august 1.2003 • Ju st «art, 2
The W hite House allegedly attempted to
discredit A BC’s Jeffrey Kofman because he
is a gay Canadian
“While the facts behind this reported smear
are unclear, the news coverage itself and the
implications are very serious for all journalists and
equally troubling for the American public," exec
utive director Pamela Strother slid. "Whenever
the coverage of a lesbian or gay journalist or the
nationality of a reporter is criticized and discred
ited simply because of the individuals birthright
or sexual orientation—that is a form of dangerous
intimidation and a potential professional libel.”
The White House dismissed suggestions it
was behind the smear campaign. Kofman said
that he is unsure why anyone would want to
“out” him as a Canadian and that the real story
is what’s going on in Iraq.
“I think it’s not surprising in certain ways
that a provocative story provokes,” he told the
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. “It’s all a little
perplexing and kind of a sideshow. I think you
just have to kind of look at this and roll your
eyes and move on."
a stroke victim because he has HIV, Lambda
kegal filed a discrimination complaint July 23
with the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights.
A month before Cecil Little, 50, was dis
charged from the hospital, his mother and his
sister approached a nursing home within six
miles of where they live. That facility, Tangi
Pines, agreed to care for him but, just three
days before-he was due to arrive, backed out
of the agreement upon learning of his HIV
status.
Five other nearby nursing homes also
revoked their agreements to provide care to
him. Since Lambda Legal believes these six
nursing homes accept Medicare or Medicaid,
they are bound by the Federal Rehabilitation
Act, which prohibits facilities that receive fed
eral funds from discriminating against people
with disabilities.
“Cecil Little requires help meeting his most
basic needs, and discrimination based on his
HIV status should not dictate where he gets
those needs met,” attorney Brian Chase said.
“What makes this case even more frustrating is
that we are dealing with health care profes
sionals here—these are the people who should
help dispel baseless fears about HIV, not per
petuate them."
Last month a similar case was settled in
Pennsylvania. A 56-year-old legally blind man
with AIDS filed a discrimination complaint
against a personal care home that refused to
admit him because the staff would be uncom
fortable caring for him. The man dropped the
charges when the facility offered him a room.
ARKANSAS
lawsuit tiled by the American Civil Liber
ties Union regarding an Arkansas schrxrl’s
treatment of a 14-year-
old tor being openly gay
ended July 17 with dis-
.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., stuck his trictwide policy changes
foot in his mouth again in response to a to ensure fair treatment
question about what he would do if one of his six of queer students.
children told him of “gay urges."
“I’m really glad that
“I would try to point out to them what is the this is all over and that
right thing to do," he told GQ in an interview the ACLU is making
published July 22. “And we have many tempta the school treat gay
tions to do things we shouldn’t do...it doesn’t students the way they
mean you have to submit.”
should have been treat
Later, when asked what he would do if one of ed in the first place,”
his children was gay, he said, “Continue to help Thomas McLaughlin Thomas McLaughlin
them in their life in a way that would lead them said. “No more stu
to a better and happier life.” Kevin Jennings, j dents should have to go through what I did.”
executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and
The Pulaski County Special Scfuxil District
Straight Education Network, called the remarks officials had “outed" McLaughlin to his parents
“troublesome and potentially harmful" to queer without his permission, made him read from the
and questioning adolescents.
Bible and disciplined him for talking about bis
“Mainstream mental health and educational sexual orientation and later for talking about
authorities have made it clear how we can help that punishment. These actions, the ACLU
LGBTQ youth achieve the ‘better and happier lawsuit charged, violated his rights to tree
life’ that the senator speaks of: We must support speech, equal protection and privacy as well as
them in accepting their sexual orientation, his religious liberty.
which is an innate characteristic, and provide
Under the terms of the agreement, the dis
them with homes, schools and communities trict issued a formal apology to McLaughlin
that value and respect who they are," he said. and his parents and paid a total of $25,000 in
“Any suggestion contrary to medically accepted damages and attorney fees. Schixil officials
wisdom on this subject...especially from a mem also expunged his disciplinary record and
ber of the Senate leadership, is dangerously ir banned:
responsible, inflammatory and outrageous.”
• Disclosing any student’s sexual orientation
OLSEN called on Santorum to retract his to others.
statements and clarify what he plans to do to
• Punishing students for talking during non-
help parents create healthier and happier lives instnictional time about their sexual orientation.
for queer and questioning youth. In an inter
• Punishing students for talking during non-
view with The Associated Press published instructional time about discipline they’ve
April 22, the third-ranking Republican in the received.
U.S. Senate likened homosexuality to bigamy,
• Discriminating against students on the basis
of their sexual orientation in disciplinary matters.
polygamy, incest and adultery.
• Forcing students to read the Bible |H
LOUISIANA
rguing that six Louisiana nursing homes Compiled by News Editor J i m R a IX'»STA, who can
violated federal law by refusing to care for 1 be reached at jim@mstuut.com.
A
CW e&bsides
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