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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2001)
Al i l i aprii 2 0 .2 0 0 1 » j u s t o u t ^ news R a ize d P rin tin g ning discrimination against people for jobs, hous ing, public accommodations or credit. It now beads to the more conservative Senate. But sup porters of the bill got a boost when Senate Presi dent Jam es “ Pate” Philip said he plaas to give the issue a committee hearing instead of delaying it. “ I want to express my gratitude to my col leagues in the House for their support,” said the states only openly gay representative, Democrat Larry M cKeon, who sponsored the bill. “ I strong ly encourage the Senate leadership to allow the bill to be moved to th e ...flexor for a vote.” T h e Delaware H ouse passed legislation March 27 to ban discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation in employment, housing, public works contracting, public accom- modations and insurance. It now heads to the Senate, and Gov. Ruth A nn Minner has pledged she will sign the bill if she gets the opportunity. “ Hopefully today brings us closer to a time when our differences are not seen as reasons for division and strife but as opportunities for edu cation and celebration,” said Peter Medwick o f the Delaware Am erican Civil Liberties U nion Lesbian and G ay Civil Rights Project. ARIZONA t. Steve May, an openly gay Republican state representative, has completed his term quency of anti-gay vio lence in schools April 9. O ne of the kids, Chris Vasquez, was left in tears. “He is one of the peo ple we’re supposed to look up to for moral guid ance and support,” the 17-year-old said. “H e’s Allen Trovillion spouting... ideas that only make the world more dangerous for gay youth.” Thom as G entile, a 19-year-old from Bcx:a Raton, told Trovillion that classmates targeted him because of his sexual orientation. Adm inis trators suspended the attackers for only one day, then humiliated him by suggesting he provoked the violence by being “too openly gay.” Despite a nationwide call for additional secu rity and safety on school campuses, Trovillion told G entile: “You have to suffer the conse quences o f your ac tio n s.... G od destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and he is going to destroy you and a lot o f others.” Trovillion questioned: “ I don’t understand why the gay population is becoming so vocal. You are going to cause the downfall of this coun try, which was built on Christian principals.” Statew ide hum an rights leaders expressed outrage upon hearing o f Trovillion’s remarks. Equ ality Florida e xecu tiv e director N ad in e Sm ith urged politicians to take action. “Rep. Trovillion has disgraced and em barrassed the Florida Legislature by callously dism issing the painful experi ences o f these students,” she said. “We call on the governor, Trovillion’s co l leagues in the Legislature and all fair- m inded Floridians to stand with stu dents who are striving to make our schools safe.” T he Florida Suprem e C ourt has put an end to right-w ing efforts to block d om estic partn er benefits for unmarried public em ployees in Broward County. “W ith this order, the court has improved security and peace o f mind for many lesbian and gay families, and it has allowed Broward to be a better em ploy Larry M cKeon is grateful for the support of his er,” said attorney Stephen R. Scarbor colleagues in the Illinois H ouse ough o f Lam bda Legal Defense and Edu o f service in the U .S. Army Reserve. cation Fund, which assisted in the case. He faced discharge under “don’t ask, don’t Broward adopted the Domestic Partner A ct tell” for revealing his sexual orientation during a in April 1999, creating a registry and providing health and other benefits and protections for debate on the floor o f the Arizona Legislature in employees’ partners and their children. The response to an anti-gay bill. T h e Army dropped conservative Northstar Legal Center, on behalf the discharge action in January to allow him to o f a resident named Lawrence Lowe, claimed com plete his service. that the ordinance conflicted with state law by Prior to his Reserve service, May served in the creating a “marriagelike” relationship and that First Infantry Division from 1993 to 1995 as a the county exceeded its authority by enacting it. nuclear, biological and chemical defense officer. Before leaving active duty as a first lieutenant, he After all of his claims were rejected, the case served as an assistant battalion operations officer, went to the Florida Quirt of Appeals for the Fourth platcxm leader and company executive officer. He District, which unanimously upheld the ruling last is one o f very few qualified as a nuclear submariner year. Lowe appealed to the Florida Supreme Guirt, (Silver Dolphins) and paratrooper (Airborne). which rejected his petition for review April 4- Although scores o f states and cities now offer “ M ay’s service directly undercuts the ration dom estic partner benefits to their workers, ale that gays hurr military readiness,” said C . Dixon O sbum , Servicemembers Legal Defense Broward, which includes Fort Lauderdale, is among the first public employers in the country Network executive director. “ May is exactly the also to encourage its contractors, through a bid sort o f soldier the Army should fight to retain. ding preference, to offer family benefits to Congress needs to wake up and recognize the unmarried as well as married employees. “All of cost o f the gay ban to our country.” Broward wins with this workers’ benefits pro May, who left officially April 14, told the gram— the county gains by being able to better Arizona Republic: “ It was tough. I’m never going attract employees, and the community overall to wear this uniform again. I’m not going to see has the advantage o f improved security and my soldiers again.” health coverage available to more of its fami lies,” Scarborough noted. J H FLORIDA i tate Rep. 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