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January 1, 2010

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 3

Lima passes city worker protection ordinance

by Eric Resnick

Lima-This northwest Ohio city became the tenth in the state to protect its employees from discrimination by sexual orientation and gender identity on December 21. The vote was 8 to 0.

The measure protects only city workers, but it "lays the groundwork for future ordinances to be passed," said its proponent, Lima resident Brett Shingledecker.

Located between Toledo and Dayton, Lima's history includes oil field prominence in the early days of Standard Oil, ties to Ku Klux Klan activity in the 1920s, a reluctance to embrace the civil rights progress of the 1960s and conservative politics that continue today. City council elections are non-partisan.

Shingledecker said there was no opposition to the ordinance and passage was quick, following a brief statement by its sponsor Tom Tebben, who represents Ward 4.

Shingledecker, 47, came out in Lima in 1978 at age 15. He moved back from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help care

for his grandparents. He was the co-founder of Chicago's People Like Us LGBT bookstore in 1988.

Upon return to his hometown,

Brett Shingledecker

Shingledecker was hired to direct the Artsbase Lima project, making him a com-

munity leader until he left the post last year to conduct educational travel programs.

Shingledecker said the city is conducting a review of its charter and working on ways to re-brand itself as a place where people want to live and work.

"Lima doesn't do enough to embrace its minorities," Shingledecker said, discussing the charter review commission's study findings.

Shingledecker said the commission recommended that sexual orientation and gender identity be protected from discrimination, but that it be accomplished separate from the charter revision process, which requires approval of the electorate.

"The fear was that the whole charter could be shot down over this," Shingledecker said, "but council could enact it as an ordinance by itself."

Shingledecker said he knows most of the councilors, and spoke at a meeting in May, explaining to them that many Lima residents who work in the private sector are already protected.

Lima's major employers, which include

a Husky Energy oil refinery, Ford Motor Company and health care services, have policies protecting LGBT workers.

Shingledecker said his visible community profile gives him the opportunity to get community officials to put a face to LGBT issues that might otherwise be intangible to them.

"I carry some weight with them," he

added.

The ordinance, was passed as an emergency measure and signed by Mayor David Berger. It went into effect immediately.

In addition to Lima, the state of Ohio and Summit, Franklin, Lucas, Montgomery and Hamilton counties have measures protecting their employees from sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. Cuyahoga County and the city of Gahanna cover only sexual orientation.

Nine Ohio cities, including the six largest ones, have LGBT job bias measures that apply to all workers, public and private. Four more have similar ordinances for sexual orientation only.

newsbriefs

Pelosi: No 'controversial' bills start in House this year

Washington, D.C.-House Democrats who will likely face strong challenges for their seats in next fall's midterm elections were told by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the House of Representatives will not tackle controversial bills in 2010 unless the Senate does first.

According to The Hill, Pelosi first made the assurance regarding immigration reform, but expanded that promise to cover other issues at a breakfast for freshman legislators on December 16.

"The speaker has told members in meetings that we've done our jobs, and that next year the Senate's going to have to prove what it can accomplish before we go sticking our necks out any further," said a Democratic aide.

Her stance could have a detrimental effect on passage of the LGBT Employee Non-Discrimination Act and a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

House members, especially those in vulnerable seats, have expressed reluctance to support measures that could cost them votes, only to then have those bills die in the Senate.

Uganda anti-gay bill will be vetoed

Kampala, Uganda-President Yoweri Museveni will veto a draconian anti-gay bill if it passes the parliament, according to the top U.S. diplomat in Africa.

While gay sex is already illegal in Uganda, the proposed legislation would institute the death penalty for "repeat offenders" and those who have sex while infected with HIV. It would also make it

illegal to "promote" homosexuality.

According to a State Department spokesperson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has on at least two occasions, in person on October 24 and via telephone on December 4, been assured by Museveni that he will work against the bill's passage in parliament and veto it if it comes to his desk.

The bill will be up for a final reading in January.

Carson met with Museveni and other top Ugandan officials in October, expressing concern over the measure, warning that it would be a step in the wrong direction and detrimental to Uganda's reputation in the world.

"And the president understood the concerns and said that he would do what he could to make sure the bill was not passed," State Dept. spokesman Jon Tollefson told the D.C. Agenda, the LGBT newspaper that replaced the Washington Blade. “He would not sign the bill... He made a commitment to the secretary that he would work to make sure it wasn't signed into law."

Portugal may be next with marriage

Lisbon, Portugal-Following the lead of its Spanish neighbors, the Portuguese government unveiled plans to legalize samesex marriage last month.

The bill is likely to pass, enjoying the support of all left-of-center parties in the government. Together, those parties comprise the majority in the parliament.

The law would remove parts of the marriage law limiting it to opposite sexes.

Windsong

Cleveland's Feminist Chorus.

A 30-Year Journey

Karen Weaver, Artistic Director

Winter Concert

Draw Down the Moon

A Celebration of Extraordinary Women

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. The Church of the Covenant 11205 Euclid Avenue in University Circle (Free parking in church lot and Ford Ave. garage to the east)

&

Advance tickets: $12

Advance Students & Seniors: $10 Available from any Windsong member, or on our website: www.windsongchorus.org

or call 216-556-0858

At the door: $15 (all)

The bill is likely to be introduced in January, and could be vetoed by President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who is a conservative. However, even if Silva vetoes it, the parliament could override the veto.

In addition to neighboring Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Canada and South Africa allow full samesex marriage, and about a dozen other nations allow civil unions or some other construct that grants most of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage, including the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland is looking into offering civil unions to its same-sex couples as well.

Judge slaps feds for refusing benefits

San Francisco-A federal judge has cut the Office of Personnel Management out of a discrimination case after they ignored his ruling granting spousal insurance benefits to the wife of a lesbian federal court employee.

Karen Golinski, who married her wife during the 2008 period when California had full same-sex marriage, sued the federal Office of Personnel Management because they refused to allow her wife to be covered on her insurance plan.

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski ruled in Golinski's favor, ordering the OPM to provide the benefits. The administration then went to Blue Cross and told the insurance provider not to supply the benefits, after which the judge again ruled in Golinski's favor.

After that, the OPM-headed by an openly gay presidential appointee-issued

a duo of press releases claiming that it did not recognize Kozinski's authority.

Kozinski decided that, since the OPM did not file a valid appeal to his most recent ruling, they are not allowed to join the appeal before the full Ninth District Court of Appeals.

"OPM has waived its right to appeal Judge Kozinski's order," said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Their press statements have no legal effect, and they continue to ignore Judge Kozinski's ruling that our Constitution empowers the federal courts to end discrimination against court employees. It's hard to reconcile their refusal to participate in this mandatory administrative process with the Obama administration's stated commitment to fair treatment of gay people."

Partner bill advances for U.S. workers

Washington, D.C.-Domestic partner benefits for federal employees took a step forward on December 16, clearing a vote in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The benefits would include health insurance, retirement and disability coverage, family, emergency and medical leave and compensation for work-related injuries. It would also expand ethics rules to cover same-sex domestic partners of federal employees, as opposite-sex spouses

now are.

NETWORK

Cleveland Women's Network 2009 Network Kick-Off Event

General Meeting and Election of 2010 Officers and Board

All women attending the meeting will have their name entered into a drawing for a chance to win a FREE 1 year individual membership to the Network. Winner will be announced at the conclusion of dinner. Winner must be present to win.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010 Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant 2179 Lee Road

Cedar Lee area

1

Cleveland Heights

4:00 p.m. Meeting and Elections immediately followed by Dinner.

RSVP: by Monday, January 4 by calling The Network at 440.962.3662 or write us at info@clevelandwomensnetwork.org