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
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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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