked upon a massive fund-raising
effort to raise an anticipated $1.5 million,
including an electronic campaign ready to
accept credit card payments and a message in
boldface type on the H C C website that reads:
“Foreign checks also accepted.”
Protect Our Constitution and Protect Our
Constitution/Human Rights Campaign filed a
formal complaint with the Campaign Spending
Commission July 30.
I
ILLINOIS
wo boys at a suburban Chicago community
center shared a snorkel. Innocent enough,
until the mother of one boy, who is white,
returned to the center demanding to know the
identity of the other boy, who is African
American. She further demanded the African
American boy be tested for HIV and strepto-
T
CALIFORNIA
an Francisco politicians adopted an ordi­
nance Aug. 10 that strengthens the rights of
gay and lesbian couples despite a congressional
backlash that could cost the city millions of dol­
lars, The Associated Press reported Aug. 11.
The ordinance makes San Francisco the
nation’s only city that demands private busi­
nesses offer domestic partners the same cus­
tomer discounts they extend to married couples.
According to the AP, Mayor Willie Brown says
he will sign it.
S