FEBRUARY 7, 1997 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

9

EDITORIAL

Ohio's anti-marriage bill is a call to arms

Well, folks... it's here.

A little later than it arrived in some other states, but Ohio now has an anti-same sex marriage bill. And it has arrived special delivery from our friends at the Northeast Ohio Roundtable.

This group of right-wing fanatics presents itself as an "educational organization" so they can get tax-exempt status in order to do their political work. Work like convincing legislators to introduce and co-sponsor frivolous, unnecessary bills simply so they can have an opportunity to gay-bash while filling their coffers with donations-two activities right-wing groups never seem to get tired of.

House Bill 160, introduced Jan. 29 by Republican Representative Jay Hottinger of Newark, is a mean-spirited disgrace of a bill that does absolutely nothing to change Ohio law. Instead, it repeats current Ohio law which specifies that only a man age 18 or over and a woman age 16 or over, both who are unmarried, "may be joined in marriage." (Section 3101.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.) Furthermore, Ohio courts have ruled on Section 3101.01, and have clearly stated that it limits the right to marry in Ohio to a malefemale couple and does not allow for samesex couples to marry.

In addition, there currently is no state in the U.S. that allows same-sex couples to marry. And anti-marriage sentiment in Hawaii, currently the most progressive state on this issue, is gathering momentum. And, hard as we might try to forget it, we can't overlook the ill-named "Defense of Marriage Act," or DOMA, enacted by Congress last year. This federal law provides that no state will be required to acknowledge a same sex marriage which may be recognized in another state. So, if same-sex marriages were ever permitted in Hawafi, a Hawaii marriage would not be recognized in Ohio, since our state does not permit same sex marriages.

Even State Senator Gary Suhadolnik, not one who is known for his progressive politics, said back in September that this bill was "unnecessary" and that "Ohio law is already adequate."

But all of these facts seem to have eluded the sharp minds of the General Assembly members who signed on to this bill. Suburban Cleveland Rep. Mike Wise, one of the bill's Republican co-sponsors, seems to believe that this legislation would somehow “strengthen" Ohio's current law, but he can't be sure since he admits, "I've not taken the time to get a good legal understanding myself.”

He then referred the Chronicle to David Zanotti, president of the Northeast Ohio Roundtable, and said that Zanotti would gladly explain why this bill was necessary. We're sure he would, since these are the folks who boast in their own literature that their mission since 1980 has been to "restore traditional Judeo-Christian principles to American public policy. . . In a word, our mandate is restoration." Unfortunately, Zanotti could not be reached for comment.

Whether or not this organization, or another similar organization, had anything to do with Rep. Hottinger sponsoring this bill is unclear. Repeated attempts by the editor of the Gay People's Chronicle to reach Hottinger both at his home and his office, including a conversation with his legislative aide Susan Boyd, went unanswered.

Cleveland radio host Buck Harris, however, was able to secure an interview with the legislator on Thursday, February 6, which will be taped and broadcast on The Gay Nineties on Sunday, February 9 on WERE 1300 AM from 7 to 9 pm--which could be either a testament to Harris' tenacity or Hottinger's views toward female newspaper editors. It remains to be seen, though, whether or not that interview will happen once Hottinger's research team finds out that Harris is a gay talk show host.

Rep. Rocco Colonna of Brook Park, one of two Democratic co-sponsors, made it crystal clear why he supports this bill-utter contempt for gay and lesbian Ohioans, and a belief that we have no right to expect equal treatment under the law from the state legislature. Never mind why this bill is unnecessary, never mind that we should expect our state representatives to be able to separate

their personal views from their legislative responsibilities—we just make him sick.

“I think [the idea of same-sex marriage] is very disgusting and it's very, very sickening," Colonna said. “And the idea of men having sex with men, I think that's utterly stupid and ridiculous. Okay? And I think the same, identical thing where women are concerned too. The bottom line is, where in God's creation . . . I don't see that two men can satisfy each other sexually.'

Colonna added that he votes the way his district wants him to vote, and he believes that 90 percent of his district would support him on this issue.

And you know what? He's right. If this brand of hate speech is the only information that people in his district-and people in the other districts around the state-get about this issue, then yes, they probably will support their representatives.

This is why it is imperative for Ohio's gay and lesbian community take a proactive position to defeat this bill. Do not sit idly by and wait for someone else to do it for you. Only you can tell the truth to the people in your district about your life and your love. Or would you rather let someone like Colonna do it for you?

We have a long road ahead of us, and in the words of Harvey Fierstein, “This ain't gonna be pretty." But fighting this bill could give us a sense of statewide community the likes of which we've never felt before. Working together to defeat this, we will forge strong coalitions, we will stand up and say, finally, in one loud voice, "Enough! You will not scapegoat us any more!"

And the good thing, the most encouraging thing about this is that it is a winnable fight. The Supreme Court of the United States spoke loudly and clearly back in May of 1996 when they overturned Colorado's Amendment 2. The opinion in the Romer. v. Evans case said that "animus," or hatred against a certain group of people, is not an acceptable reason to enact laws against them. Could Colonna's reasons for signing on to this bill be any clearer?

There is no legislative reason for H.B. 160, and the sponsors know it. The only reason H.B. 160 was introduced is to curry favor with their right-wing supporters. This is easy for the bill's sponsors, because they don't like us, because our relationships make them uncomfortable, and because we're the last group that they think it is okay to discriminate against.

Tell them, "No, you can't," and remind them that the highest court in the land is behind us on this one. As Canton activist Eric Resnick said at a May 22 rally celebrating the Supreme Court's historic Amendment 2 decision, "The Supreme Court has given us an opportunity to stick up for ourselves-but the rest is up to us."

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H.B. 160 is currently in the Civil and Commercial Law Committee. The Republican members of that committee are Ed Kasputis, chair, of North Olmsted; Jim Buchy, vice chair, of Darke County; Jamie Callender, of Willoughby; Joan Lawrence, of Delaware and Morrow Counties; Jim Mason, of Columbus; Mike Wise, of Broadview Hts.; and Ann Womer-Benjamin, of Portage County.

Democratic members are Otto Beatty, ranking minority member, of Columbus; David Hartley, of Springfield; Peter Lawson Jones, of Shaker Hts.; and Betty Sutton, of Akron.

Call these legislators and tell them not to vote this bill out of committee. Remind them that this bill is a waste of time, as well as a waste of taxpayer's money and nothing more than an attempt to bash lesbian and gay Ohioans. Call Legislative Information at the Ohio House of Representatives for their numbers, at 800282-0253.

Call, write, or e-mail Rep. Jay Hottinger and let him know what you think about his bill. He can be reached by phone at 614-728-5522. His address is 77 South High Street, 11th Floor, Columbus, 432660603. His fax number is: 614-644-9494, and e-mail is JHottinger@mail.house. state.oh.us

Columbus activists have assembled a wonderful outline that includes talking points, factual information and sample

letters to send to representatives. This information can be found at www.ohrba.org and response to H.B. 160 can be sent via e-mail to the State of Ohio web site at www.ohio.gov, and select "legislative branch.” A message can be sent to the governor by selecting "executive branch." Call Elliot Fishman at 614258-3474 for information about future meetings in the Columbus and central Ohio area.

If you live in the Cleveland or northeast Ohio area, plan to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, February 13 at the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center, 1418 W. 29th Street, at 6 pm. Members of the ACLU, Stonewall Cleveland, the Ohio Human Rights Bar Association, and Chronicle staffers will be there to share information and bring us up to date on what is happening. Call the ACLU at 216-781-6277 or Stonewall Cleveland at 216-741-9105 for more information.

If you live in the Akron or Canton area, plan to attend Stonewall Akron's rally for same-sex marriage rights on Friday, February 14 at noon. It will be held in the park between the Summit County Courthouse and the Ocasek Building. Call 330-785-0844 for more information about this event.

If you are not sure who your state representative is, call the Board of Elections in your area, or the Legislative Infomation Line at 800-282-0253.

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