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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2005)
17 pve ry w Q m an ' s ¡¿eal t h individual 18 years of two men in Massachu age and over in which setts who, despite the both parties intend a fact that they are lifelong commitment; legally married in that is financially inter state, are forced to dependent with that spend more than half other individual; is not of their year apart married or in a perma because one of them is nent partnership with not an American citi anyone other than that zen. No person should individual; is unahle to have to choose contract with that between their country other individual a mar and the person they riage recognizable U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (left), D-N.Y., introduces the Uniting American Families Act with Steve love. Yet every year under [the Immigration Boullianne (middle) and Olivier De Wulf and their adopted sons, Reece and Laurent, along with thousands of lesbian and Naturalization Adam Francoeur (right) of Immigration Equality. and gay couples are Act]; and is not a first-, forced to separate, give second- or third-degree blood relation of that Adam Francoeur, program coordinator with up their homes, their lives, their community or other individual.” Immigration Equality, shared the story of Sandra live in constant fear of deportation.” “It is not a marriage bill; it is not intended to and Veronika. Veronika was expelled when her Based on the 2002 census, Immigration be a marriage bill,” Nadler said in explaining visa expired, and she returned to Hungary with Equality estimates the bill might affect 36,000 how it avoids becoming caught up with the their two children, who are having problems couples. However, there are reasons to believe Defense of Marriage Act. Some opponents have adapting to a new language. Sandra is in the the census undercounted same-sex couples. called it a backdoor approach to gay marriage. process of selling their belongings to join Nadler acknowledges the bill is unlikely to But Nadler says that is a red herring; he believes the family. He said such stories “are all too receive a hearing or a vote in this session of most of the opposition is rooted in anti-gay common.” Congress. “I’m trying to get as many co animus. “U.S. immigration policy is based on the prin sponsors, to raise the consciousness as much as “More than 15 other nations have recog ciple of family unification; indeed, nearly 65 per possible so that either one can put unbearable nized permanent partnerships for the purposes of cent of all green card applications are family pressure on the Republicans, or we can have a immigration, and it is time that the United based. Sadly, we know that lesbian and gay cou Democratic House, whatever comes first.” States do so as well,” Nadler added. “A diverse ples are treated as less than equal,” Francoeur said. There are 53 co-sponsors on the bill, and coalition of advocacy groups, religious organiza Christopher Labonte, legislative director of Nadler is confident that they will surpass the 129 tions and companies support this legislation.” the Human Rights Campaign, said: “We hear of co-sponsors of the last session of Congress. JF1 501 N Graham #445 • Portland Or 97227 Gynecological Surgery and Obstetrics Kimberly Suriano, M.D. Philippa Ribbink. M.D. Elizabeth Newhall, M.D. Brenda Kehoe, M.D. Sally Holtzman. M.D. Laurel Lee,C.N.M. Jennifer Heiser, M.D. 503-284-5220 Carina Wienk.L.M.T Naturopathic Physician Tori Hudson, N.D. 503-284-2469 Imagine... Doctors that treat your whole person M arriage R oundup Massachusetts governor flip-flops on civil unions; setbacks in New Jersey and California by Bob Roehr nti-gay foes have launched yet him explain how he was for civil unions before another effort to roll back mar he was against them.” riage for gays and lesbians in Marty Rouse is campaign director for Mass- Massachusetts, this time with a Equality, the group that has led the political constitutional amendment that fight for gay marriage within thé state. He would define marriage as only between a man charged, “Romney is burnishing his right-wing and a woman. It has the support of credentials Republican and using gay and lesbian couples in Gov. Mitt Romney. Massachusetts to help him with his possible nin The Massachusetts Legislature passed a state for president.” Romney has made numerous constitutional amendment that would limit high-profile appearances in states with key marriage to between a man and a woman while Republican primaries. establishing civil unions for same-sex couples. It Joe Solmonese, president of the Human barely passed last year and is scheduled to taken Rights Campaign, called it “cynical politics mas up for a required second vote in the fall, where querading as a public policy debate. The people passage is uncertain. If it passes, it would go to of Massachusetts don’t want this amendment, the voters in November 2006. but Gov. Romney and his extremist backers do." The Coalition for Marriage and Family says He also tied it to Romney’s aspirations for the the amendment goes too far. Its amendment, Republican presidential nomination. unveiled June*16, would ban civil unions as Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Pride Coalition and the mother of twins, well. The group must gather 65,825 valid signa tures on a petition between Sept. 21 and chided Romney for using the “old trick” of Nov. 23, then obtain the support of at least a claiming to be protecting children. She invited quarter of the Legislature in order to get it on him to see how gay families really work by attending the coalition’s 10th annual Family the ballot in 2008. This amendment effort is being led by close Week from July 30 to Aug. 6 in Provincetown. allies of James Dobson and Focus on the Family. N ew J ersey It has the support of the states four Roman Many advocates had hoped that New Jersey Catholic bishops and a number of legislators. would become the second state to find that Romney immediately endorsed the effort, denying gays and lesbians the right to marry was saying the compromise amendment that the not allowed under that state’s constitution. constitutional convention adopted “is some Their hopes were dashed by the 2-1 decision of what confused or muddied.” He reiterated his an appellate court June 14. support for traditional marriage, linking it to The majority opinion effectively dismissed “ensuring the well-being of children.” the equal protection claims raised by Lambda Romney supported the compromise amend Legal; it relied primarily upon the lower court ment when it was before the constitutional con decision. It affirmed that marriage traditionally vention last year. The Boston Herald criticized has been between a man and a woman and that him for flip-flopping on the issue, writing in a New Jersey’s recently enacted domestic partners June 18 editorial, “It will be amusing to hear A The clinics of law offers some of the benefits plaintiffs were seeking. The majority also asserted that furthering procreation was a valid reason for the state to limit marriage to a man and a woman. The state’s attorney specifically rejected that line of argument in defending the status quo during oral arguments. Because the appellate court was divided, the New Jersey Supreme Court cannot duck the issue but must consider an appeal. “We are disappointed but not discouraged. We’ve always known that this case is headed for the New Jersey Supreme Cxxiit, and now we’re that much closer to the final word,” said David Buckel, director of the Marriage Project at Lamb da Legal. It will file an appeal as quickly as possible. C alifornia A ruling in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act has most gay advocates breathing a sigh of relief, at least for now. Sitting in Orange County, outside Los Ange les, federal Judge Gray Taylor found that the U.S. Constitution did not guarantee a right to same- sex marriage and that the purpose of DOMA— to foster “the optimal union for procreating and rearing children by both biological parents”— was a legitimate goal for the legislation. The National Center for Lesbian Rights had filed a petition asking that the court not rule on the issue under the California Constitution, as that is a matter of ongoing litigation and appeal elsewhere within the state’s judicial system. Tay lor agreed. Advocates fear that should a federal court prematurely strike down DOMA, it will increase pressure on Congress to pass a federal constitu tional amendment limiting marriage to oppo site-sex couples. The current legal situation allows some wiggle room for states to experi ment with gay marriage as allowed under state constitutions and legislation. Plaintiffs have said they will appeal the rul ing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Two other courts, in Washington and Florida, have ruled on DOMA and have found it legitimate. Those cases have not been appealed. National College of Naturopathic Medicine Honoring the Healing Power oj Nature LAURELHURST DENTISTRY C larice J ohnston d . m . d . & ASSOCIATES • Treatment explained and discussed • Teeth whitening • New patients welcome 503/233-3622 2520 East Burnside lcz«l i »A ha
