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June 5, 2009 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 7
newsbriefs
March on Washington proposal gets a cool reception
Washington, D.C.-Impromptu plans for an October 2009 LGBT march on Washington drew sharp criticism from the woman at the center of the previous four events.
Robin Tyler called for the first and fourth marches in 1979 and 2000, and was main stage producer for the second and third ones in 1987 and 1993. She believes that the call for such events must be based on a grassroots desire.
Despite an earlier reluctance to call for a march, AIDS Memorial Quilt founder Cleve Jones called in mid-May for a march on Washington on October 10 and 11, to coincide with National Coming Out Day.
Gay Democratic activist David Mixner joined Jones' call for action.
But criticism was marked. Tyler noted that, between the efforts in California to repeal Proposition 8, which put an anti-marriage amendment in the state constitution, and the recession making life for LGBT organizations difficult, it was not the time for a unilateral decision to hold a march.
Two other items were brought up in speaking against the idea: There will be few politicians in town over that holiday weekend, and there are already three other events scheduled for the National Mall, including a cancer walk-a-thon and a Treasury Depart-
ment event.
Karen Ocamb, an LGBT journalist, points out also that a month later, voters in Maine will face a possible repeal of their marriage rights, and efforts should be made to support marriage equality there, not to put on a march that would take place during the Columbus Day holiday weekend.
"For people who are concerned about poverty and social and economic issues as I know David Mixner and Cleve Jones are, it seems an odd time to re-direct resources and attention without something close to an assured outcome," Ocamb wrote in a column on the Bilerico Project website.
Illinois civil union bill dies
Springfield, Ill.-The state's civil union legislation, which passed the senate earlier in the legislative session, has died.
Sponsor Rep. Greg Harris kept supporters updated on his Facebook page while legislators wrapped up the session at the end of May.
The measure was not called up before legislators left. So, the bill now goes back to the rules committee of each chamber, where it is unlikely that it will be reconsidered.
Three more cities back EHEA
Columbus-Three more localities have put their support behind the Equal Housing and Employment Act, now in the Ohio House.
The LGBT anti-discrimination measure, which was introduced May 12 by Reps. Dan Stewart and Ross McGregor, brought forward support from city councils in Youngstown and Warren.
In addition, the Montgomery County Commissioners issues a letter of support for the bill.
They join Lucas and Franklin counties, as well as cities across the state-Athens, Bowling Green, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Dayton, Lakewood, Springfield and Toledo.
Three Fortune 500 companies have expressed their support-Limited Brands, Cardinal Health and Nationwide Insurance, along with a number of major employers
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Nevada adds TGs to equal rights law
Carson City, Nev.-A bill to bar housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was signed into law on May 22 by Gov. Jim Gibbons.
The measure adds housing, public accommodations and gender identity to an existing sexual orientation job bias law, passed in 1999.
Under S.B. 207, the Nevada Equal Rights Commission is required to investigate complaints filed by those reporting such discrimination. The measure was sponsored by Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, an openly gay state lawmaker.
The bill-signing was praised by Lee Rowland of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, who said the new law "honors the implied promise Nevada makes when it advertises to gay and lesbian tourists all over the world that they will be treated fairly and equally when they come to Nevada."
The measure makes Nevada the 14th state to ban discrimination by gender identity. Twenty states-including these 14have laws against sexual orientation discrimination; Ohio is not among them.
Veto override passes partner law
Carson City, Nev.-The state assembly overrode Gov. Jim Gibbons' veto on a 28-14 vote on May 31 and changed state law so that domestic partners, whether gay or straight, have many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.
The assembly's vote-the bare twothirds majority needed—followed the state senate's similar decision a day earlier, with no votes to spare, to make the historic change in state law over the conservative Republican governor's objections.
Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, termed S.B. 283 "the most important civil rights legislation we have had in all my years here," adding the law change ensures "justice for all, not justice for some."
Leslie said proponents of the new law were asking "that their government give them the ability to choose who they will live with and whom they will love."
The measure provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.
Nevada becomes the 17th state to recognize lesbian and gay couples, either with full marriage, civil union or domestic partnership.
New Hampshire marriage bill revived
Concord, N.H.-House and Senate negotiators on May 29 agreed to add one sentence and change one word in a bill that
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Both chambers have approved bills to legalize same-sex marriage, but Gov. John Lynch later demanded additional language to make it clear that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or to provide services, facilities and goods of any kind to participants.
The Senate passed legislation to satisfy Lynch, but the House narrowly rejected it last week. The compromise reached May 29 barely changes it.
The new version, which was expected to come up for a vote on June 3, adds a sentence specifying that all religious organizations, associations or societies have exclusive control over their religious doctrines, policies, teachings and beliefs on marriage. It also clarifies that church-related organizations that serve charitable or educational purposes are exempt from having to provide insurance and other benefits to same sex spouses of employees. The earlier version said "charitable and educational" instead of "charitable or educational."
The changes amount to slightly stronger language than what Lynch proposed, and the governor approves of the revisions.
Maryland may honor out-of-state vows
Annapolis, Md.-Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is looking into whether the state can recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, and his office plans to issue an opinion in the coming weeks.
State law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but Maryland also sticks to a long-standing legal principle that generally acknowledges couples married elsewhere.
Gansler, a Democrat, supports same-sex marriage. While Maryland has extended a variety of protections to same-sex couples in recent years, it has stopped short of legalizing marriages or civil unions. Gov. Martin O'Malley, also a Democrat, supports the latter.
New York Gov. David A. Paterson signed an executive order last year directing state agencies to recognize same-sex nuptials performed elsewhere. District of Columbia
Mayor Adrian Fenty signed a bill this month that did the same.
Gay civil rights advocates say the recognition of out-of-state marriages will strengthen relationships and confer hundreds of rights, benefits and responsibilities that gay couples currently lack.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. Efforts to legalize it in Maryland through the courts have failed, and legislative proposals have remained bottled up in committee.
The state attorney general's office has occasionally weighed in on the question of lesbian and gay marriages from other states. Robert A. Zarnoch, a former assistant attorney general, wrote that Maryland law would prohibit recognition of such unions, but he also found that the law on the matter is far from clear or settled.
State Dept. partners get benefits
Washington, D.C.-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a memo in mid-May calling for equal benefits and protections for the partners of diplomats.
"Like all families, our Foreign Service families come in different configurations; all are part of the common fabric of our post communities abroad," she said in the memorandum, which was obtained by the New York Times.
"At bottom, the department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex partners because it is the right thing to do," she continued.
LGBT employees have been lobbying for years for the change, which would allow partners of State Department personnel to access many of the benefits given to heterosexual spouses, including emergency and medical evacuations, medical care, security and language training and transportation to posts.
Clinton's husband appointed the first openly gay ambassador in 1999, James C. Hormel, who he appointed to serve in Luxembourg. Opposition from congressional Republicans led President Clinton to make a recess appointment for Hormel.
Compiled from wire reports by Brian DeWitt, Anthony Glassman and Patti Harris.
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