October 3 . 2003 » J u s t at«« 25
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Ray priests, the Globe reporters often—hut not
always—directly refuted those claims,” she
points out. “Independent social science
research is quite clear that gay men are not
more likely to commit child sexual abuse than
nongay men.”
More subtle or indirect conflations of homo-
sexuality and child sexual abuse occurred more
frequently and were rarely challenged within
articles. As an example, Russell notes an article
that cites several incidents of priests abusing
children yet begins with a description of a sexu-
al encounter between two adult men. Placing
stories of the scandal alongside descriptions of
other inappropriate behaviors and emphasizing
the victims’ sex also help create a misleading
association between homosexuality and abuse,
according to the report.
to rescind an inclusive parenting policy
adopted at last year’s meeting,
The existing statement calls on the group
to "establish policy and he supportive of legis-
lation which promotes a safe and nurturing
environment, including psychological and
legal security, for all children, including those
of adoptive parents, regardless of the parents’
sexual orientation.” Kenneth Haller, Gay and
Lesbian Medical Association president, is
asking family physicians to contact their state
chapter delegates to express their support for
the 2002 position statement supporting equal
protections for same-sex parents and their
kids.
“The A AFP’s current policy is firmly based
in evidence-based medicine,” he said. “We
urge all family physicians who are members of
the academy to contact their representatives
and let them know how important this policy
is for all families.”
Haller added that nonphysicians can make
their voices heard, too. “If your health care
provider is a family physician, let her or him
know how vital this policy is to our lives and
to the health of our children, and ask them to
contact their AAFP delegates. When our
health is at stake, it is more important than
ever for all of us to share the realities of our
lives as LGBT persons.”
Haller concluded: “In February 2002, the
{American Academy of Pediatrics) passed a
similar resolution supporting families headed
by same-sex parents. The following Sept. 20,
resolutions were introduced to overturn the
policy__ All were decisively defeated. I am
confident that my colleagues at the AAFP
will likewise place science and justice above
ignorance and bigotry.”
n the latest skirmish concerning President
Bush’s scheme for government-funded reli
gion, the American
Civil Liberties Union
urged a House panel
Sept. 25 to adopt a
measure to preserve
civil rights protec
tions and prohibit tax
dollars from being
diverted to fund reli
gious activities. U.S.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey,
D-Calif., offered the
amendment during Lynn Woolsey
the House Education
and Workforce Committee’s consideration of
legislation that would reauthorize the Commu
nity Services Block Grant Act through 2009.
“The Woolsey amendment,
if adopted, would help bring
the block grant program into
compliance with the Consti
tution,” said Christopher E.
Anders, an ACLU attorney.
“ It mirrors the parameters
established by the Supreme
Court to ensure that taxpayer
dollars do not fund religious
discrimination or religious
activities.
Without
the
Woolsey amendment, the
blcx'k grant program would be
open to groups who violate
the civil rights of religious
minorities and inhibit their
access to vital federal ser
vices.”
While the language of the
hlixk grant act states that no
funds may he used for “inher
ently religious activities,” the
measure fails to clarify what
would fall under that purview. Alan Van Capelle
The ACLU said similar guide
N EW YORK
lines used in other federal activities have led
ov. George Pataki signed a bill Sept. 23
to programs being implemented that were
later found to he unconstitutional. For exam
addressing bias crime on college and uni
ple, one faith-based organization that versity campuses in the state.
“The governor’s signature to this hill
received federal funds used Bible stories in its
means New York’s colleges and universities
vocational training programs.
Religious organizations can participate in will he safer for all students, including gay and
federal programs if they are operated in a sec- lesbian students,” said Alan Van Capelle,
ular manner and if civil rights protections are Empire State Pride Agenda executive direc
upheld. But the current bill allows govern tor. “We thank Gov. Pataki for signing this
ment-funded religious groups to discriminate bill into law, and we thank both chambers of
against employees in federally funded pro the Legislature for sending it to him with
grams, which the ACLU said is clearly their unanimous support.”
The measure—which the Senate passed
unconstitutional.
June 19 after the Assembly passed an identi
cal version of the bill June 16—calls for both
bsolution was intnxluced Sept. 29 at public and private colleges and universities to
the American Academy of Family Physi inform every incoming student about bias
cians’ Congress of Delegates in New Orleans crime and the policies in place regarding bias
I
A
A pure life experience
crime. It also requires institutions to file with
the state education department their plan to
educate students on this matter.
In the bill, bias-related crimes are defined
as those recognized under the Hate Crimes
Act of 2000, which protects people who are
targeted because of their race, color, national
origin, ancestry, gender, religion, age, disabil
ity and sexual orientation. The measure also
allows colleges to go further than state law in
the types of bias crimes addressed, which
could include attacks based on gender identi
ty and expression.
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Nizah Morris
Roslyn Wilkins
egon Camera
a
Everything Photographic
P E N N S Y L V A N IA
lawsuit was filed Sept. 16 in U.S. District
Court in connection with the December
2002 death of Nizah Morris, a popular
Philadelphia entertainer and member of the
trans and African American communities.
On the evening of Dec. 21, she attended a
Christmas party at the Key West Bar and
Grille in Center City. After she became ttxs
intoxicated to make her own way home, con
cerned citizens called 911 to obtain medical
assistance.
An ambulance was en route when
Philadelphia police officer Elizabeth Skala
arrived on the scene. She called off the ambu
lance and drove Morris to a Kxation where,
minutes later, Morris was fatally wounded by
a blow to the head. Morris was eventually
transported to Jefferson Hospital, where she
died on Christmas Eve.
“This lawsuit raises compelling issues
about procedures used by city police and para
medics that may violate citizens’ constitu
tional rights," said attorney Paul Messing,
who represents Roslyn Wilkins, Morris’
mother and the administrator of the estate.
“The complaint alleges conduct by city
employees that increased the danger to
Ms. Morris and ultimately led to her death.
Separately, the
bar placed Ms.
Morris in dan
ger by continu
ing jo serve her
once she was
intoxicated. As
a result of the
conduct of all
defendants, and
their willful dis
regard of Ms.
Morris’ safety,
the complaint
alleges that all
of the defen
dants are re
sponsible
for
her death.”
Lee Carpen- Lee Carpenter
ter, staff attor
ney at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil
Rights, added: “Although the damages suffered
by Ms. Morris’ family are staggering, this case is
not about money. It is about using every means
at our disposal to finally obtain answers to ques
tions about how and why Nizah died." JH
A
Compiled by Neu/s Editor J im RAIXTSTA, who can
be reached at jim@jusuiut .com.
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