21
news
N A TIO N A L
nent, state Sen. Stephen Lynch, won with 40
percent of the vote.
ditors at several newspapers requested alter
nate versions of the Sept. 6-8 installments
CALIFORNIA
of the nationally syndicated comic strip “For
j
I
Better or for Worse,” which reintroduced a gay
he California Senate endorsed a bill
character who first appeared in 1993.
Sept. 10 to expand domestic partnership
In the current story, a groom asks Law law. Assembly Bill 25 would extend to registered
rence— his childhtxxl best friend— to he the domestic partners basic legal protections that
only married opposite-sex couples have under
best man at his wedding. The mother of the
bride objects to his presence and says to her state law.
“The Senate’s approval of this comprehen
daughter, “But Deanna, this is a church!!”
The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported
sive measure is a real victory for couples and
families throughout the state,” said Jean Har-
Sept. 4 that as of Aug. 29, editors at two dozen
papers had re
*\
WEI -T O B E 6 W WITH
quested alternate ( ' WELL
BUT IF l DID, TRUST
D ID MOT K N O W t/OO
strips from syndi
M E - I WOULD
W
B
R
B
,
U
M
..
cator United Me
do MOTH IM S -
CXKyTV
dia. These versions
WELL,
DONT
1Ò O U TS H IN E
do not allude to
WORRU f
THE BRIDE T/
Lawrence’s sexual
NEVER
orientation.
D R E S S IN
Amy Lago of
DRA 6 1
United Media said
i(C \
that such requests
don’t necessarily
mean that the pa
pers will run the
alternate strips hut
that they are con
sidering it. She
would not disclose
which
publica
ris, California Alliance for Pride and Equality
tions had asked for the revisions.
executive director and former Basic Rights
“A t a time when gay and lesbian issues and
lives are part o f the national dialogue, it Oregon executive director. “A B 25 is a mea
defies reason that a newspaper would consid sure that endeavors to consider loving and
er censoring a comic strip simply because it committed relationships regardless of sex or
age. They are as valuable and worth protect
contains an openly gay character,” the Gay
ing equally under the law. This is a positive
and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
step in the right direction that truly strength
said in' a statement. “Editors who want to
close their eyes and pretend that gays and les ens our state and provides vision for the rest of
the country.”
bians don’t exist do a tremendous disservice
The hill now g(x:s hack to the state Assembly
both to their readership and to the integrity
for its concurrence to the Senate amendments,
of their newspapers. Newspaper readers of all
then to Gov. Gray Davis, who has acknowl
ages should he able to enjoy characters that
edged
he supports AB 25. He has until Oct. 14
reflect the diversity of their community.”
to sign the bill into law.
3
IDS Action announced Sept. 17 that Har
riet C. Babbitt is taking the helm as the
advocacy organization’s next executive director,
effective immediately.
Until recently, she served for three years as
deputy administrator for the U.S. Agency for
International Development, which has a multi-
billion-dollar annual budget. Prior to that, she
served four years as U.S. ambassador to the
Organization of American States.
“The face of HIV/AIDS in America has
changed over its 20-year history," Babbitt said.
“Youth and communities of color have become
the most at-risk groups, showing increased num
bers of new HIV infections.”
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., com
mented cm Babbitt’s appointment: "The domes
tic and global battle against AIDS is far from
over. Hattie’s experience, ability and commit
ment will be invaluable for A ID S Action in its
ongoing leadership in this
vitally important cause.”
M A SSA CH U SETTS
penly gay state Sen.
Cheryl Jacques lost
her bid to represent Mas
sachusetts in the U .S.
Congress, coming in a
strong second in the spe
cial Democratic primary
election Sept. 11 to fill
the seat of the late Rep.
Joe Moakley for the
state’s 9th Congressional
District. Her main ftppo-
Cheryl Jacques
A R IZO N A
O
penly gay Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano
handily defeated his recall opponent
with 68 percent of the vote in a record
turnout of 31.5 percent for a special election
Sept. 11.
“I’m glad that it’s over,” he said. “The recall
was very wrong. Obviously, that’s what the vot
ers thought, t(X).’’
The recall began when the City Council
and mayor’s office tried to bar city employees
from designating United Way contributions to
the Boy Scouts of America, which bans gay
men as leaders. Giuliano repeatedly said hate
and bigotry fueled the effort.
“At its core, this drive to recall an excellent
mayor was about prejudice, not principle,” said
Brian K. Bond, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
executive director. “ It was a not-so-thinly
veiled attempt to remove an outstanding pub
lic servant from office
because he is openly gay.
I’m glad the voters of
Tempe stood up to dis
crimination and retained
this extremely competent
mayor who is serving
their city with distinc
tion. This sends a strong
message to all mayors
that you can do the right
thing and win.” JH
Compiled by News Editor
JlM R adosta , who can be
reached at jtm@jusunit.com.
Will You Be Shut Out
When Your Partner
NeedsYou?
Richard B. Schneider
A ttorney A t L aw
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