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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2002)
1 8 J m t a n t ' aecemoer 20.2002 i'iiu u ifiiìn n e w s 'Remember when music was fu n ? M A R Y LA N D n a historic vote Nov. 25, Baltimore became the state’s first jurisdiction to prohibit discrimination in em ployment, housing, pub lic accommodations and credit practices based on gender identity or expression. The vote was unani mous among the 19- member City Council without abstentions. Mayor Martin O ’Malley had requested that it con Jean-Michel Brevelle sider the hill to investi gate the prevalence of discrimination against trans people and to ensure equal rights for all Baltimoreans. “Tire city of Baltimore and its mayor have finally recognized the injustice and prejudice faced by its transgendered citizens,” said psychol ogist Terry Sapp, who worked on the effort to pass the ordinance. “For the first time in this city’s his tory, transgendered men and women are no longer second-class citizens.” Council Bill 02-0857 was introduced Aug. 12 at the request of the Baltimore Com munity Relations Commission, which investi gates claims of discriminatory practices. The Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Com mittee heard testimony Oct. 17 from trans peo ple who related their personal experiences of being the victims of discrimination solely because of their gender identity or expression. No one offered testimony in opposition. “Tonight’s vote is a great victory for the Bal timore transgender community,” said Jean- Michel Brevelle, Free State Justice interim director. “It is the culmination of years of effort by many transgender people and our supporters and clearly demonstrates the goodwill and understanding that Baltimore city government has developed for the transgender community.” The ordinance represents an important achievement for the state’s trans community, which suffered a hitter emotional defeat in early 2001 when the Legislature enacted a civil rights hill covering sexual orientation hut left the gender identity portion on the cutting-room floor. “Tonight’s action, while a huge step forward, is only the first step,” said Donna Cartwright of the Gen der Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey. A total of 53 U.S. jurisdictions now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression, including the states of Minnesota and Rhode Island. This year alone, 14 jurisdic tions have passed similar ordinances. I ...it stiff is FINI AUDI O E QUI P ME NT AN D MOVIE THEATRE S YS TEMS STEREOTYPES AUDIO 1 1>27 N . t . BR OA DW A Y PO I M I A N D OR ‘>7232 503-2800«# 10 v c v v w . s t er e o t y p e h a u d i o . c o m Winterize Your Car $39^ Pickup & Delivery L u b e , O il, F ilt e r Full Safety Inspection Charging System Check A U T O W O R K S 503 / 221-2411 Mon—Fri 7 am —6 pm Sat by appointment Z fT ^ K f ** We have early bird drop-off mm 509 N W Everett St • Portland • ESAuthovuorks.com IL L IN O IS I Jew el A . Robinson B’Zillion $$$ Producer OFFICE (503) 281-4040 (503) 30 1-4283 Je w e l2 U @ te le p o rt.co m v o ic e m a il e - m a il €49 1730 N.E. 10th Avenue Portland, OR 97212 (tà Prudential f he wins in February, Rick Ingram would make history as the first openly gay candidate elected to the Chicago City Council. His challenger, 44th Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen, stepped down three months prior to the primary election, citing health concerns. News reports now indicate Han sen’s hand-picked successor, gay restaurateur Tom Tunney, is likely to he appointed to fill out the term. The Gay and Lesbian Vic tory Fund, a Washington, D.C.-hased political action committee that supports openly gay candidates for office, announced Dec. 2 its endorsement of Ingram. “He has a stellar record of community service and involvement, he has sharpened his campaign skills, and he’s running for the right reasons," political director Boh Kearney said. P E N N S Y L V A N IA A ndrew A. Chirls was elected Dec. 10 as vice chancellor of the 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar AssiKiation. After filling that post for one year, he will become chancel lor-elect in 2004 and automatically move up to chancellor in 2005, making him the first openly gay attor ney to lead the nation’s oldest char tered metropolitan bar association. “It is an honor to Andrew A. Chirls he elected to this post at such a challenging time,” Chirls said. “Lead ers of the legal profession will have to articulate our concern for an open justice system and indi vidual rights while we fight terrorism. On a more local basis, we want to grow as a profession along with our city’s economy, and our bar asso ciation has to help shape policies that will make people want to live and work here.” A native of Maplewood, N.J., Chirls success fully tried the first jury trial in Penasylvania based on HIV/AIDS discrimination. He was active in the association’s work with its insur ance plan aimed at making domestic partner benefits available to Philadelphia’s legal workers. Chirls, 46, has shared his life for 24 years with Larry Frankel, 47, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania legislative director. They live in Center City. ■*5» T he Legislature voted Nov. 26 to expand Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law, making it the 28th state with a statute covering sexual ori entation and only the fifth, as well as the Dis trict of Columbia, to include gender identity. “The lesson to he learned from this suc cess... is that no one has to sacrifice their integrity in an effort to pass inclusive legisla tion," said Stephen Glass- man, Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition co-chair man and the first openly gay member of the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission. “In a state which mirrors the conservative and rural nature of many states, we built a coalition of groups and indi viduals... which was able to educate elected officials on the importance of passing a hill that benefits all of the cit izens of Pennsylvania.” House Bill 1439 passed the state Senate in June 2001 by a vote of 32-15. It then was sent to
