19
rrnrirm news
of state facilities in furtherance of discrimina
tion, including bias based on sexual orientation.
Meanwhile, the Scouts received more bad
news July 13 when the United Church of Christ
passed a resolution during its national annual
meeting in Minneapolis calling on the organiza
tion to “adopt a membership policy that does not
discriminate based on sexual orientation." The
vote by the 24th General Synod was overwhelm
ing; the two-thirds majority required was far
exceeded, with only a scattering of "no” votes.
Senate Bill 386 was hailed by equal rights activists
as an important step forward for same-sex couples
and other people who are not legally related.
“This legislation represents another impor
tant step forward in the equal treatment of all
Nevadans, regardless of the legal status of their
relationships and friendships,” said Ande Rice,
Equal Rights Nevada chairwoman. “With very
little effort, patients in Nevada can ensure the
person who is most important in their life can
be with them in the hospital.”
The bill allows a person to des
ignate through a simple letter
who should be granted the same
hospital visitation rights as legally
defined family members. It also
lays out a series of affidavits that
would allow an individual to
appoint the person who will make
decisions about burial, cremation
and organ donation. These rights
previously were unavailable to
unmarried couples irr Nevada
under any existing law.
“This is a remarkable achieve
ment for gays and lesbians in
Nevada,” said Jere Keys, Las Vegas
A gymnast was fired from Cirque du Soleils pipular show Bugle editor. “It shows that by
teaming up with other groups, we
Mystère because he is HIV-positive
can make true progress toward
CALIFORNIA
equality of all of us.”
rguing that Cirque du Soleil violated state
Rice explained that the bill isn’t just a gay
and federal laws by denying a highly quali rights victory. “It affects the elderly who are on
fixed incomes and cannot afford to get married
fied gymnast an integral part in its popular show
and unmarried couples of all kinds."
Mystère this spring, Lambda Legal filed a federal
discrimination complaint against the company
MICHIGAN
July 15 in Los Angeles.
Matthew Cusick, who has been living with
n 18-year-old from Grand Rapids may have
died as a direct result of a vicious sexual
HIV for 10 years and whose viral load was
assault, The Ann Arbor News repined July 11.
undetectable in two comprehensive medical
Justin Bogdanik had been discovered in a
exams by Cirque du Soleils doctor, disclosed
his status without incident when he was hired ditch in Livingston County two weeks prior to
his death July 8. According to published reports,
last summer. But after spending four months
the victim had “been beaten until he was
training in Quebec, Cirque du Soleil told him
unconscious, sexually tortured, and his eyes
that because he has HIV it would not continue
were glued shut.”
to employ him.
“For any gymnastics performer, working for
“This incident, from what has been repined, i
bears all the markings of an anti-gay ‘pick-up’
Cirque du Soleil is a dream job,” said Cusick,
crime, perpetrated by an extremely disturbed indi
who also works part time as a personal trainer.
vidual,” said Jeffrey Montgomery, Triangle Foun
“Maybe it’s naive, but 1 never thought I’d be
dation executive director. “We understand that
kept from pursuing my dreams because I’m
pilice have not mled out anti-gay motivation,
HIV-positive. 1 thought society had gotten
which is important because it appears more than
beyond thinking that people with HIV can
evident
that, regardless of the actual sexual orien
only do desk jobs and never come into contact
tation of the victim, a perception that he was gay,
with people.”
In a letter this spring responding to Lambda or that gay sex was involved, is clear.” JF1
Legal’s formal request to reinstate Cusick in the
performance, Cirque du Soleils attorneys said Compiled by News Editor J1M R aix KTA, who can
be reached at jim@justout.com.
the company was acting as a “socially responsible
employer” that has an
obligation to avoid
"known safety haz
ards.” Federal and
state laws prohibit dis
crimination against
people with disabili
ties if they pose no
real risk to themselves
or others and if the ill
ness doesn’t interfere
with their ability to do
the job.
NEVADA
epublican Gov.
Kenny Guinn has
signed legislation con
cerning the hospital
visitation rights of
patients and providing
a new classification for
people who may partic
ipate in the disposition Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn has signed a bill granting hospital visitation
of a deceased person. rights to same-sex couples
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