22 J“**
' august IS. 2003
: va i in :F in news
have brought a child into the world with the
expectation that they will raise it together, and
who have jointly petitioned for adoption,
, should he on notice that if they separate the
same rules concerning custody and visitation as
apply to all other parents will apply to them.”
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Gay Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San
Francisco, successfully pushed trans-inclusive
nondiscrimination legislation in California
C A L IFO R N IA
emocratic Gov. Gray Davis signed a mea
sure Aug. 2 adding gender identity, appear
ance and behavior to the state laws prohibiting
discrimination in employment and housing.
This makes California the fourth state in the
nation to prohibit such discrimination in hous
ing and the workplace.
Assembly Rill 196, introduced by Mark Leno,
D-San Francisco, also includes language that
permits employees to dress consistent with their
gender identity— a first-of-its-kind provision in a
statewide nondiscrimination law. It becomes
effective Jan. 1,2004.
Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhtxle Island
have statutes that explicitly prohibit discrimina
tion based on gender identity. Courts and
administrative agencies in five additional
states— Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts,
New Jersey and New York— and the District of
Columbia have interpreted either their sex or
disability discrimination statutes to protect trans
people in some circumstances.
“Let me put this in context of the day. The
radical right has declared war on social progress—
the pope, the president and the attorney general,"
said Leno, who is gay. “Every victory we can claim
is resistance to the controlling regressive forces.”
-2*
he California Supreme Court affirmed
Aug. 4 the validity of second-parent adop
tions, which pennit both partners in a same-sex
or other unmarried couple to establish a legal
relationship with their children.
The 6-1 niling in Sharon S. vs. Superior
Court soundly reversed a lower court decision,
which found that state statutes did not permit
second-parent adoptions. In an October 2001
decision that sent shock waves throughout the
state, the California Court of Appeal appeared
to call into question the legitimacy of these
long-standing adoptions. Even as modified a
month later, the decision still created confusion
in an area affecting thousands of children.
“This is a great victory for gay parents every
where,” said Jennifer Pizer, Limhda Legal senior
staff attorney. “By affirming second-parent adop
tion, the California Supreme Quirt remedied an
appalling lower court decision that ignored the best
interests of children and created confusion where
California families need clarity and stability."
Writing for the majority, Justice Kathryn
Werdegar held that “second-parent adoptions
offer the possibility of obtaining the security and
advantages of two parents for some of Califor
nia’s neediest children." She also stressed the
importance of providing legal protections and
stability for children Kim to same-sex and other
unmarried couples: “Unmarried couples who
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(A Division of CascoJc Funeral Directors. Inc)
implement HIV prevention programs for gay and
hi men, particularly within communities of color.
"The AIDS epidemic in the United States is
far from over,” said Harold Jaffe, director of the
C D C ’s National Center for HIV, ST D and TB
prevention. “While effective treatments are cru
¥ arents, Families
il. and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays
announced July 30
1 that Dick and Jane
Gephardt have be
come
members,
i The
Democratic
congressman from
Missouri and his
wife have long K'en
openly supportive
and accepting of
their lesbian daugh
ter, Chrissy.
According to
PFLAC, Gephardt
| . has taken every op
portunity to speak
positively of Chrissy
to the media and at
U .S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., has made his lesbian daughter, Chrissy,
political events. He
an official part of his presidential campaign
has made his daugh
ter an official part of his presidential campaign and
cial in our fight against HIV, preventing infec
acknowledges her partner, Amy, on his Web site.
tion in the first place is still the only true pro
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome
tection against the serious and fatal conse
Dick and Jane Gephardt into the PFLAG fami quences of this disease."
ly,” s;)id Sam Thoron, PFLAC national presi
Past estimates have indicated that up to one-
dent. “Their family values are clearly aligned
third of those infected with HIV do not know
with PFLAGs mission.”
their status. The C D C did caution that the
Gephardt already has begun to play an active
study might reflect increases in HIV testing as
role as a PFLAG member. He will speak at the
well as potential increases in new infections.
NEW J E R S E Y
B
y a 55 percent to 41 percent
margin, likely voters in New
Jersey say gay couples should he
able to marry, according to a tele
phone survey of 803 likely voters
conducted July 15 to 19. It comes
as a lawsuit to let New Jersey gay
couples marry, filed last year by
Lambda Legal, makes its way
through state courts.
“Like all other parents, we
want to dance at our children’s
weddings, including those of our
lesbian and gay children,” said
Clarice Zieja, president of the
Bergen Qninty chapter of Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians
Marcye, Kasey and Karen Nicholson-McFadden are among
and Gays, which commissioned
the plaintiffs seeking marriage equality in New Jersey
the survey. “It’s really wonderful to
organization’s Great Lakes Regional Conference
know that the people of New Jersey agree."
in mid-October and help carry the message of
acceptance, love and equality.
NEW H A M P SH IR E
“It’s clear that the Gephardts understand the
he New Hampshire Board of Dental Exam
importance of fairness and inclusion for all," said
iners has revoked the license of a dentist in
David Tseng, PFLAG executive director. “We
part for refusing to treat a lesbian.
kxik forward to working with them to build a
According to published reports, the dentist
just society where everyone can live in harmony
confronted the woman in his waiting room after
with his or her own self and others.”
she identified a woman as her partner on her
“get acquainted” card. In the presence of others,
«8*
he said he would refuse to treat her, condemned
he Centers for Disease Control and Pre- I same-sex marriage as against his beliefs and
vention has released findings indicating
asked if she had AIDS. The dentist will he able
HIV infections among gay and hi men rose 7.1
to regain his license only after he demonstrates
percent from 2001 to 2002. HIV diagnoses for
to a psychiatrist that he can practice dentistry in
gay and hi men have increased by 17.7 percent
a professional manner.
since the lowest point in 1999.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
With nearly half of new infections occurring
praised the disciplinary action July 23. Accord
in gay and hi men, HIV is disproportionately
ing to GLM A Kiard member and dentist Stuart
affecting the sexual minorities community. In its
Martin, while this is encouraging, it points to
strategic plan, the C D C recognizes that homo larger issues.
phobia adversely affects prevention efforts. Qin-
“First, New Hampshire is certainly one of the
sequently, it identifies the need to develop and
more sympathetic states. I suspect the scenario
T