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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2004)
JU1X2.2QQ4 ' jUSt OUt 19 ITTÌVTTìTÌTÌTl news tender with a distinct 5 o’clock shadow and the husky baritone of talk show host Larry King; a pivotal rescue in which Pinocchio’s nose grows after he denies wearing wom en’s underwear; and a (presumably male) wolf comfortably dressed in Grandmas clothing and dancing. The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition— a national advocacy organization working Right-wingers are pissed to end discrimination transgenderism” and violence caused by gender stereotypes—called the criticism “petty and foolish.” “In entertainment, as :n real life, there are all kinds of people who make up our neighborhoods and communities,” executive director Riki Wilchins said. “It is great that children and their parents can enjoy a wide variety of characters, including those who don’t fit into rigid sex-role stereotypes.” A computer-generated movie, Shrek 2 has become the highest-grossing animated hit in domestic box office history, bringing in more than $364 million in just its first four weeks. contractors who make reasonable efforts to com ply with it. A key element of the law is a stream lined waiver process, an approach used by San Francisco because it minimized implementation problems and achieved a high rate of compliance. The bill is also similar to the San Francisco law in that it acknowledges there will be instances where a few contractors may have differences with the law based on religious principles. In these cases, the bill allows religion-based contractors the option of offering their employees coverage for a dependent household member instead of a domestic partner. This solution kept almost all such contractors in place in San Francisco. Increase your income AND make a meaningful giß to our dogs and puppies SOUTH CAROLINA at Shrek 2 for “promoting cross-dressing and ambda Legal filed a lawsuit June 29 against Foot Locker in state court in Columbia on behalf of a former employee who was subjected Defense attorneys claimed that Araujo to severe anti-gay harassment by co-workers and “deceived” her attackers and that learning her supervisors, at two different store locations and biological sex caused one defendant to become in front of customers, and ultimately fired. enraged “beyond reason.” One attorney claimed “Kevin Dunbar was subjected to a night that no hate crime had been committed. marish workplace and then fired because he is “We are relieved that the prosecutor is com gay,” attorney Greg Nevins said. “Foot Locker mitted to retrying these defendants,” said Tina could have addressed this problem, as it clearly D’Elia of Community United Against Violence. promises employees in its policies, but instead “This is the first prosecution of a hate crime chose to ignore it and make it worse. Our client against a transgender person under California’s followed the rules to address the discrimination, hate crime statute. This case confirms the need and all it got him was a pink slip.” for such a law. I am sure that the jury’s refusal to Kevin Dunbar, 26, suffered anti-gay harass buy into the so-called ‘transgender panic’ ment and discrimination at the hands of his co defense will offer some comfort to Gwen’s fami workers, supervisors and customers. Foot Locker ly because the jury recognized Gwen’s humanity promises a harassment-free workplace and and stayed focused on the facts.” includes sexual orientation in its policies. When Dunbar formally complained, the *€♦ promised confidentiality was broken and the he Assembly Judiciary Committee, by an discrimination grew worse. He was transferred 8-3 vote, passed a resolution June 15 oppos from one store location to another, where his ing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution new manager refused to shake his hand and said, limiting the rights of same-sex couples to marry “I heard about your shit; 1 don’t want your fag or obtain benefits through civil unions or got ass in my store.” domestic partnerships. Dunbar said: “Once I became a target, every This makes California the first state to have morning when I woke up and I was scheduled for a legislative committee take a stand against the work, I knew that my supervisors and co-workers President Bush-backed Federal Marriage would verbally insult and degrade me, probably Amendment. A competing resolution that in front of customers. At best, they’d talk behind would have put California on record in support my back and make my every task twice as diffi of the proposal now before Congress was not cult—just because I’m gay. When I took a job at considered at the request of the author. Foot Locker, 1 looked at the policies and took “I come from a religious tradition that does not comfort in knowing that the company was fair to perform same-sex marriages,” the Rev. Amos gay employees. Since the policies were so clear, Brown of the Third Baptist Church told the com I never thought this would happen.” JF1 mittee. “However, 1 would never seek to impose my religious traditions on civil society. Civil soci Compiled by News Editor J IM RADOSTA, who can be reached at jim@justout.com. ety has a duty to treat all people, including gays and lesbians, with equal protection under the law.” T Jurors didn’t buy into defense attorneys’ claim that Gwen Araujo “deceived” her attackers • Lock in a guaranteed lifetime income • Save capital gains and income taxes • Support our canine heroes! B enefits when you donate $10,000 FOR A GIFT ANNUITY Annual Income* Age Tax Deduction 70 $670 $3,397 80 $830 $4,497 90 $1,150 $5,537 ’Plus, a portion of this is tax-free Contact Judy Lawrence at Guide Dogs for the Blind: 32901 SE Kelso Rd, Boring, OR 979009 (503) 668-2100 • ¡lawrence@guidedogs.com Visit us for one of our monthly public graduation ceremonies! Find the dates online at www.guidedogs.com NEW YORK he New York City Council voted 41-4 CALIFORNIA June 28 to override Mayor Michael urors declared a mistrial June 22 in the trial of Bloomberg’s veto of the Equal Benefits Bill. three men accused of killing Gwen Araujo, a The legislation requires employers with con 17-year-old trans woman who was viciously at tracts of $100,000 or more from the city to pro tacked Oct. 3,2002, in Newark. According to press vide the same benefits to employees with reports, the jury couldn’t concur on the most seri domestic partners that they provide to employ ous charge possible: first-degree murder with hate ees with spouses. Enacting such a law has been a crime enhancements. priority of the city’s large sexual minorities com Araujo was beaten severely—using fists, munity since San Francisco passed the nation’s canned goods and a metal skillet—then strangled first measure of this kind in 1997. to death. Her attackers then wrapped her in blan “This one action will have a more tangible kets and hit her in the head with a shovel before impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender placing her body in a pickup. She was driven to a families than any measure ever passed by the remote location and buried in a shallow grave City Council,” said Alan Van Capelle, Empire near South Lake Tahoe, where her body was State Pride Agenda executive director. “This is one of the best days ever for LGBT families!” found two weeks later after one of her attackers, A still unanswered question is whether 20-year-old Jaron Nabors, confessed to police. Bloomberg will follow through on his threat to Three men—Michael Magidson, 23, and block implementation of the bill by challenging Jose Merel and Jason Cazares, both 24—were on its provisions in court. Absent any legal action, trial for her murder and could have faced 25 the law takes effect in 120 days and affects only years to life in prison. Nabors was also charged new and renewed city contracts. but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and, in Similar to the San Francisco statute, the bill is exchange for testifying against the others, was written to accommodate rather than penalize promised an 11-year sentence. J Guide Dog Gift Annuities T W&ew an ordinary Realtor simply won’t do... Kevin Dunbar was harassed at two Foot Locker stores and then fired because he is gay, despite the company’s anti-discrimination policy Jfi 3144 SE Belmont Portland, OR 97214 office: 503-238-7617
