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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2002)
novamber 15.2002 Auto, Home, Life, Health & Business CALIFORNIA espite a shortage of qualified Arabic lin guists in the intelligence and defense fields, the Anny has fired a significant number of language specialists trained at the military’s Defense Language Institute in Monterey because they are gay. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has assisted in the cases of seven Arabic speakers trained at the institute, including Pfc. Patricia Ramirez, who recently came out in a letter to her command. Officials originally informed her in writing that, despite her sexual orientation, she was being retained in the Army and should continue to report for duty. Within weeks of that announcement, how ever, SLDN learned that the command appar ently had reopened Ramirez’s case and illegally was questioning servicemembers on base to obtain information about homosexual conduct. Additional servicemembers at the institute reportedly were threatened with disciplinary action if they did not cooperate with the renewed investigation. Shortly thereafter, Ramirez was informed that, despite the institute’s earlier promises to allow her career to continue, she was being fired under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. She indicated to her command that, if the Army would allow openly gay, lesbian and bi personnel to serve -.vithout prejudice, she would he happy to continue serving. “The command at DL1 should have closed this case when it told Pfc. Ramirez to continue with her career,” said C. Dixon Osbum, SLDN executive director. “Brave, patriotic Americans should not he fired in the name of federally sanctioned discrimination. That is blatantly un- American.” Officials within the intelligence communi ties have spoken publicly about the impact a shortage of Arabic linguists has had on the nation’s fight against terrorism. A recent report from the House o f Representatives noted "a significant shortfall in linguists. After the [Sept. 11, 2001] attacks, this short fall actually increased slightly. A long-term linguist and analyst hiring strategy is required.” NEW YORK ast month the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force joined a New York coalition of organizations in condemning the racist drag per formances of Chuck Knipp, a gay white man who performs in blackface as the drag queen persona “Shirley Q. Liquor.” His act caricatures an impoverished black wom an and draws from a number of stereotypes about African Americans. Shirley speaks pidgin Eng lish, spends her days wait ing for government checks to arrive in the mail and has dozens of children (some named after venereal dis eases), the fathers of whom are unknown to her. In addition to Knipp’s performances at enter tainment venues acrtxss / the United States, the / Shirley Q. Liquor / personality also is aired on radio sta tions, and mer chandise is sold online at Cafe- Shops.com , where Chuck Knipp performs she greets visitors ¡n blackface as the drag with: “Hello, hahy! queen persona “ Shirley How you durrin? Q . Liquor” Welcome to my boutique of ignunce...please do not shoplift while you is up in here!” About 50 activists protested Knipp’s per formance Sept. 13 at The View in New York. When police arrived, they shut down the gay bar and threatened demonstrators with arrest. Black drag performer RuPaul Charles defended Knipp and criticized the protesters in a Nov. 3 letter posted on his Web site: “ If 1 had sensed any malicious intent in his comedy rou tine, I would not he able to laugh at it.... Not unlike the school bully who picks on the small est kid to create fear and gain control of the playground, these power mongers have pulled out the race card to instigate panic and incite fear to achieve their goal.” epb&b "Your Independent Insurance Agency" drive with Pride insurance Klliott. Powell, Kaden 8c Baker, Inc. 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A speech by Christopher Amtzen, Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists chairman, received an enthusiastic response from the crowd. He noted that one in seven U.S. citizens are nonreligious. “It is time to come out of the closet,” Amtzen said. “What difference will it make if we are 14 percent of the population...if we are silent and invisible T’ ILLINOIS he Chicago City Council voted Nov. 6 to add explicit coverage for trans people to local anti-discrimination laws. Mayor Richard Daley has expressed his support for the measure and is expected to sign it. The effort to pass the hill was led by Illinois Gender Advocates. The council’s Human Rela tions Commission O K ’d the amendment unani mously Oct. 31. The hill adds “a person’s gender identity, appearance or behavior” to Chicago’s Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances, which cover employment, housing and public accom modations. Sexual orientation was added to the law in 1988. With Daley’s signature, Chicago will become the 12th jurisdiction in 2002 to pass a law adding explicit gender identity and/or expression protections to a local anti-discrim ination law. This will bring the U.S. total to 51 jurisdictions, including 42 cities, seven counties and the states of Rhode Island and Minnesota. j n T Compiled by News Editor JlM R a POSTA, who can be reached at jim@justout .com. Visit www.rdrop.com or dial in for details! 56K/ISDN access and signup: 503-972-0365 You can even conned to a real live human at 503-574-4195 C L E A R Y ] ^ (503^544^8**78 YOUR RIGHTS? YOU SHOULD B I. Richard B. Schneider A tto rn ey A t L aw is well versed in the special estate planning needs o f the G LBT com m u nity and can help you with care and professionalism . W hat E very Gay A nd Lesbian C ouple Should Know About Estate Planning. FREE REPORT! 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