NEWS BRIEFS

SEPTEMBER 12, 1997 GAY PEOPLE's ChroNICLE 9

Man reports theft, and police book him for sodomy

North Smithfield, R.I.—The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is protesting a Massachusetts man's arrest for "acts against nature" after he reported a theft. He is charged under a law dating from the 1800s, the Call of Woonsocket reported Sept. 3.

ACLU Rhode Island director Steven Brown called it "outrageous" for police to charge the men under the law, particularly the alleged robbery victim.

"It's bad enough police would charge any adult for consensual sexual activity, but it is especially outrageous that they would charge the victim in the case," he said. "I'm not sure what message it sends, other than to stay a victim."

Many police departments treat the law, which carries up to 20 years in jail, as “archaic” and only use it in rape cases, he said.

Michael Simmons, 28, of Upton, Mass., told police a man stole his wallet during a sexual encounter in the woods. Police then arrested both men under a law that forbids socalled "abominable and detestable acts against nature."

Steve Chausse, 36, of Sutton, Mass., was arrested and charged with larceny, trespassing and loitering, in addition to the sex charge. Police said Simmons' empty wallet was in Chausse's car.

Simmons is facing the same charges except for the larceny count.

Twenty-one other states have similar "sodomy" laws in effect. Five only apply to samesex relations.

Stone can say 'beloved partner'

Philadelphia—A suburban cemetery that refused to allow a lesbian to place a headstone including the words "beloved life partner" on her partner's grave has agreed to allow the epitaph after the woman sued.

When Cynthia Friedman discovered that she had cancer in 1989, she drew up papers to ensure that her long-time relationship with Sherry Barone would be legally recognized. Before her death, Friedman explicitly rejected any relatives' authority to challenge Barone's authority to act on her behalf. Barone purchased cemetery plots at Har Jehuda Cemetery in Upper Darby, Pa., according to Friedman's wishes.

However, when Barone ordered the headstone for the grave, Friedman's parents objected, and ordered a different marker. Cemetery officials then refused to erect the headstone Barone ordered.

Barone filed a federal lawsuit in April accusing the cemetery of breaching a contract.

The cemetery made an out-of-court settlement September 5 agreeing to pay Barone $15,000 and erect the headstone it had previously refused.

"Finally, Cynthia will have the headstone she wanted," said Barone, "and my mind will be at peace for the first time in three years."

APA 'conversion' rule protested

Washington-Responding to a resolution passed by the American Psychological Association that limited the use of "conversion" therapy to treat gay and lesbian patients, a Christian right group staged a protest outside the organization's office, demanding that the APA rescind the statement.

The protesters, who claim to be former homosexuals, belong to a group called Transformation Ex-Gay Ministries. They said that the APA adopted the resolution-which said that efforts to "cure" homosexuals had no scientific basis and was potentially harmful——— only after they were pressured by the "gay and lesbian lobby."

Transformation also expressed concern that psychologists who continue therapies aimed at curing gay and lesbian patients could face lawsuits if the APA deems the practice unethical.

Robert H. Knight, of the religious right group Family Research Council, said, "Gays can change, they deserve the right to change, and nobody has the right to stand in their way.' Family Research Council is an affiliate of James Dobson's Focus on the Family.

Station airs banned Ellen show

Birmingham, Ala.-A Birmingham television station which drew nationwide attention for banning the coming-out episode of the sitcom Ellen aired the rerun on Wednesday September 3 during the show's regular 8:00 pm time slot.

WBMA Channels 33 and 40 was the only ABC affiliate in the nation that did not air the episode in April. About 2,500 people watched the episode at Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium at an event co-sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Station president and general manager Jerry Heilman, who in April described the episode as "not suitable for family viewing," was unavailable for comment on August 29, when a reporter called to ask about the decision to air the rerun.

The station also pre-empted the final two Ellen episodes last spring, in which the show's main character continued telling friends and family members she was gay.

Jury denies HIV rape claim

East St. Louis, Ill.-A federal jury on August 29 rejected claims against five of seven prison officials accused of allowing an inmate to be raped, which he claimed infected him with HIV.

Jurors were unable to reach a verdict involving two other officials at Menard Correc tional Center, a corrections officer and Menard's psychiatrist, who were accused of ignoring Michael Blucker's pleas for help. Blucker sought $1.5 million in his lawsuit, but was awarded no damages.

In his lawsuit, Blucker claimed that within days of his April 1993 arrival at Menard, he was raped by three fellow prisoners. He also claimed that on two occasions prison guards either brought inmates to his cell or sent him to another cell, where he was raped.

During one such encounter, Blucker claims he contracted HIV. He tested positive in March 1994.

Blucker, 28, said he will seek a second trial against the two prison officials.

If jurors had ruled in favor of Blucker, the state would have been liable for any judgment and corrections officials could have been required to make changes in procedures to protect inmates.

Harassment can be same-sex

St. Paul, Minn.--Sexual harassment between two men violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the state Supreme Court ruled in its first case on whether same gender harassment is illegal.

The court ruled 6-1 on August 28 that harassment can take place in the office even if no women are present and neither party is sexually interested in the other.

The case involved Richard Cummings, who was hired by S & K Trucking and Landscaping of Rosemount in July 1992 as a seasonal truck driver.

Cummings alleged that his direct supervi-

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sor and the co-owner of the company, Charles Koehnen, repeatedly made lewd sexual comments and routinely put his hands on Cummings' hips, simulating a sexual act.

Koehnen claimed that he was just having fun and because he isn't gay, his actions shouldn't have been taken seriously.

Partner bill passes senate

Sacramento, Calif.-A bill that would require health insurers to offer domestic partner coverage to employers cleared the California Senate on August 28.

The bill would cover a variety of nontraditional couples, including same-sex couples, and opposite sex couples who live together in arrangements other than traditional marriage.

Employers would not be required to offer the domestic partnership coverage, nor would employees be required to sign up for it, but the bill would give medium-sized employers access to domestic partner health policies that until now have been available only to larger companies. Disney, Bank of America and some of the major airlines like Northwest and American currently offer coverage for domestic part-

ners.

Opponents of the bill have said it is unnecessary, and that there is nothing in the law that prohibits health plans from insuring partners marriages. Republican senator Ray Haynes who live together in other than traditional said that passage of the bill would force companies to do something they may not want to do.

The author of the bill said that her office is working with California governor Pete Wilson to see that he signs the bill. Wilson has vetoed previous domestic partnership bills. Opinion polls indicate that the public supports the bill.

Disney hit for 'pro-gay' policies

Burbank, Calif.-Demonstrators rallied outside Walt Disney Studios August 5 to attack the company's pro-gay policies.

Groups said they object to Disney granting its employees health benefits for same-sex partners and to the lesbian lead character in the TV series Ellen.

Disney employees set out water, soft drinks and cookies for the demonstrators, who stood outside in muggy, 100-degree weather.

Several groups have called for boycotts of Disney products and theme parks, including the Southern Baptist Convention, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women For America, American Family Assn., and King for America, founded by the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Disney issued a statement saying, “We will remain committed to certain values... that include tolerance and compassion and respect for everybody."

School refuses HIV+ student

Portage, Mich.-A public elementary school in this southwest Michigan town refused to allow a 9-year-old girl to go to school because she is HIV-positive, reports UPI. The girl began attending school on August 25, but on August 27 school officials told her not to

return.

An attorney for Portage Public Schools told the wire service that officials were acting according to state and district policy that a panel must review cases concerning students with communicable diseases to determine if they put other students at risk.

The girl's mother is seeking legal advice, and has found a private school that will accept her daughter.

Compiled from wire reports by Dawn Leach and Doreen Cudnik.

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