January 1 fl. 2002 J— y t [ 17
©ring me your sorrow»,
ajjlictions, troubles, @ fears
MASSACHUSETTS
epublican Gov. Jane Swift made history
Jan. 3 by selecting an openly gay activist
and senior aide to run on her ticket as lieutenant
governor in the 2002 election— a first for a sit
ting governor. Patrick C.
Guerriero, a former state
representative and the
former mayor of Melrose,
will resign as deputy chief
of staff to campaign full
time.
“This is a historic step
for e i ther party... and
we’re proud it was made
by a Republican,” said
Rich Tafel, Log Cahin
Republicans
executive
director. “The Massachu
setts Republicans have always been on the cut
ting edge of the future of the GOP, starting with
the anti-slavery and womens suffrage move
ments, to Gov. William Weld’s first-ever gay
youth commission in 1991, to this moment in
history with Gov. Swift.”
Chris Ferguson, Log Cabin Republicans of
Massachusetts president, added: “Gov. Swift has
made history by breaking a major barrier in
Massachusetts for gays and lesbians, and we
strongly applaud her leadership. Pat Guerriero
brings strength to the Republican ticket, not
only with his record of winning elections and
bringing people together but also for his tireless
advocacy for citizens from all walks of life in
Massachusetts.”
Guerriero served three terms in the state
Legislature before a successful two terms as
mayor of Melrose, where he campaigned on a
“return to civility” and an end to divisive pol
itics in the town. As mayor, he also was an
outspoken advocate of the sexual minorities
community.
Turning away critics, Guerriero strongly
supported
a
gay-
straight alliance pro
gram at Melrose High
School. He also was
awarded the presti
gious Fenn Award for
Political Leadership
by the John F. Ken
nedy Library in 1998.
R
mother, refused to allow T.B. visits with their
daughter despite T .B .’s daily parental role in
her life.
“This child had a loving parent ripped from
her life for no good reason,” said Patricia M.
Logue, Lambda Legal Defense and
Education Fund senior counsel,
wbo represented T.B. and argued
the case. “We are pleased that the
court ruled in the best interests of
the child and that this mother has
the chance to reunite with her
daughter.”
In 2000, the Superior Court
unanimously held that L.R.M. can
not claim her biological ties to their
daughter give her absolute rights to
the child. In 1997, the Court of
Common Pleas had determined
T.B. had parental status and ordered visitation.
The latest decision does not automatically
grant visitation but gives T.B. the chance to see
her child again.
“This mother helped raise and care for her
child for years,” said Kevin M. Cathcart, Lamb
da executive director. “Her love and commit
ment to her child transcends biology, and the
court recognized what truly makes a family.”
NEW YORK
ov. George E. Pataki called upon legislators
Jan. 9 to pass the Sexual Orientation Non
discrimination Act during the 2002 session.
T h e statement received an immediate
standing ovation— one of only four during his
State of the State address to the Assembly and
Senate. The entire podium and most of those
in attendance— including Lt. Gov. Mary O.
Donohue, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno—
took to their feet.
“There is no place in our society for bigotry,
intolerance or hatred,” Pataki said. “Let’s extend
the hate crimes
law by passing the
Sexual O rienta
tion Nondiscrimi
nation Act.”
Joe Graharz,
Empire State Pride
Agenda executive
director, said the
speech sends a
clear message that
PENNSYLVANIA
the time has come
he
state
Su
for New York to
preme Court has
grant equal pro
affirmed that a les
tections to gay
bian m other who
men and lesbians
raised a child with
in employment,
her former partner
housing and pub
may seek visitation
lic accommoda
despite the biological
tion. This legisla
mother’s objection.
tive session prom
The 5-2 mling rec
ises to be the most
ognized the lesbian
challenging one
mother’s legal stand
ever because of
ing as a parent in fact,
the Sept. 11 ter
applying the same
rorist
atacks, he
rules it has applied to
added.
other families. T he
“These
re
court said lesbian or
marks...and the
gay parents may seek
impressive show
visitation or custody
of bipartisan sup
of a child, even if
New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno
port for them are
there is no biological
responds to the State of the State address Jan. 9
historic,” Graharz
or legal tie, if they
said. "W e now need a commitment from both
assumed a parental status and performed
chambers to schedule a vote as soon as possible.
parental duties over time with the consent of
We believed we had such a commitment last
the legal parent.
year—
a year in which the session never really
T he parents in this case, identified by
ended and much business was left unfinished.”
their initials to protect the child’s privacy,
T he Democrat-controlled Assembly has
were in a long-term relationship and raised
her together for three years. After their
Continued on Page 17
breakup in 1996, L .R .M ., the biological
T
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