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When an ordinary
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NATIONAL
tlanta has become the first city in
Georgia to enact a comprehen­
sive nondiscrimination law that in­
cludes sexual orientation and gender
identity.
C ity C ouncilor C athy Woolard
authored the bill and spearheaded its
passage Dec. 4 by an overwhelming
vote of 14 to 1. Mayor Bill Campbell
signed the measure Dec. 12.
Woolard became Georgia’s first
openly gay or lesbian elected official in
1997 and is the only openly gay or les­
bian member of the council. She is also
a leading candidate for president of the
City Council in 2001.
“All of A tlanta’s citizens deserve
equal protection from unfair discrimination in
all of its forms, and that is what this inclusive
law is about,” Woolard said. “Those who sup­
ported this common-sense measure can be
proud of this triumph for all of Atlanta. This leg­
islation, which brings our nondiscrimination
ordinances in line with other major cities across
the country, is a tribute to our city’s core values
of fairness and equality.”
Prior to the new law’s enactment, citizens
were covered by a patchwork of protections that
had large gaps, especially in the areas of sexual
orientation and gender identity— and no one
had the right to pursue legal action against per­
petrators of discrimination. The legislation,
which covers private employment, housing and
public accommodations, expressly includes a
private right of action.
“T he enactm ent of this new nondiscrimi­
nation law is a victory for all of A tlan ta’s fam­
ilies and a testam ent to the progress we can
m ake for equal
rights when gay
and straight pub­
lic servants work
openly and hon­
estly together,”
said Brian K.
Bond, Gay and
Lesbian Victory
Fund executive
he Gay, /, Lesbian and Straight Edu­
director. “Also,
J cation Network announced
the inclusivcness
Dec. 4 the opening of its Office for
of the legislation
Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
advances
the
The office will identify federal, state
growing public
and local public policy strategies and
understanding
expand the organization’s work with
th a t faith and
the Education Department and main­
fairness go to-
stream education organizations.
Cathy Woolard
gether — that
“Over the past few years education­
religious liberty
al policy leaders and elected officials have begun
and freedom from all forms of discrimination
to wake up to the reality that LGBT students are complimentary values.”
and staff exist and need support," said public
policy director Mary Kate (MK) Cullen, who
joined GLSEN’s staff last March. “In opening an
he American Dental Association and the
office in the nation’s capital, we’re better posi­
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
tioned than ever to huild coalitions, influence Commission are among the organizations chal­
the federal government and stakeholder organi­ lenging the firing of a hygienist with HIV. They
zations and articulate a clear strategy for nation­ argue an Atlanta-area office had no valid med­
al change.”
ical or legal reason to terminate Spencer Wad­
The office will provide leadership in map­ dell, whose skills, training and use of standard
ping out the states and communities in which
precautions ensure the safety of his clinical prac­
GLSEN will leverage resources to pass safe tice.
schixds legislation, expand nondiscrimination
“W hat happened to Spencer Waddell was
policies or fight anti-gay initiatives. It also will
based on fear, not facts, about HIV and AIDS,”
bring together academics and activists to identi­ said Ruth E. Harlow, Lambda Legal l\*fcnse and
fy research gap areas and strategies to fill them.
Education Fund legal director. “The experts
“As GLSEN’s reputation within educational
speaking out for Spencer have an important
communities has grown, so has the need for...a
education message fin the court and the public
strong and steady presence in Washington,"
that people with HIV can and do safely work in
executive director Kevin Jennings said. Cullen’s health care. Hysteria and ignorance should not
“grassroots experience and commitment to pro­ take away a qualified professional’s job."
gressive social justice organizing will help to
Waddell, 37, was fired in 1997 after his HIV
bring about a safer school day for LGBT youth status was revealed to his employer. Lambda
around the country.”
sued Valley Forge Dental Associates for violat-
olling Stone
did a pretty
dumbass thing in
its current issue.
The magazine
printed an article
in which Presi­
dent Clinton re­
fers to the gays in
the military poli­
cy as “dumbass.”
It later attributed
the vulgarity to
a transcription
error.
“The words
President Clinton
‘don’t ask’ were
printed as ‘dumbass’ in our interview,” managing
editor Robert Love said in a statement. Regard­
less, Clinton was strongly critical of the policy.
“We couldn’t agree more,” said C. Dixon
Osbum, co-executive director of Servicemem-
bers Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit group
founded shortly after implementation of the pol­
icy in 1993. “President Clinton clearly sees what
so many other leaders and, more importantly,
American citizens, already know: ‘Don’t ask,
don’t tell’ simply does not work.”
In the interview by Rolling Stone editor Jann
S. Wenner, Clinton admits the policy resulted
in “several years of problems where it was not
implemented in any way consistent with the
speech I gave" announcing its adoption. He goes
on to say “don’t ask, don’t tell" was “a brilliant
political move” by Republicans who “didn’t
want me to have a honeymoon" during the early
days of his administration. He notes that Gen.
Colin Powell agreed with his original remarks
on how the policy would work but
makes clear in the interview that those
intentions were not earned out.
“The president is correct that the
policy has not been and currently is
not being properly implemented,”
Osbum said. “Commanders continue
to ask, pursue and harass.”
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