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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2002)
July 19, 2QÛ2 nTÎTÏÏîTTTTI news active in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communi- cations. When asked whether same-sex couples should have the rights and benefits that are provided to legally married couples, the respondents expressed strong support: • 71 percent approve of hospital visitation rights. • 66 percent approve of emergency health care authority. • 60 percent approve of joint property rights. Attorney Susan Sonuner (second from left) congratulates • 59 percent approve of Arkansas Sodomites (from left) Bryan Manire, Vernon Stokay, estate inheritance laws. Charlotte Downey and Elena Picado • 48 percent approve of 5ocial Security survivor benefits. missed. Judge David B. Bogard of the Pulaski When asked specifically about the distribu County Circuit Court overturned the law in tion of $2.3 billion raised for families directly March 2001, ruling it violated the right to pri affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a plu vacy and equal protection under the Arkansas rality of respondents (48 percent) supported giv Constitution. ing the same compensation to queer couples as His decision marked the first time an to married couples. Just less than a third (31 per Arkansas court recognized that there is a right to cent) indicated they were opposed, and one in privacy under the state constitution. The Office five (21 percent) said they neither supported of the Attorney General of Arkansas appealed nor opposed equal benefits. Bogard’s ruling. “The term ‘same-sex marriage’ perhaps “The General Assembly cannot act, under remains politicized and controversial,” said Bob the cloak of police power or public morality, Witeck, Witeck-Combs Communications arbitrarily to invade personal liberties of the CEO. “However, when basic rights of marriage individual citizen,” the court wrote. The sodomy and civil unions are spelled out, it’s not so sur law “does invade such liberties, arbitrarily con prising that the American people increasingly demning conduct between same-sex actors favor fairness and equity for all couples, includ while permitting the exact same conduct among ing same-sex unions.” opposite-sex actors. [The state] has failed to demonstrate how such a distinction serves a -c- legitimate public interest.” T&T Corp. shareholders rejected once In a related story, Lambda asked the U.S. again the removal of the nations oldest Supreme Court to review the Texas “Homosex sexual orientation nondiscrimination workplace ual Conduct” Law and declare it unconstitu policy during the company’s 118th annual meet tional July 16. The statute bans intimate rela ing July 10 in Charleston, S.C. tions, including oral and anal sex, between con With more than 2.3 billion shares cast senting adults of the same sex. against the proposal, only 151 million shares—6 percent—supported it. The policy has been in V IR G IN IA effect since 1975. emocratic Gov. Mark Warner has named openly gay Arlington County Board mem “Shareholders are to be congratulated for again rejecting this regressive proposal, the ber Jay Fisette to the Virginia Housing Develop eliminating of nondiscrimination based upon ment Authority, a privately funded agency that sexual orientation,” said Gregory P. Srnick, co- helps residents of the state obtain affordable president of AT&T’s Lesbian and Gay Busi housing. Existing policy has denied housing loans to ness Resource Group. “The primary purpose of this 27-year-old policy has always been to fos same-sex couples since 1980. The authority voted ter an inclusive workplace. This is not a spe 6-1 in January to keep the anti-gay policy intact. “Jay Fisette is an outstanding cial right. All employees should be choice who will continue to serve free of discrimination.” Virginians well,” said Chad John The proposal was sponsored by son, National Stonewall Democ Pro Vita Advisors, an anti-abortion rats executive director. “This religious group that promotes share appointment helps to slowly build holder activism to "challenge corpo a Democratic majority on the rations involved in immoral and authority that will eventually anti-life activities.” Its Scripture- overturn anti-gay policy.” based mission also includes lobbying In 1994, the agency changed its against contraception, pornography policy to allow unmarried couples and gambling. to apply for loans but rescinded the language that year under pressure Jay Fisette ARKANSAS by Republican Gov. George Allen, he Arkansas Supreme Court who feared the change would encourage gay ruled July 9 that the state’s same-sex-only sodomy law violates constitutional rights to pri couples to cohabitate. Despite its history of vacy and equal protection. Lambda Legal was anti-gay discrimination, the authority’s own successful in urging the judges, on behalf of mission includes a statement that it actively seven gay and lesbian residents, to void the han works to “oppose discrimination in housing, on intimate relations between consenting employment and procurement." Fisette, the only openly gay official in Vir adults. ginia, has served on the Arlington County Ruling 5-2, the court issued a lengthy deci sion that emphasizes all Arkansans’ expecta Board since 1997. He also is a board member tions of privacy in their homes. It also under of the Metropolitan Washington Council of scores that gay men and lesbians share the same Governments. j n constitutional protections as others. Lambda filed the case in January 1998, and Compiled by N ew s Editor JlM R adosta , who can the state fought unsuccessfully to have it dis- be reached at jim@justout .com. 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