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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2002)
may 17, 2002 ummnnews donation and life support. The measure also allows for private visits in nursing homes and requires employers to allow emergency phone calls from a legally designated person. Additionally, the bill mandates that a com mittee in the Legislature further studies the mat ter and issues a report later this year. The mea sure now is in the hands of Gov. John G. Row land, who has indicated he will sign it. “This legislation represents an important first step in our effort to gain the freedom to marry here in Connecticut,” said Anne Stanback, pres ident of Love Makes a Family, a coalition work ing to expand the state’s marriage laws to include same-sex couples. “In the short term the bill addresses a handful of very real issues faced by same-sex couples, but it also requires that the general assembly continue to wrestle with the broader issues of mar riage and civil unions over the next year.” time for [sexual minority] communities through out the nation,” summit organizer Eric Rofes declared. “In Boulder, we intend to chart excit ing new directions for the movement, strategize about new ways to assist our communities as they navigate the complex and fragile health care systems of our nation and ignite new initia tives as we catapult our movement forward.” Cheryl Pearson-Fields of the Mautner Proj ect for Lesbians with Cancer in Washington, D.C., added: “We’ll be doing a lot of important, strategic work at Boulder, but we will also be modeling ways to get the job done while taking A/TAC4T S ig nature of rVf P r o p e r t ie s ! m SA CCI Ends May 31st excludes corsets One Year Anniversary Sale! VIRGINIA A n Arlington County Circuit Court judge wasted no time May 3 in reject ing an attempt by the Virginia attorney gen eral’s office to end a lawsuit filed by a lesbian mother who wants to adopt a foster child. Arlington resident Linda Kaufman is suing the state for refusing to allow her to adopt a District of Columbia foster child because she is a lesbian. Judge Joanne Alper rejected Virginia’s argument that the case should he dismissed because she has not formally submitted an application to adopt a child. Kaufman was prevented from submitting Linda Kaufman, an ordained Episcopal priest and a an application when a Washington, D.C., dedicated social services professional, can’t adopt a child welfare agency said it could not initi- D .C . foster child because she is a lesbian ate a child placement because the Virginia Social Services Department already had stated it care of ourselves. The program includes impor would deny her application. Alper called the sit tant meetings on issues ranging from cancer and domestic violence to HIV/AIDS and mental uation created by Virginia a “Catch-22" and ruled health. But we also have almost two dozen that the case can move forward. workshops on holistic and alternative health, “Today is a great day for justice, because the court saw right through the smoke screen Vir self-care and complementary therapies. This ginia sent up to hide its anti-gay discrimina isn’t your ordinary conference— it’s going to be a time of re-energizing ourselves, as individuals, tion,” said Lambda Legal staff attorney Greg communities and movements.” Nevins, who argued the case. “Everybody knows that Linda Kaufman is a great mother and a SOUTH DAKOTA wonderful adoptive parent, hut no child can be s a SiTanka Huron University student faces placed with her for adoption until Virginia several counts of having sex without dis agrees that it will consider the adoption based closing he has HIV— and with an Aberdeen man on what’s in the best interest of the child rather appearing in court May 3 facing similar charges— than outdated stereotypes." Kaufman stated: “I am thrilled with the judge’s the American Civil Liberties Union said state officials and the public should proceed with con decision that my case will move forward. 1 can cern, calm and caution. only bring a child into my home if there is a real “Intentionally spread possibility Virginia will approve the adoption, and ing HIV by having unpro today we’re a step closer to that happening.” tected sex without disclos Kaufman is an ordained Episcopal priest and a dedicated social services professional in Wash ing HIV status is reprehen sible,” said Jennifer Ring, ington, D.C. In 1992, she adopted her son from A C LU of the Dakotas the D.C. foster care system, and he has thrived under her care. Since 1999, she has been trying executive director, and to adopt one or more foster children from Wash Matt Coles, ACLU AIDS Project director, in a joint Briteramos ington, D.C. statement. “But...the way to fight the spread of AIDS is not to throw out COLORADO the Constitution and start a witch hunt." eaders in the field of sexual minority health The case is the first use of a law passed in are making plans to converge on Boulder 2000 to make a crime of knowingly spreading from Aug. 21 to 25 for what is expected to he the virus, the Argus Leader reported. Nikko Brit their largest summit and strategy session in more eramos, 18, faces three counts, each carrying a than a decade. Activists, medical professionals, maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a HIV prevention leaders and service providers will convene in response to a range of nation $15,000 fine. “Public officials should encourage people wide challenges: a dramatic falloff of funding for who have any cause for concern to get tested nonprofits and queer health clinics in the after- math of Sept. 11, escalating controversies sur and assure them that their right to privacy will be respected,” Ring and Coles said. “No crimi rounding appropriate responses to trans and nal prosecution, no matter how vigorous, will intersex health concerns, and public health authorities’ accusations of community irrespon reverse an HIV infection.’ • j n sibility in the face of rising gay male rates of sex Compiled by News Editor JlM RADOSTA, who can ually transmitted infections. be reached at jim@justout.com. 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