, r t was a good political year for gay and lesbian
Americans. Perhaps with time 2001 even
will come to be seen as a pivotal milestone in
the struggle for full equality.
-.
January found many apprehensive about
the pending inauguration of President Bush;
some feared a rollback of gains achieved during
the Clinton administration. His symbolic ges
tures provided a balm to soothe the often more
limited accomplishments.
Many gay organizations joined with liber
al allies in vigorous opposition o f John A sh
croft’s nomination as U .S. attorney general.
Although most Democrats in the Senate
voted against him, they were not willing to
mount a filibuster.
The Log Cabin Republicans, who saw the
controversy as an opportunity to open a dia
logue with Ashcroft, became the first group to
meet with him officially after he was sworn into
office. That was seen as a sign of inclusiveness by
the White House.
Michael E. G uest (right, with Romanian
President Ion Uiescu) was sworn in as U .S .
am bassador to Rom ania in September
Much of the fear of the Bush administra
tion largely dissipated during the ensuing
months. Although the photo opportunities
have disappeared, the door has remained open
on issues of substance, albeit often at a lower
level.
Perhaps the most visible acknowledgment
o f the com m unity cam e with the April
appointment o f Scott Evertz to head the
Office of N ational A ID S Policy, the first time
MAI une
House Majority
Leader Dick Armey
announced
his retirement
in December
bill contained a provision ex
empting religious organizations
from complying with state and
local civil rights laws when they
hire staff under contracts to pro
vide social services.
A revolt of G O P moderates was headed off
only when conservative U .S. Rep. J.C . Watts,
R-O kla., the legislation ’s lead sponsor,
promised to “more clearly address this matter
[of a religious exemption] in conference” with
the Senate. He indi
cated that the Sen
ate version of the bill
likely will not in
clude this language
an openly gay man has led that agency.
his remarks. T h e 43-
and that the House
(Other gay and lesbian appointees have cho year-old career diplomat
will accept that.
sen not to make public statements of their
is only the second open
The
religious
orientation.) Vice President Dick Cheney’s ly gay person to serve as
right wing was able
lesbian daughter, Mary, was highly visible at
a U .S. ambassador.
to get some of its pet
the inauguration but since has disappeared
The Senate changed
anti-gay provisions
from public view.
hands in June when Jim
adopted by C o n
In September, Michael E. Guest was sworn Jeffords, R-Vt., became
gress, such as an
in as U .S. ambassador to Romania in a cere an Independent and
affirm ation o f the
mony conducted by Secretary of.State Colin
voted with the Democ
Boy Scouts o f Am er
Powell. At his side was teacher Alex Nevarez,
rats to organize that
ica. But its successes
who has accompanied his partner of six years
body. It was the first
were largely symbol
overseas.
time in history that such
ic, with few real
Powell acknowledged their relationship in a switch occurred dur
teeth. A nd it lost a
ing a legisla
big one in Septem
ber as its nine-year
tive year.
Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords broke the G O P
effort to block im
firestorm e'mpt- s,ro" Bhold in D C ' when he switched
plem entation of do
i i i
I
ties last summer
ed in July when
mestic partner legis
the Washington Post reported that the
lation in W ashington, D .C., crumpled in a
White House had made a "firm com House vote of 226-194-
mitment” to revise regulations allow
In the wake o f Sept. 11, N ew York Gov.
ing the Salvation Army and other
George Pataki issued an executive order
religious groups to practice hiring
including gay and lesbian partners as qualify
discrimination against gays when
ing for survivor benefits and other govern
using federal funds. The adm in m ent program s. K enn eth R. Feinberg,
istration denied the report, and the
appointed as special master to distribute $11
organization later said it must have
billion in federal funds, issued regulations
misunderstood.
Dec. 20 indicating same-sex partners will be
It all was tied in with Bush’s eligible claimants.
“faith-based initiative,” rammed
Three archnemeses decided to take a
through the House later that month
First lesbian Mary Cheney has disappeared from public
Continued on Page 28
view— along with her father
by the Republican leadership. The
for ray equality
just Out compiles
the year's most
memorable quotes
ky Hex Wockner
"You faggots can vanish to
volcanic ash and reappear in
hell with a can of gas and a
match.”
— Lyrics from rapper
Eminem’s The Marshall
Mathers LP.
"If a person writes a novel
and there’s a homophobic
scene in it, you don’t say that
the novelist is homopho
bic.... I don’t think he’s
hateful.”
— Elton John on Eminem,
his duet partner during the
Grammy Awards, to V H 1,
Oct. 11.
“1 think Elton John would
sing with a toilet-roll holder
if he thought it would get
him more publicity.”
— Boy George, to
“What is the big deal
about Eminem? Since
when is offensive lan
guage a reason for
being unpopular? I
find the language of
George W. much
more offensive.”
— Madonna to the
Los Angeles Times,
Feb. 18.
“I believe that some
one’s sexual orienta
tion is their private
business. I mean, I
view someone’s pri
vate lifestyle as ex
actly that, private. So
I don’t— 1 try to
Eminem (right, embracing Elton John):
judge a person based
brilliant, bigot or both!
upon their heart and
soul and conscience and talent, when it comes
PeopleNews.com,
June 28.
Continued on Page 28