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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2002)
rmmmnews he Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth will commemorate its 10- year anniversary with a Gay-Straight Youth Pride Celebration on May 18 in Boston. “No other event of this kind exists anywhere in the world,” coordinator Mark Taggart said. “It’s a jam-packed weekend of entertainment, education and celebration.” Among the guest speakers will he U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Anthony Rapp, star of the musical Rent and the film A Beautiful Mind; author Christopher Rice; and former televange list Tammy Faye Bakker. Other scheduled events include a discussion of queer youth issues conducted by a panel of gay cast members from M TV’s The Real World, the first-ever gay and les bian college fair with more than 44 schools rep resented, a film festival, a rally and a march. The commission’s mandate is to make schools safe and to eliminate harassment, vio lence and suicide. According to chairman Vin cent McCarthy, no other state comes close to matching the services provided for queer youth. “There are more than 300 high schools in the state of Massachusetts, and 181 of them now have gay-straight student alliances,” he said. “If you think about how much has changed in just a decade, you realize that this is an extraordinary accomplishment." • T may 17,2002 tive, spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying that contrary to what opponents claimed, this ordi nance would benefit businesses. According to HRC WorkNet, 2,142 employers have nondis crimination policies that include sexual orienta tion, including 294 Fortune 500 companies. N A T IO N A L arents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays announced May 8 the selection of David Tseng, former White House senior policy adviser and staff direc tor for the National Economic Council, as the organization’s new chief executive. David Tseng He succeeds Kir sten Kingdon, who retired May 15. During her four-year tenure, PFLAG grew from 416 to 486 affiliates nationwide. “Our advocacy for G LB T equality grows out of our strong family values," Kingdon said. “David’s commitment to these values coupled with his experience in politics and government will serve PFLAG well in our goal of changing hearts, minds and policies.” Tseng begins June 1. “I am honored and thrilled to have been chosen by PFLAG and hope to continue the historic, trailblazing civil rights leadership that PFLAG families and Kirsten Kingdon have provided,” he said. A nationally recognized pension and health P FL O R ID A lawsuit challenging a petition submitted by Take Back Miami-Dade will proceed in the wake of a decision May 2 in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court. The Sept. 10 referendum would overturn a human rights ordinance prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbiaas. Judge Norman S. Gerstein denied a motion to dismiss the suit, which charges that Take Back did not comply with requirements of Florida law and that the petition was certified improperly by the Miami- Dade County elections supervisor. In particular, attorneys assert the docu ments are riddled with irregularities and evidence of fraud. Save Dade has asked the court either to reject the petition in its entirety or to require a signature- by-signature review of only those pages that are in compliance with state and county law. Gerstein gave Take Back 10 days to answer the complaint. The legacy of Anita Bryant (right, eating humble pie in H ie ordinance was amended 1977) continues to vex Miami-Dade County in 1998 to prohibit discrimination care expert, Tseng also served as chief assistant based on sexual orientation in employment, treasurer for the city and county of San Fran housing, financing and public accommodations. cisco, a benefits policy adviser for the U.S. The action came two decades after Anita Bryant led a successful effort to repeal the coun Labor Department and a private practice attor ney in Los Angeles. He is the first gay man and ty’s first gay rights law. first person of color to serve as PFLAG execu tive director. TEX A S Tseng, 43, earned his undergraduate degree he Dallas City Council passed an ordi in English literature from Columbia University nance May 8 prohibiting discrimination and received his juris doctor degree from Uni based on sexual orientation in employment, versity of California at Los Angeles School of housing and public accommodations. Law. He and his partner of seven years, John The strong backing of Mayor Laura Miller, Bumim, make their home in Washington, D.C. who pledged her support during her campaign, helped in the 13-2 vote. The ordinance exempts C O N N E C T IC U T employers with fewer than 15 workers, and fines he Connecticut Legislature passed a bill of up to $500 will be given to violators. May 7 extending a variety of legal options “We are elated with this vote that ensures to same-sex couples. A compromise from earlier basic civil rights for people in Dallas,” said Steve civil union and same-sex marriage measures, it Atkinson, who has worked with the Dallas Gay was approved in both House and Senate cham and Lesbian Alliance, Human Rights Campaign bers with bipartisan support. and Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas to pass Although the bill does not specifically men the ordinance. “It is long overdue in Dallas and' tion same-sex couples, it allows a person to important for cities anxjnd the country to have name another person to make medical decisions these type of protections.” and choices on life termination, such as organ D ina Id J. Carty, an American Airlines execu- A T T 24 hours open When an ordinary R ealtor sim ply won’t do... TOYS NOVELTIES LOTIONS www.dimbatree.com EH 3 3144 SE Belmont Portland, OR 97214 office: 503-238-7617 HUGE SELECTION OF DVD'S AT •• PORTLAND 237 S.E. 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