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.
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