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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