Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2001)
kvillllh ------ [Z news posed to go into effect Oct. 1 but was delayed when an anti-gay group filed petitions to put the measure on the November 2002 ballot. Anne Arundel County Judge Eugene M. Lemer ruled Nov. 21 that "hike Back Maryland did not have enough valid signatures for a referendum under state law, which means the act now is forever safe from challenges. Had there been a referendum, discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orien tation could have continued legally until the issue was decided by voters “This is an enormous victory for Maryland gays and lesbians, who now can live free from prejudice,” said Dwight Sulli van, managing attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland’s Baltimore office. After the signatures were filed and certified by the Maryland State Board of Elections, lawyers examined the petitions and found mas sive irregularities. The A C LU filed suit, charg ing that the documents did not meet the state constitutional standards for taking a popularly passed law to referendum. The act was passed by the General Assembly this spring by about a 2-1 margin after 11 years of failed attempts. Gov. Parris Glendening signed the bill May 15. “Today, Maryland is a safer place for families to live and work,” said Erin Leveton, Free State Justice chairwoman. “We’re elated. It’s another thing to be thankful for.” With the settlement of the lawsuit, Maryland becomes the 12th state to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. The others are Cali fornia, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ver mont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. “The tide is turning against right-wing extrem ists who have been using the ballot box against us for too long,” said Lorri L. Jean, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director. “Fair-minded people are tired of their divi siveness and bigotry.” The state’s funding of Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children closely mirrors the kind of funding schemes Bush has proposed expanding nationally to funnel public money to religious groups for social services without requiring adequate safe guards against discrimination. The House passed most of the White House plan last summer, but it has not been scheduled for a Senate vote. “Just today, President Bush went to a soup kitchen to urge Congress to give final approval to his plans for government-funded religion before Christmas,” said Terri Schroeder, an A C L U legislative representative. “But we remain confident that the Senate will refuse to adopt the House-passed bill as long as it remains a faith-based prescription for discrimination.” W estover H eights C L I N I C Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care Serving the community for 17 yearo 2330 NW Flanders •Suite 207 002 SE 38th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 503.231.392i Wed - Sat P FIU L M IT C H E L L 503 - 226-6678 N A TIO N A L A fter coming under fire from national watch dog organizations, an anti gay Christian Reconstructionist has with drawn his name for consideration for appoint ment to the National Labor Relations Board. According to media sources, President Bush was ready to nom inate J. Robert Brame III to serve as a member of the panel despite his long-standing leadership of reli gious-political extremist groups on the far thest fringes o f the right wing. But he dropped out after the N ational Stonewall Democrats sent a letter of opposition to U .S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., chair man o f the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Com mittee. Brame has served as a top official of Amer ican Vision, an Atlanta-based organization seeking to replace U .S. secular democ racy with a “Christ ian” regime based on “biblical law,” in cluding enforcement of the harsh legal code of the Old Tes tament. He also has K EN TU CK Y served as an adviser n a closely watched to the Plymouth case highlighting Rock Foundation, a the dangers posed by Massachusetts group President Bush’s pro with similar views. posed faith-based ini Brame recently tiative, the American resigned from the Civil Liberties Union American Vision appealed part of a law board after its con suit filed on behalf of a troversial agenda be lesbian who was fired came public. A lt by Kentucky Baptist hough he served in Homes for Children, that capacity since at which receives most least 1994, he told of its funding from the the Wail Street Jour - state. Earlier this year, a This photograph of Alicia Pedreira, submitted m l he was unaware federal judge said the without her knowledge in a state fair art of the group’s ex agency’s funding re- competition, led to her termination from treme views. lationship with the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children American Vision calls democracy “the first step toward fascism,” state might be an unconstitutional intertwining argues women must be subordinate to men and of church and state but dismissed all of the insists the Bible requires the death penalty for claims related to Alicia Pedreira’s employment. gays. A national watchdog organization said The A C LU filed papers Nov. 20 with the U.S. Brame’s service with these groups, which are Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit appealing affiliated with the so-called “Christian Recon the constitutional employment claims before structionist” movement, should disqualify him the case is tried. from a post in government. “Alicia Pedreira was fired because this “ Brame and his allies seek to impose a agency thought that a lesbian can ’t cany out harsh Christian theocracy on the nation," said its religious mission,” attorney Ken Choe the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United for said. “When taxpayers are footing the bill, Separation of Church and State executive that’s unconstitutional.” Pedreira was a top-notch therapist but was director. “Someone with such radical political fired when Kentucky Baptist Homes for Chil views should automatically be disqualified from holding public office." JH dren found out she is a lesbian. On the same day she was terminated, the agency enacted a writ ten policy that homosexuality is "inconsistent” Compiled by News Editor JlM RADOSTA, who can be reached at jim@justout .com. with its religious values. M P O & Î Mention this ad and get a 10% discount. “SAM E DAY S E R V IC E O N M O S T R EP AIR S” _ Services Include: Repairs of All Makes & Models • Maintenance • D E Q • Tune-ups - Poor Engine Performance • Brakes • Clutch • All Electrical Problems • Carburetors & Fuel Injection • Pre Purchase Inspection • Alternators & Starters (Repaired, Rebuilt or Exchanged) Am erican • European • Im ports Cars • TVucks • RVs ! W e Fix It Right the First Tim e From Oil Changes to Overhaul, Fred’s Auto Works Does It All Close to Downtown • Free Local Rides All Makes & Models “Fred's Auto Works... Why Doesn't Yours?" T ie r 1 ] ©D Kg)® 926 SE Morrison, Portland • http://aandgautomotlve.uswestdex.com YOUR POWER TEAM T Celia Lyon Terri Popejoy 5 0 3 - 4 9 5 -5 7 7 4 5 0 3 - 4 9 5 -5 7 6 5 celialy (m@aol.com cpo[>ejoy@aol. com RE/M AX - EQ U ITY GROUP, INC. REALTORS 2 1 0 0 NE B ro a d w a y Portland, O R 9 7 2 3 2 Toll Free 8 8 8 9 3 4 -2 3 4 5 - K “‘B uilding Blocks fo r y ‘ 'our fu tu re ’’
