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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2002)
rrrrrm i news july 5, 2002 “T he application’s questions regarding sexual orientation are a blatant violation of federal law,” said Sharra E. Greer, SLDN legal director. “Apparently, Air Force Reserve officials are either unaware of, or simply do not care about, the ‘don’t ask’ provision of the current policy. Either way, the questions should be removed immediately.” U .S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced June 27 a resolution to prohibit employ ment discrimination based on sex ual orientation in Senate offices. It has 41 co-sponsors— 36 Democ rats, one Independent and four Republicans— including Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith. The measure, if passed, would _ ,. . , add sexual orientation to race, colot, New York Gov:. Geot&, E f atakl “ exf i ted T ° S,gn a religion, sex, national origin, age or measure w" r,kers comP dcath beneflts « ° same' state of physical handicap to the sex Parm ers of SeP'' 11 v,ctuns anti-discrimination section of the Senate’s Stand- I er, that our elected representatives could have ing Rules in Employment Practices. The amend- shown even greater leadership and made this ment would allow employees who believe they permanent for all domestic partners.” were discriminated against based on their sexual The amount of payment from workers’ com orientation to seek recourse with the Senate pensation depends on the victim’s salary. In Ethics Committee, which then could investigate New York the payment can be as high as a claim and recommend discipline for any Senate $20,800 a year to the surviving partner of the member, officer or employer found in violation. victim and is provided in perpetuity. A total .of 13 Cabinet-level agencies, the Last month the Legislature passed bills mak General Accounting Office, the Office of Person ing victims’ domestic partners and children eli nel Management and the White House have gible for the state’s World Trade Center memor issued policy statements forbidding discrimina ial scholarship program. Pataki also is expected tion based on sexual orientation. In addition, 68 to sign this measure. senators— 44 Democrats, 23 Republicans and one Independent— have written policies for their F L O R ID A congressional offices indicating sexual orienta ‘he National Center for Lesbian Rights tion is not a factor in their employment decisions. filed suit June 19 on behalf of a Tampa student against the Hillsborough resident Bush signed June 24 the Mychal Judge Act, providing a federal payment to County School District the beneficiaries of public safety officers killed in for enforcing an illegal policy that prevented her the line of duty, including those killed in the senior portrait from Sept. 11 terrorist attacks without a surviving appearing in the year legally recognized spouse, son, daughter or parent. book alongside those of David Fyfe Under current law, only spouses, children or her, classmates. Attorneys parents of public safety officers who die in the allege violations of state and federal sex discrimi line of duty are entitled to receive $250,000 in nation laws as well as constitutional rights to free death benefits. Beneficiaries named by fallen expression and equal protection. public safety officers— including siblings and Robinson High still clings to a decades-old same- or opposite-sex domestic partners— will rule requiring all girls to wear a scoop neck drape be eligible to collect federal money. for their senior portraits while letting boys wear a The act was named after the New York fire- fighter chaplain who was gay. It was sponsored white shirt and tie of their choosing. The school by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Donald refused to create an exception for Nikki Young- blood, who voiced her objection to being forced Manzullo, R-I1L, and Sens. Patrick Leahy, to wear frilly, stereotypically “feminine” attire. D-Vt., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Ben “I don’t understand why this is such a big Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., Hillary Clin deal to them,” she said. “This is how I dressed in ton, D-N.Y., and Joseph Biden, D-Del. school every day. I even wore a tuxedo to a school dance. This is 2002, not 1802.” M EW Y O R K Youngblood hasn’t worn a skirt or dress since ‘ he state Legislature granted June 25 domes- tic partners of Sept. 11 victims, including elementary school and dresses in what typically would be considered unisex or male clothing. same-sex partners, the same death benefits that are provided to spouses under the state workers’ Still, Robinson vice principal David Fyfe informed her mother that her only other option compensation law. Gov. George E. Pataki is was to buy an advertisement and pay for her expected to sign the measure This step taken in the closing days of the own sitting, then her picture could appear— not 2002 legislative session represents a continuation with the other graduating seniors but in the of New York’s efforts to provide equitable treat- back of the yearbook. ment. It also should provide an additional basis As a result of the school’s discriminatory pol- in state law for Special Master Kenneth Feinberg icy, the space that Youngblood’s portrait would to rule favorably on applications from gay and have occupied was blank. To add insult to injury, lesbian survivors for federal fund compensation. her name was not even listed in the index “We are glad the Legislature took this action among the graduating seniors. JH on behalf of Sept. 11 domestic partner sur vivors,” said Ross Levi, Empire State Pride Compiled by News Editor JlM R ado ^TA, who can Agenda legislative counsel. “We do feel, howev- be reached at jim@justout .com. Mutual Funds Investing IRAs and Roth IRAs Investments for Retirement Income Retirement Planning IRA Rollovers Tax Advantaged Investments Estate Planning W orking with the Gay and Lesbian Community for over Ten Years Savings Plans for College Investing. With a plan. waddell.com P Downtown Portland Portland Airport 503.284.9929 901 SW Yamhill 503.223.9510 www.thtrtalmothtrgoos9.com Washington Square 503.620.2243
