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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2003)
august 15.2003 • J h a t M rtj2 3 rTTTïïïTTHInews would play out differently elsewhere," Martin said. “Second, the action reported is an administrative move hy a regulatory board which has broad dis cretion in determining ‘nonprofessional conduct.’ While an encouraging action in support of LG BT rights to access health care and to maintain priva cy, th e .. .hoard’s requirement that this dentist seek psychiatric treatment does not carry the same weight as criminal discrimination charges." Although the American Dental Association explicitly respects the rights of dentists to select patients, it specifically prohibits denial of service because of nice, creed, color, gender or national ori gin. Martin hopes the ADA will consider adding sexual orientation to the cixle of professional con duct during its annual meeting in October. NEW YORK he Harvey Milk School— the nation’s first full-fledged public high schixil for gay, lesbian, bi and trans students— will open in September. “Harvey Milk High celebrates the life and legacy o f a pioneering civil rights activist, and just on the heels o f the Supreme Q u irt’s recent landmark decision overturning sodomy laws,” said Craig Bowman, National Youth Advocacy C oalition executive director. “T his schixil will serve as a safe place for young people who are committed to achieving educational excellence and graduating with the high-quality public schixil education to which they are entitled." T he school has operated successfully for more than two decades as a small alternative program with just two classrooms. Next month it will open in a city-renovated building with 100 students. More than 170 kids are expected to be enrolled by 2004. Administrators predict 95 per cent of them will attend college. “T his is a schixil all about inclusion,” said Terrence Calhoun, N Y A C hoard chairman. “It stands for fairness, equality and justice, and it holds out the hope of an education free from harassment, intimidation and violence. As most L G B T Q students will never have an option like the Harvey Milk Schixil, however, we hope that all of our nation’s public schools will work even harder to protect their students, including those who are L G B T Q ." T and we deeply value the passion and ministry they brought to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community as part of the M C C fel lowship,” said the Rev. Elder Don Eastman, M C C vice moderator. “Though the Cathedral o f Hope has explored options for disaffiliation in previous years, M C C deeply regrets the loss of relationship with the congregation.... We also affirm the congregation’s choice to leave the global M C C fellowship and pray G od’s abun dant blessings on their future ministry.” -o* he American Civil Liberties U nion reached an agreement Aug. 7 with officials from the San A ntonio Independent School District to reinstate Luther Burbank High’s Amnesty Inter national Club, which had been banned in March after some of its members independently took part in a silent demonstration to raise awareness about violence against queers. “W e’re really happy this has all been resolved before the new school year and that the district understands that students have free speech rights, too," said Blanca Bazan, a senior who will be the leader of the club when classes begin Aug. 18. “W hen some of our members took part in the Day of Silence last spring, they were real ly careful to do it in a way that didn’t disrupt classes or break the law, and it’s great that the district recognizes that.” Last March, the schixil shut down the club because some of its members had taken part in the Day of Silence Project, an annual nation wide action in which students take a daylong vow of silence to illustrate the silence in which queers often suffer when they experience dis crim ination and violence. After talks with the A C L U , the district agreed to reinstate the club and allow students to participate in future Day of Silence activities as long as students continue to make sure they don’t interfere with instate - tional time while doing so. “All of this came about because one student realized her rights had been violated and lixiked for help," attorney Ken C h iv said. “We hope that young people everywhere will be inspired by this to learn about their rights and make a positive difference in their communities." T TEXAS he congregation of Cathedral of Hope— the world’s largest liberal Christian church with a primary outreach to gay, lesbian and trans people— voted July 27 to disaffiliate from the Universal Fel lowship of Metropolitan Gimmunity Churches. The preliminary results indicate 89 percent of the voting members opted to disaffiliate from the denomination and becom e an independent church. T h e church’s hoard o f directors announced the numbers to a crowd of about 500 people assembled at the culmination of the cathe dral’s 33rd anniversary weekend celebration. “T he Cathedral of Hope was a vital member of the M C C movement for more than 30 years, T KANSAS esponding to a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Topeka and Shawnee G iunty Public Library has conceded that, under the law, it cannot forbid an employee from talking at work about the recent historic U.S. Supreme Q xirt mling banning sodomy statutes. “To a large number of Americans, the court’s decision in Lawrence vs. Texas was a shining moment in ixir history because it’s another giant step toward equality for all Americans,” said Dick Kurtenhach, A CLU of Kansas and Western Mis souri executive director. “W e’ve made certain that the public library understands that it cannot R Cathedral of Hope is the world’s largest gay and lesbian church strip Bonnie Cuevas of her constitutional right to free speech by prohibiting her from ever talking about this important development at work." O n the day after the ruling, Cuevas— a long time Topeka activist and member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays— was ordered by two managers to never again discuss at work the decision and its impact on her fam ily. T he A C L U sent a letter to the library, point ing out that such an order violates her First Amendment right to free speech, and its attor neys have now responded that it will not restrict her or any other employee this way in the future. “W hen the Supreme Court struck down sixlomy laws, it was an incredibly significant moment for my family," said Cuevas, the mother of a gay son who was the victim of a hate crime. “Ordering me not to talk about a social issue like this at such a cmcial time in history seems to me to be completely contrary to the ideals and prin ciples that public libraries shixild exemplify.” COLO RADO ennifer Veiga was elected July 17 to fill a vacancy in the C olorad o S en ate. Sh e becomes one of only 10 openly gay, lesbian or bi state senators serving in the country. Veiga was the Democratic leader in the G ilorado House before her move to the Sen ate, where she now represents portions of Denver and Adams counties as the Rix:ky Moun tain State’s first openly queer sena J tor. I m thrilled to Jennifer Veiga is Colorado’s have this opportu- first lesbian state senator nity to move to the Senate to continue working on behalf of G il- orado’s working families, children and seniors," she told The Associated Press. As a state representative, Veiga played a key role in defeating a bill preventing adoptions by same-sex couples and has been a stalwart sup porter of queer civil rights and hate crimes mea sures. She also counts among her top concerns funding for public education and responsible community planning and growth. “W e’re pnxid of Jennifer Veiga’s climb up the ladder,” said Chuck Wolfe, Gay ik Lesbian Victiv ry Fund executive director. “She is a shining exam ple of the quality of openly gay and lesbian office holders in the cixintry. There is no dixibt she is working hard on behalf of all of her constituents.” “ I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without Just Like a Woman" — Simone me JUST LIKE A 'oman » p e n a l l y li ngeri e 6 3 3 3 SW Macadam Sic. 102 (5 0 3 ) 2 4 6 7 0 00 www. justlikca woman .com Designer Rocks Any Image etched in stone We produce high quality laser Photograph images on granite tiles * Unique Oft» ▼ Special Occasion T Custom Entry Ways T M antel Designs w A w ard Plaques T M em orial Martoers * C reate Vour Own Vision In G ranite 360 - 699-1810 V ancouver, W A. ‘IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD’ TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 7 have to date lost 22 lbs and am off Zoloft. All thanks to you. You are a goddess ." -Don Clarkson Mayor (Moster. OR) and Personal Coach If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, attention issues, stress, sleep problems, mental clarity, or are seeking a peak performance edge contact Northwest Neurofeedback Johnson Street Professional Building 1920 NW Johnson Street., Suite 100 Portland, OR 97209 Office: 503-274-7733 Fax: 503-274-7770 call lor a Ira« consultation http /W ww northwast naurofeadoack com FL OR ID A he Sarasota City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Aug. 4 that bars employment bias based on sexual orientation. T he measure was the idea of the Florida Tri angle Democratic Caucus, a statewide queer Democratic group, which worked for more than a year to implement a successful strategy. T h e new law goes into effect O ct. 1. Sarasota resident the Rev. Jim Merritt, cau cus chairman and a former national board mem ber o f the N ational Stonew all Democrats, helped draft the ordinance. His partner, Al Leach, serves on N SD ’s board of directors. “This ordinance is a testament to Demixrrat- ic, grassroots efforts," said Dave Noble, N SD executive director. “T he Triangle Caucus was able to successfully convey to the city commis sion why D em ixratic principles of inclusion are good for Sarasota." J H T 1 Compiled by News Editor J im R a ix ' is TA, who can be reached at jim&justout. com. Moving away? Keep in touch! Subscribe to Just Out w w w .justout.com
