16 . JU StpUt JANUARY fi. MM ■■ national ’D avid W. O wens P. C. & ASSOCIATES serving the community since 1975 NATIONAL Pentagon Spied on U.S. Gay Groups A ttorneys at L aw NBC News reported Dec. 20 that the U.S. military Serving Oregon & Washington 503°224°3100 ESTATE PLANNING NEEDS WILLS • TRUSTS • ADVANCE DIRECTIVES POWER OF ATTORNEY DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS GUARDIANSHIPS AND CONSERVATORSHIPS wwwowens-law.com • 101 SW MAIN, SUITE 700 • Portland, Oregon 97204 • Parking Validated 3Z Supreme Court, we bring to bear our more than 30 years of experience advocating in favor of these princi­ ples that are the bedrock of our legal system. has spied on domestic groups, including some “Unfortunately, what our analysis reveals is that opposed to the war in Iraq and others protesting the Judge Alito has a political agenda different from that military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. New York required of members of the judiciary. It is based on his University's OUTlaw group was labeled “potentially personal political ideology and stands apart from any violent,” and a kiss-in at UC Santa Cruz to protest the principle that can reasonably be located in the military’s ban on openly gay personnel was deemed a Constitution. We do not believe that Judge Alito has the "credible threat” of terrorism. necessary commitment to liberty and equality for all Americans. Judge Alito puls particular political ends Queer Legal Group Opposes Alito Nomination above a fair reading of the Constitution. Bill of Rights and the laws passed by Congress. Put differently, his Saying that Samuel Alito Jr. puts his personal polit­ political agenda leads him to write judicial decisions ical agenda above the principles enshrined in the to make the law conform to his politics. He then Constitution, Lambda Legal announced Dec. 12 its applies legal craftsmanship and precedent to justify opposition to his nomination to the U.S. Supreme the law he is making. “The job of a Supreme Court justice is unique Court. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of lambda Legal, within the judiciary. Among other things, the con­ said in a statement: “As a legal organization advocating straints created by legal precedent are far less binding for LGBT people and people with HIV, we know how at the Supreme Court. Putting politics ahead of the important it is that every member of the judiciary be Constitution and laws of this country is dangerous at committed to the Constitution and its core principles of all levels of our judicial system. This practice is dan­ liberty, equality and justice for all. In examining Samuel gerous because it jeopardizes the system of checks Alito's nomination for a lifetime appointment to the and balances that the judiciary is meant to safeguard, making the concerns of groups of people lacking political power especially vulnerable. “For these reasons, Lambda Legal is compelled to oppose Samuel Alito's nomination.” PENNSYLVANIA Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Former Penn State Basketball Star A lawsuit was filed Dec. 20 in federal district court in Pennsylvania on behalf of former Penn State women’s basketball star Jennifer Harris against Lady I’m, AVAILABLE, „ whenjjoti are! Careful and energetic handling of all your home financing needs Lions basketball coach Rene Portland, among others. The complaint alleges that, despite Harris’ out­ standing performance as a student athlete during her Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's C. Dixon Osburn said it is "absurd, homophobic and irrational" for the Pentagon to label a gay student kiss-in as a "credible threat." career at the university from 2003 to 2005, Portland repeatedly inquired about her sexual orientation, pressured her to change her appearance to be more “feminine,” harassed and targeted her and other African-American athletes and eventually told ¿¿A MORTGAGE j R«5 f 5| Advocates other players not to associate with her. In 2005, Portland abruptly told Harris to find somewhere else to play. 6700SW 106d) Ave., Suite 2(X> Beaverton.OR97005 Toil Fite (877) B2t>09II<-enwi£nitgani www.mtgadvi xates.c< >m The complaint names Portland, athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State as defen­ dants and alleges they violated numerous fed­ eral and state laws and constitutional protec­ tions prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender and sexual orientation. In addi­ tion to seeking damages, Harris asks the Hundreds of students march and rally Oct. 18 at UC Santa Cruz to protest the presence of military recruiters at the campus career fair. court to order Penn State to conduct manda­ tory nondiscrimination training for all athlet­ ic department employees as well as create new policies to help student athletes report discrimination without fear of retaliation. “My departure from Penn State was very painful,” said Harris. “I struggled with whether I should just walk away and try to forget what happened. I final­ ly realized that I could never put this incident behind me.” Harris is a 6-foot guard from Harrisburg, Pa. She graduated in 2003 as the most decorated player in Central According to a press release by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, this peaceful protest and others like it were under surveillance by the Pentagon. Dauphin High history and still holds the school record as all-time leading scorer. Among other honors, Harris was named