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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2004)
7. 2004 Hardwick awarded Barreto-Neto $90,000, adopted a formal nondiscrimi nation policy covering trans employees and pledged to train its employees on trans issues. .CROWN, M emorial C ent « . C remation a B urial \ ---------------------- 7 ---------- \7 “ Fam ily ” Owned and Operated On-Site Crematory Lowest Cost We 're Here to H elp! 8974 SW Tualatin Sherwood Road Tualatin, OR 97062 ( 503 ) 885-7800 www.ANewTradition.com C A L IF O R N IA ne week into the murder trial of Newark teen Gwen Araujo, defense attorneys began laying the groundwork for an aggressive “trans panic" defense— a new twist on the old “gay panic” defense. The 17-year-old trans woman was viciously attacked and killed by four of North Carolina school officials illegally censored gay her peers Oct. 3, 2002. Opening state student candidate Jarred Gamwell’s posters ments in the murder trial of three of the men began April 15 in Hayward. N O R TH C A R O L IN A Araujo was beaten severely— using fists, he American Civil Liberties Union ex canned gixxis and a metal skillet— then stran pressed disappointment April 27 after a gled to death. Her attackers then wrapped her in North Carolina court denied without explana blankets and hit her in the head with a shovel before placing her Ixxly in a pickup. tion its motion to end school officials’ censorship of a gay junior’s campaign posters promoting his She was driven to a remote location and run for student body president. Superior Quirt buried in a shallow gave near South Dike Tahoe, where her Ixxly was found two weeks later after Judge Dwight Cranford issued the decision after 40 minutes of arguments by both sides. * one of her attackers, Jaron Nabors, 20, confessed to police. Three men— Michael Magidson, 23, Jarred Gamwell, 17, said he made the posters to let other students know he’s gay to show he’d and Jose Merel and Jason Cazares, both 24— are on trial for her murder. Nabors was also charged celebrate diversity if elected. The posters— one with the slogan ‘‘Queer Eye for Hunt High” and but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and, in another reading “Gay Guys .Know Every exchange for testifying against the others, was thing"— were removed by administrators at promised an 11-year prison sentence. James Baxter Hunt Jr. High Schtx)! in Wilson Defense attorneys have claimed that Araujo last month with no explanation. “deceived" her attackers and that learning her Other students’ campaign posters referenc biological sex caused one defendant to become enraged “beyond ¿pason.” One attorney claimed ing popular media catchphrases— one that reads, “What can Brown do for you?” and anoth that no hate crime had been committed. er stating, “It’s Miller Time!”— were left un “One reason the defense lawyers think they Virginia Gov. Mark Warner cannot veto one disturbed by the school. Gamwell approached can get away with these arguments is because of of the nation’s most discriminatory laws the A C LU for assistance after Principal Bill pervasively negative stereotypes about transgen Williamson ordered the removal of the posters VIRGINIA der women,” said Christopher Daley, Trans- and then refused to explain why. gender Law Q n te r co-director. “Clearly, like all he General Assembly passed into law “First my principal took down my posters transgender people, Gwen wasn’t deceiving any April 21 one the most discriminatory and without explaining why, and now this judge has one when she dressed like and presented herself restrictive anti-family and anti-marriage bills in ruled against me, also without explaining why, as the young woman that she tmly was. And just the country. The law not only prohibits the state so of course I’m disappointed,” Gamwell said. like transgender people in any other context— from recognizing civil unions, but it also outlaws "But the support I got from other students at my work, housing, school, etc.—she was under no “any partnership contract or other arrangements schixil t(xlay about this was amazing. People obligation to disclose her gender identity to any that purport to provide the benefits of marriage.” cheered for me in the halls, and students who one, including the defendants.” “The lawmakers have ctxlified second-class cit have never spoken to me came up to tell me izen status for hundreds of thousands of Virgini how great they think it is that I’m fighting this." ans,” said Dyana Mason, Equality Virginia execu tive director. “We are not only disappointed, but n a historic first, the Assembly Judiciary VERMONT Committee approved April 20 the ground we are outraged that short-sighted Virginia extrem he town of Hardwick settled a discrimina breaking Marriage License Nondiscrimination ists succeeded in condoning discrimination.” tion claim April 22 after the state’s attor Act by Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. The vote, Demcx:ratic Gov. Mark Warner amended the ney general ruled that Vermont law prohibits divided along party lines, was 8-3. so-called “Marriage Affirmation Act" April 16 discrimination against trans people in employ This marks the first time in the nation’s his by removing the “partnership contracts and ment, public accommodations, housing and tory that a state legislative Ixxly has voted in other arrangements” language. However, the other areas. In a November 2003 ruling, the favor of issuing marriage licenses to gay and les assembly rejected those changes and voted to attorney general found probable cause that bian couples. The act now moves on to the pass the original version of the bill, sponsored by Hardwick illegally fired Officer Anthony Assembly Appropriations Gimmittee. Delegate Robert Marshall, R-Manassas. Both Barreto-Neto because he is trans. “This is an incredible victory not only for chambers passed the measure by more than a “The attorney general clearly found that two-thirds vote— disallowing a veto by the gov California’s lesbian and gay couples and their transgender persons are protected under Ver children but for all people who believe in equal ernor. The measure will become law July 1. mont’s prohibitions against sex or sexual orien rights," said Geoffrey Kors, Equality Qilifomia Warner told The Associated Press on tation discrimination,” said Jennifer Levi of Gay executive director. “The committee today voted April 16 that the measure attempts to “violate & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, which rep to return California to the definition of marriage contracts between individuals, whether they are that existed before 1977, when the Legislature gay or straight.” He added: “The ramifications of resented Barreto-Neto in the case. "This is a groundbreaking decision for transgender people changed it from a contract between ‘two people’ this could be enormous in terms of their ability to a contract between ‘a man to break apart business partner who have historically been excluded from many civil rights protections and continue to experi and a woman.’ That law is the ships. It would move Virginia so only remaining law in California far out of the mainstream that ence pervasive discrimination." that’s not where I think we Barreto-Neto was hired at the Hardwick enacted by this Ixxly that affir matively discriminates against a Municipal Police Department in April 2002. ought to be.” protected group of Californians.” After officials found a Web site describing him OKLAHOM A as a “transsexual,” town officials presumed his M A IN E he House passed an amend- inability to do the job. 1 ment to the state constitu The officer was then subjected to a continual he Legislature took a step tion April 22 that would deny pattern of harassment and inferior work conditions toward equality April 27 by marriage, civil unions and so severe he was forced to leave his job. In its rul passing a domestic partnership domestic partnerships to same- registry bill. ing, the attorney general’s office credited testimony of former Police Chief Gregory Ramho, saying he The measure will provide Maine Gov. John Baldacci is sex couples, sending it to the ballot this November. was directed to make Barreto-Neto so uncomfort inheritance rights, next-of-kin expected to sign a domestic Nine similar anti-marriage able that he would have to leave the force. status, victim’s compensation partnership registry bill O i T Celebrate with Flowers Weddings GLBT Ceremonies & Parties 503 . 777.0800 www.floral-dreams.com a egon Camera Everything Photographic We have a know ledgeable, friendly stati helping you find the right cam era, binoculars, or ph o to g rap h ic accessories. \ l a m il v ' owned and operated business since 1007. 832 SWM mb Avene Cimllh 1837333 FREE HIV TESTING (841)783 2883 wvjrt{MKiBCfi.CM and guardian and conservator rights to domestic partners. Democratic Gov. John Baldacci is expected to sign the bill shortly. This measure passed the House on April 12 with an 84-58 vote and the Senate on April 27 with an 18-14 vote. If the governor signs the bill, Maine will become the fifth state to pass a law providing rights to unmarried couples. “The Senate’s enactment vote on this bill reaffirms what we believe is the responsibility of our elected officials in Augusta— to ensure that all Maine citizens are treated fairly and equally under the law,” said Betsy Smith, Equality Maine executive director. T T!
