16 . JU St,out
¿ANlyiARV
national
you’re in business, breathe,
(you’re not alone.)
CALIFORNIA
Groups Fight to Uphold Law
Protecting Students
time management 101
weds, 1/23, 630p-9p; $19 @ touchstone coffee
small biz marketing 101
sat, 1/26, 10a-4p; $34 @ the q-center with lunch
money 101
weds, 2/6, 630-9p; $19 @ touchstone coffee
pre-registervia phone or web
causeit.org |503.493.7332 [ coaching, p.r. & business development for our community
Northeast Portland
2224 NE Alberta Street
503-249-6571
Southeast Portland
Voted ‘'Portland's Best Specialty Pet Food Store" bv Portland Monthly Maaazii
All Natural Foods $ Raw Food Diets
'
1402"A SE 39th (at Hawthorne)
503-236-8036
Southwest Portland
Allergy Relief 4 Grooming Products
Collars A Leashes 4? Fun Toys I
Pet Beds 4? Small Animal Supplies
7642 SW Capitol Highway
(Mirttnomoh Village)
971-222-2686
Online
www.healthypehnw.com
Herbal A Homeopathic Remedies
The Natwtäl
M-F10-7, Sot 10-6, Sun. Noon-5
fan Pet Fwli & SicftftUu
Equality California and the Gay-Straight
Alliance Network are seeking to intervene in a law
suit filed Dec. 21 by anti-gay organizations that
would prevent enforcement of state statutes pro
tecting students from discrimination, harassment
and bullying in publicly funded schools. The groups
filed a motion in federal district court in San Diego
to defend the statutes, including the newly enacted
Student Civil Rights Act.
“This law protects all students, plain and
simple, irrespective of their race, religion, sexual
orientation or gender identity,” said Lambda Legal
senior staff attorney Brian Chase. “With 200,000 of
California’s schoolchildren every year finding
themselves victims of harassment or violence, the
need for this law is beyond argument.”
The Student Civil Rights Act, authored by
state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica,
reinforces existing laws that prohibit discrimination
in publicly funded schools and activities, including
discrimination based on religion, race, disability,
gender and sexual orientation. California law has
prohibited discrimination in public education on
these bases, including sexual orientation and
gender, for years.
The lawsuit challenging the Student Civil
Rights Act was filed last month by lawyers for
Advocates for Faith and Freedom and the Alliance
Defense Fund.
FLORIDA
Man Murders His Children,
Ex-Wife and Her Partner
A family was destroyed Dec. 14 when Jennifer
Davis, her two children and partner Andrea
Pisanello were killed in their Largo apartment by
Davis’ ex-husband, Oliver Bemsdorff.
Bernsdorff, a teacher in Pinellas County, shot
himself to death on the Sunshine Skyway. He was
the only suspect in the murders.
Church friends told police they thought
Bernsdorff had the potential to kill his ex-wife.
In August 2007, Bernsdorff filed for divorce
from his wife. They entered into a settlement that
gave him primary custody of their children, court
records show. Dec. 17 would have been the couple’s
eighth wedding anniversary.
Activists Ready for Marriage Battle
The Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage
gathered the necessary 611,009 signatures to get
a state constitutional amendment defining mar
riage as between one man and one woman on
November’s ballot.
The state Legislature already enacted a statute
banning marriages between same-sex couples in
1997, but drafters of this amendment say it’s neces
sary to prevent judges from overturning the law.
John Stemberger, president of the Florida
Coalition to Protect Marriage, told CitizenLink,
a newsletter of Focus on the Family Action, that the
signatures show “the people of Florida have spoken”
and will vote in his favor.
Two groups formed
to fight the amendment,
Fairness for All Families
and Florida Red and Blue,
are building relationships
with groups such as
Equality Florida and the
National Association for
the Advancement of
Colored People.
Both groups are spend
ing millions to ensure the
outcome is in their favor.
Florida Red and Blue has
raised $2 million and has
plans for a media cam
paign that could cost up to
$10 million. Fairness for
All Families estimates
The Bernsdorff family is pictured during happier times. Oliver
the cost of fighting the
Bernsdorff was accused of murdering his children, his ex-wife and her
partner before killing himself.
amendment at about $7
Serious Injury & Death Cases
Wrongful Death • Medical Malpractice • Serious Accidents • Brain Injuries
Trucking Accidents • Spinal (ord Injuries • Nursing Home Abuse • Therapist Malpractice
Over 17 Years Experience • Top “AV” Rating
Proudly serving our community since 1989
Free Consultation 503-295-1940 • 800-795-8945
www.goreslaw.com
II
Hala J. Gores, Attorney
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable