i 6 J U « t O U t ’ ¡u!y 16.2004
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Kerry-Edwards 2 004: the most gay-supportive national ticket in U .S. history
N A TIO N A L
U
.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has selected
U .S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., as his
presidential running mate. According to the
Human Rights Campaign, Edwards has a strong
record of support for queer equality:
• He is opposed to the Federal Marriage
Amendment.
• He thrice voted for the Local Law Enforce
ment Enhancement Act, which would add sexu
al orientation, gender and disability to existing
federal hate crimes law.
• He co-sponsored the Employment N on
discrimination Act, which would ban bias based
on sexual orientation.
• He believes adoptions by same-sex couples
should be decided on a case-by-case basis by fam
ily courts.
• He supports the Early Treatment for HIV
Act and full funding for science-based prevention
programs and the Ryan White Comprehensive
A ID S Resources Emergency Act.
• He opposes “don’t ask, don’t tell," saying,
“A s the recent discharge of Arabic language spe
cialists demonstrates, the current policy does not
serve our national security interests and should be
changed.” (Several Arabic and Korean linguists
from the Army’s Defense Language Institute were
discharged for being gay in a highly publicized
case in the fall of 2002.)
“John Kerry and John Edwards make up the
most gay-supportive national ticket in American
history,” said Matt Foreman, National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force executive director. “ But, in
order for them to win the enthusiastic support of
the gay community, a critical part of their base,
they will have to take a strong and bold stand on
supporting our civil rights.”
Within minutes of Kerry’s announcement
July 6 in Pittsburgh, the Republican National
Committee issued an anti-gay screed titled "W ho
Is John Edwards.7” Claiming that Edwards “doesn’t
share the priorities of American families," the 23-
page document raged against his support for
employment protections, equitable hate crimes
enforcement and civil unions.
When asked about the R N C piece, the White
House called the attacks “perfectly reasonable.”
“It’s perfectly legitimate to talk about the
issues and the differences on those issues, as well
as to discuss the record," spokesman Scott
M cClellan told reporters. “There are individuals
in this race who have records, and those records
are a reflection of how they would lead in office."
National Stonewall Democrats condemned
the onslaught.
"Republicans insist on running a negative
campaign that is dripping in pessimism and that
is barren of vision,” executive director Dave
Noble said. “ It is time for our community to hold
the Republican National Committee account
able for its continuous attacks on our families.”
-o *
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Downtow n Portland
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j'our years after the Pentagon issued an Anti-
Harassment Action Plan, and a full year after a
congressional inquiry into the matter, the Defease
Department issued its first formal review of efforts
to curb anti-gay harassment in the armed forces. In
a July 24 letter to members of Congress, Under
Secretary of Defense David Chu said implementa
tion of the policy “varies” by service.
The Pentagon adopted the action plan after the
July 1999 murder of Pfc. Barry Winchell at Fort
Campbell, Ky. It calls for annual, rank-appropriate
training for all military personnel, a clear definition
of harassment, accountability for those engaging in
or condoning harassment and annual reporting on
each service’s implementation of the plan.
In his letter to Congress, Chu said “measuring
the true outcomes of a policy or training is diffi
cult,” despite the Defense Department’s inspector
general having done just that in December 1999.
He described the existing programs as “sufficient to
address" harassment and said Pentagon leaders
concluded a “directive is not necessary.”
Meanwhile, overwhelming evidence indicates
continuous and persistent harassment throughout
each branch of the services. Specialist Brad Powell
reported in 2002 that his command told soldiers
that “the only thing a gcxxl fag needs is a g(xxl fag
bashing” and that they were encouraged to visual
ize “blowing up a gay bar” while throwing grenades.
“The Department of Defense’s response is feck
less,” said C. Dixon Osbum, Servicemembers Legal
Defense Network executive director. “Such abu
sive harassment flies in the face of Under Secretary
Chu’s claim that the programs already in place are
effective or sufficient. Our leaders must take
harassment seriously at the very top. To do other
wise puts our men and women in uniform at risk.”
N EW M EX ICO
O
pponents of a 2003 law protecting queers
from discrimination announced July l they
had given up trying to place a referendum on the
November ballot to overturn it. As a result, New
Mexico became the first state this year to thwart
efforts to put an anti-gay measure on the Novem
ber ballot by voter initiative.
“This is a great day not only for LG BT people
in New Mexico but for all of the- people of the
state,” said Linda Siegle, Basic Rights New Mexi
co campaign committee member. “It’s wonderful
to live in a state where people simply refused to
support taking away basic protections from a
minority.”
Last April, New Mexico became the 14th state
to extend nondiscrimination protections to queers
and the third state to include trans people. Imme
diately after the measure was signed into law by
Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, coaservative
groups announced they wcxild seek to repeal it by
ballot initiative. They needed to gather about
50,000 valid signatures by July 2.
A well-organized statewide campaign by queer
activists is credited with defeating this anti-gay
attack. Dan Hawes, the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force’s organizing and training project direc
tor, tixik a leave of absence in February to manage
Basic Rights New Mexico.
“Txlay’s victory demonstrates the power of
what a strong, well-organized campaign that starts
early can accomplish,” he said. “Action by action,
as the opposition saw hundreds of volunteers cam
paign with voters, the New Mexico LG BT com
munity and its allies made it clear they were ready
to stand their ground and win. Strong organizing
made it tougher for the opposition to sell their anti
gay bigotry in New Mexico.”
CO LO RAD O
he National Center for Lesbian Rights praised
a Colorado court July 1 for holding that a les
bian co-parent can seek custody or visitation with
a child she jointly raised with her former partner.
Elsey Maxwell McLeod and her former partner
Cheryl Ann Clark were in a committed relation
ship for 11 years. Clark adopted a baby girl from
China with the intention that both women would
raise her. The couple changed the child’s name to
reflect both of their surnames, and her medical and
school records reflect that both Clark and McLeod
are her parents.
About six years after the child was adopted,
Clark and McLecxl ended their relationship. After
the couple separated, Clark argued that McLecxl
had no legal right to visitation or care of their
daughter.
In its decision, the Colorado Court of Appeals
upheld a trial court’s order giving both Clark and
McLeod equal parenting rights. The court
explained that McLeod was entitled to seek par
enting rights based on her established parental
relationship with the child.
“We are extremely pleased that the Court of
Appeals recognized the importance of protecting
children’s relationships with both of the people
who have functioned as their parents,” attorney
Courtney Joslin said. “It is outrageous that loving,
devoted parents have to fight so hard for their right
even to appear in court and ask for visitation with
their own children.”
M A R Y LA N D
T
he American C ivil Liberties Union sued
Maryland county clerks July 7 charging
Alvin Williams and Nigel Simon, who
describe their meeting six years ago at a
discussion group for black gay men as "love
at first sight," are suing the state of Maryland
for the right to marry