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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2004)
22 JUSt OUt • October IS. 2004 \ CROWN _ _ _ > M emorial C enter ♦ C remation « B urial Fa m ily Owned and Operated On-Site Crematory Lowest Cost We re Here to Help! 8974 SW Tualatin Sherwood Road Tualatin, OR 971)62 ( 503 ) 885-7800 www.ANewTradition.com ATTENTION! • GAY, LESBIAN, Bl, TRANS FRIENDLV • COMPANY RETIREES • C ü RRENT EMPLOYEES THS Médical • Dental • Rx *34.95 - *109.95/mo. ENTIRE FAMILY! All Pre-Existing Conditions Okay CALL 1-800-228-0305 ju s t M ITS seeks a full-time news editor who will work with staff and free-lance writers to ensure that the biweekly news magazine continues to publish timely and eye-catching arti cles about the sexual minori ties community in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Other duties include compil ing local, national and world newsbriefs and letters to the editor; writing obituaries; assigning photos; collaborat ing with the art director; and occasionally covering news events. The ideal candidate will have experience with both newspaper editing and writing; fluency in AP style; familiarity with and passion for local queer news and cul ture; and a wealth o f dedica tion and creativity. Salary DOE. Good benefits package. Contact marty@justout.com. The commission’s draft report cited a num “African Americans make up 13 percent of the NATIONAL ber of discriminatory actions taken by the U.S. population. Black same-sex couples are 14 .S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., discussed percent of all same-sex couples in the U.S. We White House: his opposition to the Federal Marriage • Judicial appointments: President Bush are you.” Amendment during the vice presidential Black Same-Sex Households in the United nominated William Pryor to the U.S. Court of debate Oct. 5. Appeals for the 11th Circuit. As Alabama’s States: A Report from the 2000 Census reveals “There is absolutely no purpose in the law important and sometimes startling facts, attorney general, he submitted a brief to the and in reality for this amendment,” he said. “It’s including: U.S. Supreme Court in favor of a Texas same- nothing but a political tool. And it’s being used • Three in five black female same-sex sex anti-sodomy law and labeled his postpone in an effort to divide this country on an issue ment of a family vacation to avoid a day when households (61 percent) are composed of that we should not be dividing America on." many gay men and lesbians attended Disney mothers raising children. Black- lesbian cou Per debate rules, Vice President Dick ples are raising children at nearly the same World a “value judgment.” Cheney was given 90 sec • John Ashcroft: The attor rate as black married opposite-sex couples (69 onds to respond to ney general broke a promise to percent). Edward’s charges that Pres • Black same-sex couples earn about permit DOJ Pride, a voluntary ident Bush’s endorsement organization of queer Depart- $20,000 less per year than white same-sex cou- of the Federal Marriage ment of Justice employees, to pies and are less likely to own the home they Amendment was wrong. continue using agency facilities live in. Cheney simply thanked to celebrate Gay Pride Month. • Black same-sex couples are more likely Edwards for his earlier • Federal Marriage Amend- than white gay couples to hold public sector remarks toward Cheney’s family, including his les ment: “This is an area of particu- jobs, which may provide domestic partner bian daughter, Mary, and lar concern because it illustrates health insurance. Eight of the 11 state anti-gay the president’s willingness to marriage amendments on the ballot Nov. 2 ban then remained silent, refusing to defend Bush’s restrict group and individual or threaten domestic partner benefits provided decision, signaling a rift in rights in an unprecedented man through state and local governmental entities. • Black same-sex couples are almost as like the administration on this ner,” the report said. “If passed, the amendment would be the ly as black married opposite-sex couples to issue. "When Bush’s own vice The U.S. Commission on Civil first in U.S. history to limit report living in the same residence as five years president refuses to Rights criticized Attorney rather than preserve and expand earlier, a key indicator of relationship stability. endorse a campaign of big General John Ashcroft for the rights of a group.” LOUISIANA otry, it becomes clear that discriminating against queer • Employment Nondiscrimi Bush is taking America in Department of Justice employees nation Act: The Bush adminis Louisiana district judge struck down the the wrong direction,” said tration opposes legislation that state’s recently enacted anti-gay constitu- Brian Richardson, Democratic National Com would effectively prevent the unfair discharge | tional amendment Oct. 5. mittee spokesman. “Not only is the Federal of gay and lesbian employees. In addition, Bush William Morvant mled that the amendment Marriage Amendment dividing the country, it’s appointee Scott Bloch removed in February all was flawed because it had more than one pur- dividing Bush’s own administration.” materials from the Office of * pose. The Special Counsel’s Web site In addition, Cheney displayed his igno amendment was relating to sexual orienta rance about the effect of the HIV/AIDS epi designed to pro tion discrimination in the demic on communities of color. When moder hibit not only ator Gwen Ifill mentioned that black women federal government and equal marriage between 25 and 44 years old are 13 times more rights, but also suspended enforcement of likely to die of the disease than their counter civil unions and sexual orientation bias parts, he admitted that he was unaware of the cases. any legal recog problem. nition for same- • Faith-based initia sex couples. “Cheney’s ignorance about the HIV/AIDS tives: The administration’s The Louisiana crisis is inexcusable,” said Cheryl Jacques, initial proposals did not C o n s titu tio n Human Rights Campaign president. “Cheney include any language to requires that was just one of 13 House members to vote prohibit religious organiza amendments be against the precursor to the Ryan White CARE tions receiving federal confined to a Act in 1988— the AIDS Federal Policy Act.” funds from discriminating single objective. against gay men and les The decision is bians. Religious employers Vice President Dick Cheney (right, with wife epublican members of the U.S. Commis expected to be can do so by citing “reli Lynne and daughter Mary) refused to defend sion on Civil Rights failed in their attempt gious incompatibility” to President Bush’s endorsement of the Federal appealed. to have a highly critical review of the Bush justify or cover up their Marriage Amendment “All across the administration’s record on civil rights removed actions. country, the from the public domain. forces of religious and political intolerance are The comprehensive draft details the blatant trying to do the same thing they did in lack of progress President Bush groundbreaking study Louisiana— mislead voters about what’s at has made on civil rights during released Oct. 6 con stake,” said Matt Foreman, National Gay and the past four years, placing spe cludes that black same-sex Lesbian Task Force executive director. “They cial emphasis on his record of couples have more to gain say they are only interested in preserving mar contempt for the sexual minori from the legal protections of riage as a heterosexual institution. In reality, ties community and the lack of marriage, and more to lose if the measures they are putting forward not only progress made for queer rights states pass amendments ban- seek to forbid same-sex marriage, they also .seek during his administration. The ning marriage and other to eliminate all other forms of partner recogni opening summary of the report, forms of partner recognition. tion, such as domestic partnerships.” prepared by staff for the commis The report is the first to ana Anti-gay constitutional amendments on sion’s review at a meeting lyze the demographics and the November ballot in Arkansas, Georgia, Oct. 8, states, “This report finds experiences of black same-sex Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, that President Bush has neither households captured by the Oklahoma and Utah would have the same or exhibited leadership on pressing 2000 census, the largest ran similarly sweeping impact as Louisiana’s. Three civil rights issues, nor taken dom sample data set available other amendments in Oregon, Montana and actions that matched his words.” Rita Sklar says the state of Mississippi would deny equal marriage rights on same-sex couples. “This new report makes clear Arkansas is relying on “As this landmark report without explicitly mentioning civil unions or what most Americans already unsupported negative makes clear, gay African other protections for same-sex families. know: George W. Bush is hostile stereotypes to defend an “This is an important ruling for fairness," Americans are an active, to the gay and lesbian communi anti-gay foster care policy involved, vibrant and inte- said Cheryl Jacques, Human Rights Campaign ty," said Terry McAuliffe, Demo gral part of our communities," president. “These amendments...are a politi- cratic National Committee chairman. “For the said H. Alexander Robinson, strategic director cal attempt to use some families as a wedge in past four years, the Bush administration has of the National Black Justice Coalition, which the upcoming elections and would deny cou- taken us in the wrong direction, trying to limit conducted the study with the National Gay pies the most basic legal protections to care and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. for one another. Americans don’t support the rights of GLBT Americans.” U R A
