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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2007)
JANUARY 5. 2007 jUSt|OUt ) 19 queer person has been appointed to a Cabinet-level position. Hudson, an attorney, chairs the council’s Jobs and Economic Development Committee. From 1989 to L996, she was a deputy liquida tor and special services attorney for the Ohio Department of Insurance and Office of rhe Ohio Insurance Liquidator. The state has a history ot unfriendly legisla tion toward gays. In 2004, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. In the last legislative session, Republicans attempted to pass a bill preventing gay couples from adopting children. Strickland’s election followed a particularly State Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, authored acrimonious campaign in which his Republican California's equal benefits bill. opponent, Ken Blackwell, compared gays to employer has taken to heart that discrimination criminals in a newspaper report. against people with HIV is wrong and has agreed to Strickland opposes same-sex marriage but has have new policies and training,” Hickman said. generally reached out to the sexual minorities community. Hudson’s appointment must now be NEW JERSEY confirmed by the state Senate. Official DEQ Repair Site Services Include: • Maintenance • DEQ • Tune-ups - Poor Engine Performance • Brakes • Clutch • All Electncal Problems ’ • Carburetors & Fuel Injection | IF • Pre Purchase Inspection Repairs of All Makes & Models American • European • Imports Cars • Trucks • RVs He Fix It Right the First Time From Oil Changes to Overhaul. Fred’s Auto Works Does It AU Close to Downtown • Free Local Rides • Alternators & Starters (Repaired. Rebuilt or Exchanged) 503 238-1159 926 SE Morrison, Portland 1 can make your home buying or refinancing process very easy. Please call me to inquire about programs available to you. OHIO New Gov. Appoints First Gay Cabinet Member Democratic Governor-elect Ted Strickland has appointed Columbus City Councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson to direct the Department of Insurance. It is the first time in Ohio history that an openly TEXAS Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Filed A lawsuit was filed Dec. 18 in federal court in the Southern District of Texas on behalf of Izza Lopez, a transgender woman whose employment offer was rescinded because she is transgender. “When the HR director found out the company offered a job to a transgender person, the offer was rescinded,” said Cole Thaler, transgender rights attorney at Lambda Legal. “Even though Izza was the best applicant for the job, the company decided that it didn’t want a transgender employee and claimed that she ‘misrepresented’ herself.” Lopez, a 26-year-old transgender woman, applied for the position of scheduler with River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostic, a Houston medical imaging company, in September 2005. She sent in her resume, was invited in for an interview, com pleted a background check and drug test, and was asked to start work as soon as possible Oct. 4, 2005. Lopez gave notice to her employer the follow ing day and planned to start working at River Oaks the week of Oct. 24. On Oct. 10, however, she received a phone call from River Oaks’ human resources director and one of its employment recruiters saying that River Oaks was rescinding its- offer of employment because of her “misrepresenta tion” of herself as a woman. Lopez was unable to get her previous job back and was without employment for several months. The lawsuit charges that River Oaks violated Lopez’s rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in employment. “As an applicant, I was inter viewed by a manager and a direc tor who both ^It I was qualified to do the job,” said Lopez. "I was shocked when 1 received the call from human resources taking away the job they’d offered me— it felt as if they’d said to me, ‘You’re a monster; we don’t want you here.’ " ^¿) Out lesbian Columbus City Councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson was appointed to a Cabinet-level position by Ohio's new governor. Compiled by J aymee R. C uti J J Trans Nondiscrimination Bill Passes By a 69-5 vote, the New Jersey Assembly voted Dec. 14 to amend the state’s nondiscrimination laws to protect transgender people from discrimina tion. The Senate approved the companion bill by a 31-5 vote. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine is expected to sign the measure into law. As a result, New Jersey will become the ninth state to extend statutory nondiscrimination protec tions based on gender identity and expression. With New Jersey’s new Taw, 34 percent of the nation’s population will live in a jurisdiction with a clearly transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination law, up from just 6 percent only five years ago. In addition, several states have favorable court or administrative rulings that protect transgender people from discrimination. “The overwhelming bipartisan margins of support in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature prove this is not a ‘controversial’ issue. Legislators clearly understand that discrimination against transgender people is pervasive and that it is wrong,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. I THF HAROLD SCHNIT-ZFR FAMILY PROGRAM IN JUDAIC STUDIES AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS The Second Annual G us & Libby Solomon Lecture Series Dedicated to exploring the American Jewish experience and the ideals of social justice promoted hy the Solomons throughout their lifetime. FEATURING Rabbi Steven Greenberg the first gay Orthodox rabhi Wrestling with God & Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 7 pm Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom (third floor) Portland State University FREE ADMISSION Complimentary parking available SW 6th Avenue, between SW Harrison and Hall For more information or to discuss group seating, contact Ann Usher at ushera0pdx.edu or call 503-725-5057. Portland State UNIVERSITY
