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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2002)
Jflhruary 15.2DQ2 ? IJWJl. Will news Activist Rick Galena helped foil an anti-gay ballot ing insurance and other benefits. Secretary o f State Dan Gwadosky announced Jan. 29 that anti-gay groups failed to collect the 42,101 signatures needed to place a question on the ballot. The measure would have repealed a recently enacted law requiring all health insurers to sell policies with domestic partner benefits to any business that asks for them. It also contained a dangerous provision aimed at prohibiting the state from ever legally recognizing gay marriages or civil unions. “W e...firmly believe that this is a direct result of Maine voters seeing this issue for what it truly is,” said Rick G alena, Maine Les bian Gay Political Alliance executive direc tor. “It is not about ‘gay rights’ but about every person’s ability to have access to health insurance, regardless o f their marital status or sexual orientation.” in the mail that said, ‘Die dyke.’ " Grayson told a roomful of reporters and supporters Feb. 4 that she was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the uni versity, where she is a professor, because Neff needs to have health benefits in order to stay at home and care for their baby. “I’m doing this to protect my fami ly,” she said. Workers at the Montana University System’s seven campus es can get health insur ance, disability cover age and other benefits for their spouses. Even unmarried opposite-sex couples can provide their partners with ben efits by simply signing an affidavit of common law marriage. “This is a matter of basic fairness—of wheth er gay employees should be compensated less than straight employees for doing the same work,” said Scott Crich ton, ACLU of Montana executive director. Along with actual salary, he noted, health and measure effort in Maine other benefits make up a substantial portion of how employees are compensated. The lawsuit is based on protections in the state constitution that the A C LU said are in most other state constitutions, including funda mental rights to privacy and equal protection. Attorneys said the taxpayer-funded university system is violating these basic rights by denying lesbian and gay employees equal access to health insurance and other benefits. “We are working with local and university officials and law enforcement to ensure that this heinous crime is fully investigated and prosecut ed— and that the families involved in this law suit are not vulnerable to further attack,” Coles said. “The case is being handled as a triple attempted homicide, and federal officials have become involved in the investigation.” 24 hours open VIDEO MAGAZINES TOYS NOVELTIES LOTIONS HUGE S U N North Portland COLORADO MONTANA lesbian couple’s home in Missoula was gut ted by fire Feb. 8 because they are part of a lawsuit seeking health benefits for same-sex partners of University of Montana employees. Shortly after 3 a.m., Adri- anne Neff and Carla Grayson took their infant son and headed for the front door, only to find a wall of fire. Back in the bedroom, Neff passed the baby out the window to Grayson, then struggled to escape herself. The house was surrounded by fire, which offi cials said was almost certainly the result of arson. “Whoever set this fire did not intend to simply frighten or intimidate this family. They meant to kill them,” said Matt Coles, American Civil Liber ties Union Lesbian and Gay Rights Project director. “Two days after the case was filed, all of the plaintiffs received anonymous death threats A A state Senate committee voted 4-3 to pro hibit discrimination based on sexual orien tation and gender identity Jan. 23. The bill was headed to the full Senate. A similar measure passed the Senate last year but died in a House committee. It was at least the fifth time such a measure failed in the Colorado Legis lature, according to The Associated Fress. “It’s beyond me why sexual orientation would be any dif ferent from sex, religion, race and the other characteristics we already prevent discrimina tion on," bill sponsor Sen. Doug Linkhart, D-Denver, told the AP. The measure would exempt religious organi zations that do not receive taxpayer funding. JH Compiled by News Editor J im R adosta , who can be reached at jm @ justout .com. PORTLAND 237 S.E. MLK BLVD 503 239-1678 Veterinary Hospital - 2330 S.E. 82ND AVE 503 777-6033 - SALEM 3473 SILVERTON RD N.E. 503 370-7080 - We are committed to providing loving, compassionate medical care for your pet. Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat 8am -5pm ( 5 0 3 ) 285-0462 3000 N. Lombard 21
