m a*7.2Q<M _*
ili
nciiìnnew s
measures—including six constitu­
tional amendments—died in the
Legislature earlier last month. How­
ever, this amendment was added to
another bill, dodging the regular
legislative process.
The amendment was offered by
state Sen. James Williamson,
R-Tulsa. The Senate passed it
April 15 by a 38-7 vote. It passed in
the House by a 94-4 vote.
“It is a sad day for Oklahoma
when our Legislature votes to man­
date discrimination in our state
constitution,” said Kevin Smith,
lobbyist for the American Civil
Liberties Union of Oklahoma.
~
~
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-
gender people. The forces of intolerance have
passed into law the so-called ‘partial birth abor­
tion’ ban. Now, for the first time in history, these
same elected officials are using an amendment
to the U.S. Constitution to exclude gay and les­
bian Americans from the promise of equality—
from the ability to get married.”
NGLTF staff, board members and volunteers
walked side by side with other pro-choice sup­
porters through the streets of D.C., past the
front of the White House and back down to the
National Mall.
“For nearly 30 years, the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force has considered reproductive
freedom a ‘gay’ issue,” executive director Matt
Foreman said. “Tcxlay, that reality is more evi­
dent than ever before, as is the necessity that we
join together.”
K EN TU C K Y
he Legislature passed a discrim­ Vice President Dick Cheney accepts a rifle from National
M IC H IG A N
inatory anti-marriage constitu­ Rifle Association president Kayne Robinson (right) and
he Republican-controlled House passed a
tional amendment April 12. It will vice president Wayne R. LaPierre after concluding his
keynote address April 17 in Pittsburgh
measure April 22 that would allow doctors
appear on the November ballot.
to refuse to treat gay, lesbian, bi and trans
After passing the Senate, the
patients. The Conscientious Objector Policy
amendment failed to get enough votes in the tion’s annual meeting April 17 in Pittsburgh.
“As the administration appears to support . Act provides that health care workers can refuse
House. However, amendment hackers were able
to revive the measure and, on its second vote, it the Second Amendment on the one hand, it is service to anyone for moral, ethical or religious
attempting to deface the Constitution by pro­ reasons, although it would prohibit the refusal of
passed.
“This amendment will hurt real people who moting an anti-gay Federal Marriage Amend­ emergency care.
The bill was strongly supported by the
are a part of every community in this state,” said ment on the other hand, forever enshrining
Andrea Hildebran, Kentucky Fairness Alliance second-class citizen status for LGBT people,” Michigan Catholic Conference, a conservative
executive director. “When voters understand how said John Sonego, GLAAD’s director of pro­ religious organization. It now goes to the Repub­
Senate,
according
to
much harm this will do to their own family mem­ grams and communications. “Gun owners lican-controlled
bers, their neighbors, friends and co­ should not take comfort in this administration’s 365Gay.com.
In addition, three other bills that may affect
workers, they will vote against this in November.” casual treatment of the U.S. Constitution.”
According to the National Coalition of health care for queer patients were approved
Anti-Violence Programs, 11,348 U.S. citizens April 22 by the House. One would exempt a
M IS S IS S IP P I
he Senate passed a discriminatory anti­ were killed and 45,316 were injured by firearms health insurer or health facility from providing
marriage constitutional amendment in 2001 alone. Acting executive director or covering a health care procedure that violat­
Clarence Patton called guns “Americas true ed ethical, moral or religious principles reflected
April 7 after passing the House in March.
Equality Mississippi will continue to work on weapons of mass destruction,” noting that they in their bylaws or mission statement.
Vocal opponents of the measure included
educating voters about why they should vote are increasingly used in anti-gay hate crimes.
“The NRA lives in political and social vacu­ state Rep. Chris Kolb, the first openly gay legis­
against the measure in November. “We hope
that the people of Mississippi will send a strong um,” said Andres Duque, director of Mano a lator in Michigan. “Are you telling me that a
message to the state Legislature and Gov. Haley Mano, a network of Latino queer organizations health care provider can deny me medical
Barbour that Mississippi will not return to a past and activists based in New York. “They refuse to treatment because of my sexual orientation? 1
of scorn and discrimination,” executive director recognize that advcxrating the removal of a ban hope not.”
The Mautner Project, the nation’s leading
on assault weapons in this country does enor­
Jody Renaldo said.
mous damage to vulnerable populations, partic­ lesbian health organization, called the act dis­
ularly in urban environments where many Lati­ criminatory, dangerous and morally repugnant.
N EW Y O R K
“A core belief held by doctors, nurses, occu­
nos
live and work. (Cheney’s speech) sends a
nti-gay groups are asking a Manhattan
X I court to let them intervene in a lawsuit very clear message to those that would suffer pational therapists, physical therapists and
filed in March by five same-sex couples seeking under the policies that the NRA advix:ates that other health care professionals is to ‘first do no
the right to marry in New York, Lambda Legal this administration does not care about us or the harm,’ ” executive director Kathleen DeBold
said. “And nothing could he more harmful to
issues that daily affect our lives.”
said April 20.
someone who is ill than denying them care....
In legal papers asking to become a party in
By codifying discrimination in health care,
N A TIO N A L
the case, the anti-gay groups claim they would
this
measure not only tramples the Hippocrat­
he National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
be harmed if same-sex couples are allowed to
joined more than 1 million people front ic Oath that each physician is sworn to
marry in New York—claims Lambda said have
been rejected by courts in other states, including around the world at the March for Women’s uphold, it puts this medically underserved
population at even greater risk of serious
New Jersey, California and Florida. The groups Lives on April 25 in Washington, D.C.
illness—and worse.’ ■ jn
Deputy
executive
director
Rea
Carey
fired
up
include the Liberty Counsel of Longwcxxl, Fla.;
American Family Association Center for Law &. the crowd during a pre-march morning rally:
Policy of Tupelo, Miss.; Thomas More Law Cen­ “We will march tixJay because the enemies of Compiled by News Editor JlM R adost A, who can
ter of Ann Arbor, Mich.; New York Family Pol­ repnxluctive freedom are the same enemies of be reached at jim@justout.com.
icy Council; and Michael Long, Conservative
Party of New York chairman.
“These anti-gay groups cannot show that
they will be harmed in any way if same-sex
couples are allowed to marry. Allowing our
clients and other New York couples to marry
and protect their families does nothing to hurt
the marriages of their heterosexual neighbors,"
attorney Susan Sommer said. “The real harm
here is to loving same-sex couples who are
being denied marriage, and that’s what our law­
suit seeks to fix.”
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P E N N S Y L V A N IA
he Gay & Lesbian A lliance Against
Defamation blasted the W hite House’s
double standard on coastitutional freedoms after
Vice President Dick Cheney delivered the
keynote address at the National Rifle Ass<x:ia-
T
NGLTF deputy executive director Rea Carey fires up the crowd during the March for
Women’s Lives on April 25 in Washington, D.C.
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