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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

February 19, 1993

National Notes

No one noticed, but St. Louis now has a gay civil rights law

With no fanfare the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a major civil rights code revision last October 2 which, among other things, includes sexual orientation as a protected category in every facet of the city's law. The measure was signed into law by Mayor Vincent Schoemehl and Aldermanic President Tom Villa on Oct. 6. The existence of the measure came as a total surprise to the gay and lesbian activist community.

The St. Louis Lesbian and Gay NewsTelegraph found out about the law from a telephone tip just after its December issue went to press. An extra edition of the Missouri-based monthly was released on December 3 announcing the news, which was later picked up by the Associated Press.

The measure was presented in July as a routine update to the city's law in order to bring the city into compliance with federal law. It passed 28-0 with virtually no debate, despite the fact that hearings were held in committee on the bill. Because it sailed through quietly, some board members may not have realized they were passing a gay rights law, even though "sexual orientation" appears in the first sentence and at least 20 other places in the bill.

Mayor Schoemehl's comment about signing the bill was short and to the point: "Discrimination because of sexual orientation is wrong.'

--Lesbian and Gay News-Telegraph

Albany passes rights law

Albany, N.Y. mayor Thomas M. Whalen III on December 10 signed into law a human rights bill that includes protections for gays, an Albany city clerk's office worker said. It

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According to an Associated Press story, the Albany Commons Council passed the bill on December 8 by a vote of 8-6. The law exempts religious groups but makes it illegal to discriminate against gays in employment, housing or public accommodations. Also, the law gives more power to the city's Equal Employment Opportunity office to investigate claims of discrimination and assign punishment, AP reported.

The bill was sponsored by Council-member Keith St. John, an openly gay AfricanAmerican man, and adds "sexual orientation" to a list of protected classes which includes race, creed, color, national origin, religion, gender, marital status, age or disability.

given the city's married couples but only in the areas of hospital visitation, bereavement leave, housing rights, and child care.

Gay leaders praised the action but are critical of the mayor for not fulfilling his 1989 campaign promise to grant health benefits to domestic partners.

Majorie Hill, the mayor's gay community liaison, said the city's charter and the State Insurance Department prohibit Dinkins from issuing an executive order calling on city insurers to cover domestic partners. Hill said the only way to grant health benefits to domestic partners is for the City Council to pass legislation.

But the state insurance commissioner ruled in an Ithaca, N.Y., case that domestic partners are not eligible for coverage under the state's insurance law. Dinkins has asked the commission to reconsider its decision and he has endorsed a Council bill seeking to grant health care benefits to the city's domestic partners.

Councilmembers received much feedback on the issue from both sides and some of the members of the Commons Council changed their proposed votes several times. The measure had been a topic of controversy for five years, according to AP. Opponents of the law objected to giving Oregon fighting off bigots again rights to gays and worried it would prevent small property owners from choosing which tenants they would allow to rent from them, the article said.

New York recognizes city workers' domestic partners

New York City Mayor David Dinkins on January 7 signed two executive orders granting gay city workers domestic partnership benefits, including one giving leave of absence without pay to care for a partner's newborn child.

One of the executive orders establishes a city registry in which city employees and residents can register their partners. The other entitles them to benefits equal to those

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In a continuing drive to overturn anti-gay ballot initiatives, the ACLU of Oregon is challenging the constitutionality of a municipal law that equates sexual orientation and homosexuality with pedophilia, sadism and masochism.

In a lawsuit filed on January 19 in Lane County Circuit Court in Oregon, the ACLU says that the amendment to the Springfield City Charter, adopted last May, violates a number of federal and state constitutional guarantees, including the rights to equal protection and freedom of expression. The lawsuit also says that the anti-gay amendment amounts to a government endorsement of a particular religious viewpoint.

Filed only days after a Colorado judge prohibited that state from enforcing its recently approved anti-gay initiative, the Oregon lawsuit asks the court to temporarily block enforcement of the law while it considers its constitutionality.

The Springfield initiative would forbid the city council or any other elected or appointed officers to adopt any "law, ordinance, rule or resolution" that includes mention of "sexual orientation, "sexual preference" and "similar phrases that include homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism or masochism."

The Springfield amendment was similar to one considered and defeated statewide in Oregon in November. It is more virulent, but equally damaging, than the initiative adopted in Colorado.

Meanwhile, State Rep. Jim Edmunson (D-Eugene) has introduced a civil rights bill that would put a halt to city and county ordinances attempting to legislate sexual behavior. "This bill does not stop people from believing gay rights are wrong, if that's what they want to believe," Edmunson said, "[but] it will stop people from imposing those views and beliefs on others."

The ban would prohibit any Oregon city or county from enacting local laws that describe any kind of sexual behavior as “deviant, unnatural, or perverse, unless the behavior is also a crime under state law." Edmunson's bill is supported by other Oregon legislators, including lesbian Representative Gail Shibley (D-Portland).

--Bay Area Reporter

HIV-positive pharmacist rehired

Facing the loss of its federal funding and continued state court litigation, a major New York hospital agreed to reinstate an HIV-positive pharmacist to unrestricted duties. Westchester County Hospital's agreement to end its discrimination against the health care worker concluded the first federal HIV-related civil rights enforcement action, and sends a strong message to the nation that health care workers with HIV pose virtually no risk to patients.

The hospital agreed to adopt a written policy of non-discrimination, provide training to employees, rehire the pharmacist without restrictions and with back pay and benefits.

Names Project has new director

San Francisco-The board of directors of the Names Project Foundation in January announced selection of Anthony Turney as its new executive director. Turney, 55, has over 20 years experience directing nonprofit organizations. He is former deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (1979-87), administrative director for the San Francisco Opera (1987-89) and Executive Director for the Dance Theatre of Harlem (1989-91).

For more information on the NAMES Project Foundation call 415-863-5511 or write 2362 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94114.

Gay Latinos shortchanged in minority AIDS report

The co-chairs of the National Latina and Latino Lesbian and Gay Organization (LLEGO) have criticized a report issued by the National Commission on AIDS in January, saying the report on racism and AIDS fails to adequately address the concerns of gay Latinos.

"By addressing the AIDS concerns of gay Latinos with a mere four sentences...you have continued and added to the marginalization of our communities," wrote LLEGO chairs Mario Solis-Marich and Nena Trujillo to the commission on January 12.

The letter took exception to the report's statement that "gay men in the HispanicLatino community are concerned with the perceived inappropriateness of funding and lack of responsiveness and support." In response, LLEGO said, "The gay Latino com-

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