Shalala, a former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a long interest in childhood poverty issues, has worked closely with Clinton on welfare reform.
She had been widely expected to remain for a second term, and sources said her tenure was officially confirmed Thursday.
Patsy Fleming, the head of the White House AIDS office, has told her staff and AIDS activists she plans on leaving the job by next June. She was not immediately available for comment, but associates confirmed her departure.
Although some of the more radical AIDS activists have criticized her, Fleming has generally been well-liked by AIDS advocates, who have lauded her efforts to get public funding for patients to pay for the costly but life-prolonging new drugs.
The group Concerned Maine Families announced November 12 that they have collected enough signatures to qualify a ballot referendum to deny legal 'recognition to same-gender marriages, whether performed within the state or outside it. They say they've gathered more than 60,000 signatures and have more still coming in, which, if they're valid, comes to about one-fifth more than are needed to qualify. Once officially approved, the initiative would appear on the ballot in 1997 unless the state legislature passes the measure first.
Seventeen other states have enacted laws to this effect, 2 governors of other states have made executive orders, Oregon may also have a ballot initiative in 1998, and of course the federal government enacted DOMA, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, in September. All these actions were sparked by the possibility of same-gender marriages becoming legal in Hawai'i. That process will not reach its conclusion fot at least two years after a court ruling expected in the next few weeks. However, the present possibility of a new state constitutional convention in Hawai'i (currently mired in procedural questions following the November 5 election) opens a new avenue for prohibiting same-gender marriages before the judicial system ever makes them legally valid.
The Maine referendum is purportedly intended "to encourage the traditional monogamous family unit as the basic building block of our society, the foundation of harmonious and enriching family life." However, among other targets, Concerned Maine Families leader Carolyn Cosby would also like to block the recently-established University of Maine policy of extending spousal benefits to its gay and lesbian employees' same-gender partners.
Concerned Maine Families were also the sponsors of a 1995 initiative to prohibit civil rights protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation. That measure was defeated, but the campaigning in connection with it was so divisive that state legislators later withdrew proposed civil rights legislation for lesbians and gays from consideration to allow a period for healing.
FOR THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT MARRIAGE, Look at http://www.freedomtomarry.org/news
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE November 14, 1996 901 Mission St.,San Francisco,CA,94103 (Fax 415-896-1107, print run 570,300) (E-MAIL: chronletters@sfgate.com)(http://www.sfgate.com)
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown wants the health department to aggressively monitor sex clubs but now firmly opposes legislation to license and regulate them, a health official told sex club operators and safe sex educators this week.
Brown's belief that an ordinance is not needed to ensure that sex clubs follow safe sex guidelines represents an apparent shift of his position. Earlier, he had given indications that he might be open to the idea that the clubs should be licensed, as called for in legislation proposed by Supervisor Tom Ammiano.
The mayor's opposition to the legislation was disclosed by Dr. Mitch Katz, the director of the health department's AIDS Office, at a Tuesday meeting of the Coalition for Healthy Sex. Katz said that Brown informed health department officials of his position last week.
In Paris yesterday, Brown confirmed that he now believes the health department ``can handle whatever is needed to be done to help combat the spread of AIDS without engaging in licensing.''
Dr. Sandra Hernandez, the city's health director, said yesterday that she accepted responsibility for any confusion over the mayor's position. ``My communication with him was probably inadequate,'' she said. ``I went to him and said we'd like to regulate these clubs, and he said he thought that was a good idea. I meant that we wanted to license them, but I was not specific enough with him.''
On Tuesday, Katz said that the mayor sees no need to formally create a new category of business, which the ordinance would do, since most sex clubs already follow the voluntary guidelines developed by the Coalition for Healthy Sex.
Among the guidelines: no locked doors, which would make it easier for patrons to engage in unprotected anal intercourse; widespread availability of condoms, lubricant and safe sex literature; and enough light so that monitors can witness what is taking place.
Proponents of sex clubs say that when the guidelines are followed, the establishments actually promote safe sex education and practices. Opponents say that they foster unsafe sexual practices and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 13, 1996 --- The apparent defeat of Rep. Bob Dornan, the most anti-gay member of the House of Representatives, is a triumph of decency over discrimination, the Human Rights Campaign said today.
The registrar of voters in Santa Ana, Calif., put Dornan 929 votes behind his Democratic challenger, Loretta Sanchez, with only about 1,000 absentee ballots left to taly. The Los Angeles Times reported today that Sanchez appears impossible to beat.
"At long last, Organe County voters have rejected Dornan's wild-eyed extremism and hateful rhetoric,"said Daniel ZIngale, HRC's political director. "America is a safer place without Bob Dornan in Congress. His defeat in conservative Orange County underscores the message of this election -- that voters are fed up with politics driven by irrational spite."
During his 1992 re-election campaign, Dornan made headlines by aserting during an interview that "Every lesbian spear-chucker in this country is hoping I get defeated."
Even in this most recent race, Dornan attacked Sanchez as "another Catholic for abortion and sodomy rights."
"I'm being fed a dream candidate," he said.
"As it turned out, she was his worst nightmare," Zingale said. "And today, gay people across this nation are heaving a collective sigh of relief, knowing that they will no longer be subject to Dornan's capricioius, sinister attacks."
Dornan, whose temper is notorious, demanded a recount and asked for an investigation by the House Oversight Committee.
"Dornan is losing with the same grace and temperament that marked his 18 years in Congress," said David M. Smith, HRC's communications director.
Throughout his political career, Dornan obsevviely launched attacks on lesbian and gay Americans, as well as people with HIV and AIDS. In the last session of Congress, HRC worked with AIDS and veterans groups to repeal a Dornan measure that would have forced the military to discharge service members with HIV and cut off basic benefits to their families.
Dornan also provoked the ire of his House colleagues when he launched a vendetta against fellow Republican Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin, accusing him from the floor of the House of having a "revolving door on his closet. He's in, he's out, he's in, he's out."
At the time, Gunderson had not publicly revealed that he is gay.
HRC's political action committee contributed $5,000 to Sanchez's general election campaign, the maximum allowed by law.
Jonathan Schmitz, 26, was charged for the shooting death of Scott Amedure, 32, in a Detroit area subburb. Schmitz and Amedure appeared on a taping of the Jenny Jones Show whose topic was "Secret Admirers" The show was never televised.
Schmitz, a heterosexual, knew he was on the show because of a secret admirer, but had no idea the person who had a crush on him was a gay man.
Within a few days after the two men had returned to their Orion Township homes, Schmitz bought a shotgun, went to Amedure's trailer, and shot him in the chest in front of Amedure's roommate.
Schmitz then called police himself and confessed.
The jury could have convicted Schmitz on first degree murder, which has a mandatory life sentence in Michigan. With second degree murder, he could be sentenced to 8 to 15 years and be eligible for parole.
The defense argued Schmitz was ambushed and humiliated by the Jenny Jones show, and lacked the capacity to formulate an intent to commit murder because of a history of psychological and emotional problems.
The prosecution argued the murder was a hate crime and asked for conviction of first degree murder.
The Associated Press quoted a juror to say there was no doubt in the jury's mind that a murder was committed. But the jury was split over Schmitz's intent.
The jury was deadlocked Friday with a majority wanting to convict on first degree murder, but after a three day recess, jurors had more time to think about the evidence.
As a result, jurors believed sufficient evidence had been presented to create a reasonable doubt as to Schmitz's ability to formulate clear intent.
Representatives of a lesbigay activist organization, the Triangle Foundation, said they were satisfied with the verdict because it made Schmitz responsible for Amadure's death and showed being humiliated over an association with a gay man cannot be used as a defense in murder.
The surviving family has a civil suit pending against the Jenny Jones Show.
Chicago, IL Nov. 12, 1996 --- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund announced plans Tuesday for the jury trial in a landmark federal case in which a young man will argue that his former Wisconsin school and its officials failed to protect him from years of brutal anti-gay attacks and harassment.
The trial in the case Nahozny v. Podlesny, will begin MOnday, November 18, in the federal courthouse in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the trial on claims by Jamie Nahozny that his former school had violated his equal protection rights by failing to protect him from anti-gay abuse by other students when he attended middle and high schools in Ashland, Wisconsin. Nabozny alleges that the school failed to discipline his attackers because he is gay and a boy.
From Utah and Texas to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, anti-gay violence in public schools is receiving increased attention around the country. Nabozny's case is the first to reach a federal jury to establish the liability of schools and school officials for anti-gay violence in schools.
David Springer of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is Lambda's cooperating attorney and lead trial counsel for Nabozny. Lambda attorney Patricia M. Logue argued the case to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and will also represent Nabozny at the federal jury trial. She is the managing attorney for Lambda's Chicago-based Midwest Regional Office.
Details: First federal jury trial begins on anti-gay violence in schools. Monday, Nov. 18, 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John C. Shabaz, 500 South Barstow St., Courtroom 20, Eau Claire, WI.
Washington, D.C. Nov. 12, 1996 --- Americans favor extending many of the components of legal marriage to gay men and lesbians, according to a poll released today by Greenberg Research Inc., commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign.
The survey, conducted immediately after the elections, found that more than half of U.S. voters support full hospital visitation rights; protecting gay and lesbian parents from having their children taken away; health care benefits; and inheritance rights for gay and lesbian spouses.
In spite of the divisive public debate on same-sex marriage this year, few voters cast their ballots based on gay and lesbian issues, according to the poll.
"Even more encouraging is the continued strong support for outlawing job discrimination against gays," said David M. Smith, HRC's communications director.
Indeed, the survey found that voters were significantly more concerned about the agenda of religious political extremists (41 percent) than that of gay and lesbain groups (24 percent).
Plus, the poll found continued strong support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill to outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"This survey shows that Americans are increasingly supportive of extending equal rights to gay men and lesbians, not only in the workplace but to our committed relationships as well," Smith said.
On the subject of ENDA, voters were asked whether they favored the bill to "extend civil rights protections in the workplace to cover gays and lesbains." Fifty-five percent said they favored it while 30 percent said they were opposed.
When the questions was reframed to explain that there are no federal laws to protect gays from job discrimination, 63 percent said they favored the bill and 26 percent said they opposed it.
The poll found that 85 percent of voters believe that it is illegal to fire a person merely for being gay or lesbian, up from 70 percent in a poll conducted for HRC in February 1995.
At the same time, 70 percent of respondents said they believe gays and lesbians should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, consistent with poll results from two years ago.
This support for workplace protection extends to teachers, who voters believe should be protected by a 2-1 margin, 62 percent to 31 percent.
Voters were evenly split over whether President Clinton's or Bob Dole's position son same-sex marriage and gay issues were important. However, 40 percent of those surveyed said they agreed more with Clinton on gay issues while 31 percent said they agreed with Dole.
More than half of all voters were in favor of extending many of the legal components of marriage to gay and lesbian couples, according to the poll. There was nearly universal support -- 82 percent -- for full hospital visitation rights for gay partners. Sixty-two percent said they support inheritance rights for gay spouses; 54 percent favor protecting gay and lesbian parents from having their children taken away; 51 percent support health care benefits for gay spouses; and 46 percent back Social Security benefits for gay spouses.
Yet the poll found that 55 percent support the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law enabling states to ignore same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Voters also voiced support for AIDS research funding. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said they believe the gtovernment should provide AIDS drugs to those who need them but can't pay.
Finally, the percentage of people who say they know someone gay continues to grow. A total of 72 percent of those surveyed said they know someone gay or lesbain, compared to 66 percent in a Newsweek poll conducted in May, and 53 percent in February 1994.
The survey of 1,006 voters was conducted Nov. 5-8 for HRC by Greenberg Research Inc., a Democratic polling firm based in Washington. It had an error margin of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Washington, D.C. --- Seasoned political strategist and civil rights advocate Daniel Zingale was today named executive director of AIDS Action, th enation's premier AIDS advocacy organization. As political director of the Human Rights Campgian, Zingale successfully used his skills as a coalition- and consensus-builder to bring about last month's historic vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate. ZIngale, who sits on the board of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said today that his first challenge as executive director will be to forge partnerships with traditional civil rights groups that will allow IDS Action to better address a burgeoning epidemic in underserved and underrepresented communities, and help alleviate the public health crisis around access to promising, yet expensive, HIV treatments.
"We selected Daniel Zingale both because he understands the numerous challenges facing our community and because he is committed to a broad range of cutting edge treatments they need to stay alive and well," said David Wexler, chair of the AIDS Action Council board of directors. "Daniel's well-honed skills as a coalition-builder and political strategist will greatly enhance AIDS Action's work as we fight for the interests of all Americans living with HIV and AIDS and the organizations that serve them."
Zingale has served as political director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization, since 1993. WHile at the Human Rights Campaign, Zingale spearheaded lobbying and coalition-building efforts which included successful campaigns to defeat legislation to deny federal funding to organizations that provide AIDS service to the gay and lesbian community, and to discharge HIV-positive service members from the U.S Armed Forces.
Just last month, Zingale masterminded the Human Rights Campaign's political strategy to bring ENDA -- legislation that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation -- up for a vote in the U.S. Senate. Although defeated by a one vote margin, ENDA represents the first gay civil rights bill ever voted on in either chamber of the U.S. Congress and sets the stage for future legislative strategies around gay civil rights issues.
"Daniel is one of our movement's very best political strategists," said Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign. "I look forward to working together with him to ensure an appropriate federal response to AIDS and HIV."
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), an ardent supporter and defender of civil rights and AIDS causes, added his voice to a chorus of praise for Zingale as a political strategist. "Daniel Zingale has the commitment, expertise, and the access needed at this critical time in the nation's battle against AIDS," said Kennedy. "He has worked tirelessly and effectively to build coalitions to meet difficult challenges. I'm sure he'll do an outstanding job as AIDS Action's executive director."
Before joining the Human Rights Campaign, Zingale served as managing director of government relations for the American Psychological Associaton and as the State of California's deputy controller. Zingale earned a Bachelor's of Art degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
A total preliminary recount shows Lorretta Sanchez way ahead and Dornan unable to gain any lead...
Different news reports have different totals for the absentee ballots. The article below, based in part on AP news says 8,000, while an article the same day in the Washington Blade says 6,500 and the one above says about 10,000.
GLINN Addition from a previous press report --
Garden Grove, CA -- Rep. Bob Bornan, the fiery conservative whose support of the military eanred him the nickname "B-1 Bob", found himself Wednesday in a re-election battle so close that the outcome may not be known for a week.
Dornan, a Republican whose Orange County district has become mostly Hispanic, was tied at 46% with his Democratic opponent, businesswoman Loretta Sanchez, a day after the election.
Elections officials waded through 6,000 to 8,000 absentee ballots comparing signatures with voter rolls and recording votes by hand. Before absentee ballots were counted, Fornan had 41,308 votes and Sanchez 41,075.
The elimination of Bob Dornan from the U.S. Congress would probably be the most significant event for the gay community in this election next to the re-election of Bill Clinton as President.
See Poltiical Action for more election news.
HONOLULU ADVERTISER, November 7, 1996 --- More people voted yes than no on a proposal to convene a constitituional convention in 1998 to recommend changes to the state Constitution. But there are legal questions about whether the convention will proceed.
State Attorney General Margery Bronster said yesterday that she's not yet sure that the law clearly calls for the vote to be decided by a simple majority. She said the wording in the law regarding a constitutional convention is clearly different from that for constiutional amendments.
The state Office of Elections has said the law calls for a constitutional convention to be held if the "yes" votes divided by the total of the "yes" and "no" votes is at least 50 percent plus one vote. Elections staff members said that means more than 50 percent of the voters must vote "yes," but spoiled, blank, and invalid ballots are not calculated in the majority for this question.
The amendment proposals require a majority of all votes cast, which means that blank and spoiled ballots are, in effect, added to the "no" votes.
Bronster said she hopes to have a resolution soon but can't promise the issue will be decided this week. "This is an issue that has to be decided quickly because the votes have to be certified," she said.
If the constitutional convention is approved, state lawmakers next year will determine the scope of the convention and how the delegates would be elected.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said in an interview that he expects such a convention would cost at least $12 million. And he says money would be better spent on education and public health.
He said the results of the 1978 constitutional convention have complicated government and added unnecessary regulation. Further, Cayetano said, he has little doubt that public opposition would result in a convention's approving a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage.
WASHINGTON, DC - 6 November 1996 - Twenty-one of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's 32 openly gay candidates have won their November 5 races, with results of three races still pending (72% success rate). Among the winners, Victory Fund candidate Ed Flanagan has made history as the first openly gay person elected to a statewide office. Consistent with their tradition of fairness and tolerance, the people of Vermont elected Ed by a 10-point margin. "Every gay man and lesbian should feel great pride in what Ed Flanagan has accomplished for us," says Victory Fund Deputy Director Kathleen DeBold. "Thanks to this courageous man, our community has finally broken through the lavender ceiling which has kept qualified openly gay and lesbian candidates from winning statewide office."
The 21 Victory Fund winners are:
++Ed Flanagan [D] for Vermont State Auditor
++Sabrina Sojourner [D] for D.C. Shadow Representative
++Diane Sands [D] for Montana State House
++David Parks [D] for Nevada State House
++Art Feltman [D] for Connecticut State House
++Larry McKeon [D] for Illinois State House
++Sheila Kuehl [D] for California State Assembly
++Carole Migden [D] for California State Assembly
++Chuck Carpenter [D] for Oregon State House
++George Eighmey [D] for Oregon State House
++Ken Cheuvront [D] for Arizona State House
++Deborah Glick [D] for New York State Assembly
++Mike Pisaturo [D] for Rhode Island State House
++Ed Murray for [D] Washington State House
++Leslie Katz for San Francisco Board of Supervisors
++Libby Cowan for Costa Mesa (CA) City Council
++Gary Miller for Robla (CA) School Board
++Juanita Owens for San Francisco School Board
++Paul Feinman [D] for New York Civil Court
++Sebastian Patti [D] for Cook County (IL) Court
++Eileen Rakower [D] for New York Civil Court
This has been a record-breaking year for openly gay candidates. The Victory Fund entered this election with five wins from earlier this year, bringing the 1996 win total to a record-breaking 26 (The previous highest win total was 14 wins in 1994.) Our early winners are:
++San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kevin McCarthy (elected in March)
++Dane County (WI) Supervisor Scott McCormick (elected in March)
++Wilton Manors (FL) City Councilmember John Fiore (elected in March)
++Brooklyn (NY) School Board member Jill Harris (elected in May)
++Dade County (FL) Judge Mark King Leban (elected in September)
Adding to the evening's victories, all of the Victory Fund alumni on yesterday's ballot were re-elected:
++Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin State Assembly)
++Tim Van Zandt (Missouri House of Representatives)
++Cynthia Wooten (Oregon House of Representatives)
++Ken Yeager (San Jose Community College Board)
++Glen Maxey (Texas House of Representatives)
DeBold notes that this unprecedented success rate for openly gay candidates is especially significant in light of the recent rightwing backlash against the gains our community has made in the past few years. "Each of our candidates won two races last night," she says, "One against their opponents; the other against the distorted image of gay men and lesbians. These election results send a clear message that the extremist viewpoints that lead to hate campaigns and gaybaiting are out of step with mainstream America. Our openly gay candidates won because their -personal and community values are consistent with those of the average American family - values like hard work, responsibility, and respect for others."
Although this unprecedented number of victories is evidence of the growing clout of the gay and lesbian community in the electoral arena, DeBold notes that electing openly gay and lesbian candidates means much more than just flexing our political muscle. "We don't live in a democracy, we live in a representative democracy. It matters tremendously who those representatives are -especially to the rights and equality of lesbian and gay youth, adults, seniors, couples, parents, taxpayers, and citizens everywhere. In addition, putting exemplary gay people in the public spotlight is one of the most effective ways of destroying the harmful stereotypes that keep us from achieving true equality."
***Summary of Victories For Our Community***
++We broke through the "Lavender Ceiling" and elected the first openly gay official to statewide office.
++We added openly gay representatives to the state legislatures in Nevada, Connecticut, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington, and Illinois. Twenty openly gay and lesbian officials now serve in 15 state legislatures.
++By winning the U.S. Representative seat in the District of Columbia, Sabrina Sojourner has become the only openly lesbian African-American in elective office.
++Sebastian Patti garnered more than 1,100,000 votes in his race for the Cook County (IL) Court - the highest vote total of any openly gay elected official in history.
++The Victory Fund generated more than $400,000 for candidates in this election cycle. Since the Victory Fund was founded in May of 1991, our members have contributed more than $1.3 to qualified openly gay and lesbian candidates nationwide.
[Editors: For biographies or photographs of these candidates, please contact Kathleen DeBold at (202) 842-679 or victoryf@aol.com.]
Over $20 million dollars was spent in this race. Vote totals will be reported later.
Rep. Robert Dornan is in a dead heat with his Hispanic challenger. He had a slight lead according to the last reports we got, and absentee ballots were still being counted.
Referendums in California and Arizona to permit the medical use of marijuana have passed by wide margins. Lawsuits, federal legal action and other tactics will probably prevent the legal medical use of marijuana for some time however.
Washington, D.C. Nov. 6, 1996 --- Ending job discrimination against gay mena nd lesbians emerged as a winning issue in the elections, the Human Rights Campaign asserted today. No candidate who voiced support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- from President Clinton to those running for the Senate and House -- lost as a result of his or her position on that bill.
ENDA's chances of passage remain solid in the 105th Congress. There was no initial net change in the number of ENDA supporters in either the House or Senate, according to HRC analysis. The fact that Americans voted for the "moderate middle" for Congress also helps ENDA's prospects because the bill is now clearly understood as moderate, Birch noted.
The politics of scapegoating gay people failed. Candidates who were criticized for their votes against the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act won -- such as Rep. Lynn Rivers, D-Mich. In fact, no incumbent who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act lost.
In addition, exit polls showed that gay and lesbain voters constituted 5 percent of the total turnout, a substantial increase from the roughtly 3 percent reported in 1994. Of that 5 percent, 67 percent voted for Clinton, 18 percent chose Bob Dole and 10 percent voted for Ross Perot.
"Gay men and lesbians are emerging as an important segment of the electorate as more and more gay people are willing to be open and honest about who they are," said Birch.
The Human Rights Campaign, working with gays and lesbians in North Carolina, laid the groundwork for future efforts in that state. Although rabidly anti-gay Sen. Jesse Helms won, an infrastructure has been built that will help gay and lesbian North Carolinians fight for fairness in the next Senate and House elections.
HRC also scored a critical win for gay and lesbian Americans in California, where extremists lost their grip on the state assembly. For the first time, HRC worked in state legislative races, coordinating with local gay and lesbian organizations. The result was that the Assembly went from a balance of 41 Republicans and 38 Democrats to 42 Democrats and 38 Republicans. Of the nine state Assembly candidates whose campaigns HRC directly helped, eight won.
Some 16% of the reported hate crimes were motivated by religious bias, 13% by sexual orientation bias and 10% by biases based on ethnic or national origins, the report said.
The Justice Department began gathering the data from federal, state and local law enforcement agenices following the 1991 Hate Crime Statistics Act.
Pontiac, Mich, Nov. 1, 1996 --- They may call it "The Jenny Jones Show," but Jones doesn't do much more than stand in front of the camera and read TelePrompTers, she told a jury and a courtroom full of celebrity watchers Thursday.
Jones testifying in Jonathan Schmitz's murder trial in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, denied knowledge of almost all productions of her television show and insisted she had little recollection of the day Scott Amedure confessed his sexual fantasies for Schmitz during a taping on secret same-sex crushers. Schmitz killed Amedure three days later.
And Jones, despite a $25 million civil lawsuit filed against her by the Amedure family as a result of that show, insists she has never watched the entire tape since the killing only bits and pieces.
Defense attorneys called Jones -- identified in court by her birth name, Jenny Stronski -- to the stand after weeks of wrangling with Judge Francis X. O'Bren. They contend she helped set up an emotionally fragile Schmitz for an ambush on the show, leading him to believe his secret admirer was a woman, then surprising him with Amedure.
Jones, like her producers who testified earlier, frequently answered "I don't know" or "I don't remember." She brought two attorneys with her, who sat 10 feet from the witness stand throughout her testimony.
Jones looked pale and nervous as she entered the courtroom in midafternoon. Throughtout the two hours of questioning by defense attorney Fred Gibson, she was subdued and often vague in her answers. Her demeanor was a far cry from the vivacioius, in-control woman who hosts "Jenny Jones" five days a week in syndication.
She does not choose the topics and often does not even know what the topic will be unitl the night before the taping, she said. She does not pick the guests, interview them beforehand or write the scripts, although she sometimes revises scripts, she said.
Jones, in a tape of the program shown earlier in court, is seen attempting to get Schmitz to react to the news that his admirer was a man. When Schmitz insists he is heterosexual, Jones asks if it would be OK with him if a relationship developed with Amedure anyway.
"Isn't it true that one of the things you do well is evoke emotional responses from people?" Gibson asked.
"I don't know," she said.
As his last question, Gibson asked her, "Did you ever think that if you didn't go for that extra little setup to pull that last bit of emotion out of Jon, that maybe this terrible tragedy which brought us here together wouldn't have happened?"
She answered, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Her appearance in court drew dozens of curious onlookers, including some fans. The hallways were jammed with people hoping to get a look at her.
"I just wanna peek of Jenny Jones," said one man.
As Reed began his speech at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, half of the audience held up signs blasting the coalition's attacks on homosexuality.
In the ensuing ruckus, same-sex couples among the protesters embraced and kissed until police physically removed them from the hall, but not before Reed told them ``get used to us, because we're going to be here a long, long time.''
There were no arrests.
During his speech outlining the coalition's pro-life, pro-family stance, Reed condemned separation of church and state and said ``morality and religion'' should be the ``two pillars that support a Republican government.''
Claiming this election would ``set the tone for the ensuing century,'' Reed criticized Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole for being a ``single issue'' candidate who sidestepped social issues to champion his 15 percent tax cut.
``The facts are these. The American people are not interested just in lowering their tax bill or in balancing the budget,'' he told the small audience. ``They are interested in saving their children and instilling in their children and grandchildren the values that they believe made America great.''
Republican Gov. William Weld lost many pro-life and Christian supporters in his Senate campaign because of his support for taxpayer- funded abortion and the partial-birth abortion procedure, Reed noted.
During the question-and-answer section, a black lesbian lashed out at Reed for invoking the political legacies of both Dr. Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill, who supported the eugenics movement advocating racial purity.
``And now it's people like you who are telling me that as a lesbian, I can't marry my partner,'' said Ann Seaton, a Harvard graduate student in English. Clearly your disengenuous, sneaky use of Martin Luther King is just to disguise the fact that you're nothing but sort of a geeky post-modern Christian racist in an expensive suit.``
Reed's visit to Harvard coincides with the Christian Coalition's mobilization of 100,000 volunteers nationally in an effort to maintain a Republican majority in Congress. The group's distribution of 45 million voters guides through churches is under investigation by the Federal Election Commission.
The blue-eyed, 35-year-old Virginia native twice helped conservative North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms win the re-election and was considered one of the leading forces behind the Republican Party's resounding victories in the 1994 mid-term elections.
WASHINGTON, DC 31 October 1996 --- Thanks to the intervention of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a direct mail company has discontinued a customized anti-gay flyer geared to political candidates. The piece, offered by Picture Perfect Promotions in Orange County, California, was designed to "Slay your liberal opponents with the hottest pro-family direct mail piece for 1996."
For 17¢ a piece plus postage, the company offered to customize and mail 100,000 full-color flyers [see attached] alleging that a rival candidate "Supports The In-Your-Face Agenda Of The Radical Homosexual Fringe" and "promised to author legislation that will target traditional values." The flyers contained photos of marchers from Queer Nation and the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the National Education Association, and the book Heather Has Two Mommies, and prefabricated quotes from "Joe Citizen, Anytown," "Joe Cruse, Queer Activist," "Jane Doe, Mother of 2" and "Local Pastor." The cut-and-paste format allowed anti-gay candidates to customize the mailer to fit their campaign. All the client had to do was supply his opponent's photo and whatever additional text he chooses.
"It was like Homophobia Helper," says Victory Fund Deputy Director Kathleen DeBold. "Just add your favorite opponent and voila! The perfect anti- gay hit piece." After contacting the company for more information, the Victory Fund reported the matter to The Washington Blade newspaper. One day after talking with an investigative reporter, a spokesman for the company told the Blade that Picture Perfect had decided to discontinue it and had "taken steps to make sure that something like this never happens again."
"The only way to stop political gaybaiting is to spotlight it and educate people as to why it is wrong," says DeBold. The Victory Fund urges the gay and lesbian community and their friends and families to report all incidents of campaign gaybaiting. To report incidents of political gaybaiting, please send a copy of the piece (if possible) to the Victory Fund, 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005. For more information or the second JPEG of the Ad contact the Victory Fund at 202-VICTORY or VICTORYF@AOL.COM)).
"This is an exciting time in Hollywood," said Ms. Bono. "With Ellen's immanent 'coming out' and with more than twenty lesbian and gay characters already out on television, GLAAD is uniquely positioned to take a proactive approach to how we are represented on television and in film."
As Entertainment Media Director, Chastity Bono will act as GLAAD's lead representative in dealings with entertainment industry professionals and will develop strategies addressing lesbian and gay concerns. Ms. Bono will design public forums and educational events that focus on lesbian and gay issues and trends unfolding from within the entertainment industry.
"We are putting Chastity Bono's lifetime of experience in the entertainment industry to work for GLAAD-it's a natural fit," said William Waybourn, GLAAD's Managing Director. "Chastity's personal experience as an out lesbian in Hollywood gives her firsthand knowledge of what it takes to promote fair and accurate images of lesbians and gay men in the media."
Chastity Bono is accustomed to being in the limelight. Viewers of the quintessential '70s television classic "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" will remember a young Chastity's cuddly cameos at the end of her parents' popular variety show. In 1990, as a young adult, Ms. Bono became acutely aware of the other side of the entertainment industry: a 1990 Star Magazine cover story proclaimed Chastity's sexual orientation, "outing" her as a lesbian. She has since become one of the nation's most visible advocates for lesbian and gay rights. Ms. Bono received national recognition in 1995 for "coming out" on the cover of The Advocate, a national lesbian and gay magazine. This summer, she interviewed her mother, Cher, in an acclaimed Advocate cover story.
As a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, she traveled the lecture circuit making stops at major universities and lesbian and gay events nationwide. "Working with GLAAD provides Chastity with a wonderful opportunity to work in an environment she grew up in and with which she is very familiar," said Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign. "I believe Chastity will flourish in her new duties and we look forward to working closely with her and GLAAD, as together we continue to educate America about its lesbian and gay citizens."
Chastity Bono is keenly aware of the importance of unbiased media representation of lesbians and gay men. "The battle for fair treatment must be fought on several fronts. The cultural front-the way we are portrayed in the media-has a huge effect on how we are viewed by the public," said Ms. Bono. She added, "Growing up in the entertainment industry and working in the gay rights movement enables me to combine two worlds to have an impact and change things for the better."
According to William Waybourn, Chastity Bono is an important addition to GLAAD's national team. "Chastity has grown up with the best and the worst of media coverage and it is exactly that perspective that GLAAD was seeking: someone that can go beyond an abstract articulation of the power and influence of media on our lives. Chastity speaks from the heart," concluded Waybourn.
GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national lesbian and gay media watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
Jean Retchford testified Thursday in Schmitz's first-degree murder tiral that she had been watching the syndicated "Jenny Jones Show" and saw the ad asking for people to call if they wanted to reveal a homosexual crush. Defense attorneys contend producers lied to Schmitz to get him to appear on the show and then "ambushed" him by revealing it was Scott Amedure, a gay male acquaintance, who had the crush.
With less than two weeks remaining until Election Day, a wave of conflicting polls have stirred both sides of the U.S. Senate race. Every poll has shown Helms' lead slipping away, sending the incumbent and his supporters scrambling, while Gantt and his supporters have been energized by his continued rise in the polls. Particularly exciting for Gantt loyals was a CBS News poll released on October 18 which showed Gantt sporting a two~point lead for the first time.
The polls have also emphasized the importance of the voters which NC Campaign '96 has been targeting. Though the majority of voters have already made their decisions, the race remains evenly split and only a small pool of undecided voters remains to decide the election. The NC Campaign began targeting these "swing" voters in August, contacting 130,000 undecided voters in the first phase of their project Over 50,000 of these voters have been moved into the persuasion phase of the campaign and will be mobilized for Election Day. An additional 20,000 voters from the gay and lesbian community are being contacted before the election by HRC. The campaign hopes these crucial voters will reject Helms and give Gantt a comfortable margin of victory.
The Gantt campaign should also benefit from the unusually strong performance of Democratic candidates across the state. A News and Observer poll released on October 21 shows President Clinton holding an astounding nine point lead in this previously Dole-favored state. Governor Hunt also enjoys a substantial lead over his Republican challenger, as do many Congressional and local candidates. The strong Democratic performance can only benefit Gantt with higher Democratic voter turn-out and larger numbers of "straight ticket" voters. Many political observers have noted that Helms has never faced a strong opponent in a heavily Democratic election year and may be more vulnerable when facing a strong Democratic ticket.
North Carolina Campaign '96 is still actively seeking volunteers to assist in their efforts. Volunteers for Election Day, November 5, are particularly needed. Anyone interested in helping to defeat Helms should contact the campaign at (919)572-9163 or by email at NCCampaign@aol.com.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct 21, 1996 -- The Human Rights Campaign is confident that the Supreme Court will soon hear a challenge to the government's anti-gay military policy, a spokeswoman said today after the court declined to hear the first such case to reach it.
"It is not surprising that the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case brought by Lt. Paul Thomasson," said Chai Feldblum, HRC's legal consultant and a law professor at Georgetown University. "This was the first challenge of the `don't ask, don't tell' policy to reach the Supreme Court, so it would have been highly unusual for the court to take it."
Thomasson, who was discharged from the Navy after telling his commanding officer he is gay, sought to prove that the anti-gay military policy was an unconstitutional infringement on his freedom of speech.
"There are other, more broad-reaching challenges to the policy currently making their way through the courts now," Feldblum noted. "We anticipate that the Supreme Court will decide to hear a case that challenges not only the question of speech, but the policy's prohibition against conduct."
Feldblum said the Thomasson case only challenged half of the current policy because it did not address the issue of behavior. "Until the conduct prohibition of the military's policy has been addressed, this country has a double standard for servicemembers," Feldblum writes in the Oct. 21 edition of The National Law Journal. "A heterosexual servicemember may, without fear of punishment, kiss, hug, hold hands and have consensual sex ... with a partner in the privacy of his or her home. By contrast, a gay servicemember who engages in the identical sexual conduct with a partner in the privacy of his or her home is subject to mandatory discharge."
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
The action, in the case of a gay U.S. Navy lieutenant who was dismissed from the military in 1994, marked the first time the Supreme Court had taken up Clinton's new Pentagon policy.
The justices let stand a U.S. appeals court ruling in April that upheld the policy as constitutional. But the action, without any comment or dissent, has limited impact and does not create a nationwide legal precedent.
The Clinton administration put the policy into effect after Congress adopted a 1993 law relaxing the military's 50-year ban on gays. Under the political compromise between Congress and the administration, the military cannot question members or recruits about their sexual orientation but overt homosexual acts or statements can lead to discharge.
Clinton promised in the 1992 campaign to end the military's ban on gays but many congressional and military leaders opposed him. The Pentagon says gay service members could harm a unit's cohesion.
The high court case involved Paul Thomasson, 33, a 10-year veteran who was discharged in 1994 after sending a letter to four admirals for whom he served declaring he was gay. His admission came five days after the policy took effect.
He sued, claiming the policy violated his constitutional rights, treated gays unfairly by forcing them to keep quiet about their sexual orientation, suppressed free speech and violated basic guarantees of due process.
In the Supreme Court appeal, his lawyers argued the policy limited the freedom of gay service members to state their sexual orientation and constituted an impermissible restriction on free speech. ``At issue is whether the government may restrict the freedom of an accomplished and dedicated military officer to utter a fundamental statement about who he is, solely on the basis of the anticipated discomfort of others.''
They said the policy ``irrationally discriminates'' against gays and gives rise to ``invidious prejudice.'' Thomasson, considered a leading candidate to rise to the rank of admiral, has opened a restaurant in Washington since leaving the Navy.
The Justice Department urged that the appeal be denied, saying the appeals court decision was corrent and did not conflict with any other appellate rulings. The Supreme Court sided with the government.
In the 1995 fiscal year, the Pentagon has discharged 722 gay service members, the highest level in four years, according to an advocacy group for gays in the military.
The action in this case represented the second time in less than a year the high court has considered a major gay rights issue. In May, the justices by a 6-3 vote struck down a Colorado requirement that outlawed legal protections intended solely for homosexuals and lesbians.
Washington, D.C. October 17, 1996 --- The last presidential debate cast in sharp relief a key policy difference between the candidates on an issue of fairness for lesbian and gay people. President Clinton supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) while Bob Dole believes it would confer what he called "special rights."
"President Clinton directly reaffirmed his strong support for ENDA as a matter of basic equality under the law when lesbian and gay Americans face discrimination at work," Elizabeth Birth, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, said today. "Bob Dole sought to smear ENDA as a bid for so-called 'special rights.'"
Asked his position on ENDA during the town hall-style debate Wednesday, Clinton said, "I'm for it."
"I believe that any law-abiding, tax-paying citizen who shows up in the morning and doesn't break the law and doesn't interfere with his or her neighbors ought to have the ability to work in our country and shouldn't be subject to unfair discrimination."
ENDA would protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Dole, however, moved quikcly away from a general statement against discrimination to mischaracterize the measure, borrowing language from extreme anti-gay groups.
"Well, I'm opposed to discrimination in any form, but I'm -- I don't favor creating special rights for any group," Dole said.
Currently, no federal law protects Americans from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nine states outlaw such discrimnation.
Clinton first endorsed ENDA last October. He also actively supported the recent effort to pass it in the U.S. Senate, where it was defeated Sept 10 by a vote of 49-50. Dole has been on record against ENDA since early 1995.
"If any lesbian and gay Americans are still wondering why our votes matter in this election, this is one more critical reason," said Birch. "Both candidates claim to oppose discrimination, but President Clinton has been working to make it law while Bob Dole continues to smear ENDA with anti-gay code words."
Birch acknowleged Dole for late remarks about discrimination against the disabled.
"He spoke movingly about the dscrimination he has witnessed against disabled Americans -- and HRC was proud to work with him to support the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect people from it," Birch said. "But what saddens us is that Dole is so beholden to the extreme right that, of all the forms of discrimination he mentioned, he believes only gay people should be excluded from basic legal protection on the job."
Detroit, MI October 16, 1996 --- Jonathan Schmitz's lawyers say he was the victim of a cruel, humiliating setup that drove him over the edge.
Prosecutors argue that Schmitz is just a cold-blooded killer who wasn't that upset after a friend, Scott Amedure, revealed last year during a taping of the "Jenny Jones" talk show that he had a crush on Schmitz.
The contrasting portraits emerged Monday as Schmitz's murder trial opened in Oakland County Circuit Court. Possibly as early as today, the jury will get to see how the two men reacted that day in March 1995. A tape of the segment, which never aired, will be played in court.
A recent review of the tape suggests that much will be left to each juror's interpretation.
During Monday's opening statements, the prosecution contended that the tape shows Schmitz was calm and unruffled.
"Jonathan Schmitz does not stomp off the show," prosecutor Roman Kalytiak said. "He starts clapping."
Defense attorneys, who say the TV program destroyed an already fragile young man, said the tape shows Schmitz's acute embarrassment.
"He puts on a front, but the truth is in his eyes," said defense attorney Fred Gibson.
The tape begins with Jones, the show's host, facing the camera and telling her audience that some of her guests were told they would be appearing with someone who had a crush on them. But that was all they knew, she says.
Then Jones delivers the kicker: The infatuated people are gay. And they chose to confess their admiration "on national television." The audience erupts with laughter.
Three days after the taping, Amedure was shot to death by the guest he desired, Schmitz, then a 24-year-old waiter. Amedure, a 32-year-old former bartender, as a friend of Schmitz's neighbor.
After Jones introduced Amedure, he sat next to Donna Riley, his friend and Schmitz's neighbor. This is how the segment unfolded:
"Donna has been helping Scot pursue his secret cush on Jon," Jones said. Then she asked Amedure to describe the first time he met Schmitz.
"He was under a car working on her brake line, so you can imagine," Amedure said, "I only saw the lower half of him."
She asked Amedure about fantasies he'd had about Schmitz.
"Some had to do with brake oil, lines snapping.... yeash," Amedure answered.
"You had another," Jones said. "You were in a hammock...."
"I have a pretty big hammock in my yard," Amedure said. "I thought about tying him up to my hammock. It entails whipped cream and stuff like that."
Jones smited. She asked Amedure to describe Schmitz.
"He's got a cute little hard body," Amedure said. "You just want to pick him up and put him in your curio cabinet and dust him off every once in a while. He's just this tiny cute thing."
"He knows that you're gay?" Jones asked.
"Yeah," Amedure said.
"Do you know if he's gay?"
"No," Riley said.
"Anything is possible," Amedure said.
"Do you think he is, Donna?" Jones asked.
"No, not really; he's a very open person. It wouldn't surprise me," she said.
Jones then asked Schmitz to come out onto the stage. He wore a beige and white striped shirt, beige pants and socks that matched his shirt.
His lawyers have said he spent almost all the money he had on his appearance that day. He thought the person he was meeting was his former girlfriend, Kristin Joice.
Schmitz walked past Riley, Amedure got up and embraced him in a headlock-type guy. Amedure tried to kiss Schmitz on the neck, but Schmitz turned his head and body away.
"Well, given that it's Scott who has a crush on you," Jones began to say.
"You lied to me,"S chmitz said, laughing and raising his eyebrows. He turned red and covered his face.
"He's been fantasizing about you since he saw you under the car that time," Jones adis. "Did you have any idea that he liked you that much?"
"No, no," Schmitz said. "But I guess you can say I am definitely heterosexual."
The audience applauded.
"They weren't sure, but Donna and Scott said anything could happen," Jones said. Schmitz laughed, turned red again, raised his hands and said, "No, no, no."
Jurors may have to rely on the tape to determine Schmitz's reaction, since Judge Francis X. O'Brien has refused to order Jones to appear.
Washington, D.C. October 16, 1996 --- House Speaker Newt Gingrich is trying to capitalize on anti-AIDS fear and prejudice by criticizing the administration for considering HIV status in some asylum cases.
"Gingrich is creating a volatile political mixture by whipping together the ostracism faced by people with HIV and AIDS and the anti-immigration fever sweeping this country," said Winne Stachelberg HRC's deputy director for legislation. "This is a sorry effort to socre politcal points off people with HIV and condemn President Clinton for showing compassion -- a trait Newt Gingrich clearly lacks."
Earlier this month, an immigration judge in New York granted asylum to a 30-year-old comptuer engineer from Togo on the grounds that he is HIV-positive and feared he would be persecuted in his homeland. The case is believed to be the first such court ruling stemming from a change in immigration policy to allow the Immigration and Naturalization Service to consider HIV infection as a factor when considering asylum cases.
Last weekend, Gingrich accused the administration of creating conditions where "you cam come to America illegally, sneak into the country, announce that you're HIV positive, he declared a political refuge and be eligible for $120,000 in benefits."
Stachelberg said Gingrich was mischaracterizing the policy and twisting facts.
"If you look carefully, the policy says 'where appropirate, the INS can consider HIV in asylum cases," Stachelberg said. "As for the $120,000 in benefits, Gingrich just made that up."
Campaign spokesman Don Foley said the new 60-second spot was "an improved version of the ad ... a more direct response to the scurrilous ad that the Dole campaign has been running."
After Dole ads on some 70 stations suggested Clinton approved of certain types of late-term abortions, the Clinton campaign responded with a spot pointing out specific reservations led him to veto a bill that would have banned the procedure.
The Clinton spot also touted his signing of the Defense of Marriage Act, in spite of earlier White House complaints that the Republicans' use of the issue amounted to "gay baiting."
The Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans and other gay rights groups protested, and ACT Up threatened demonstrations and newspaper ads to criticize Clinton for the ad.
ACT Up spokesman Steve Michael said the group was not satisfied with the campaign simply switching the ad, calling on Clinton to take out ads apologizing for the error.
The new ad focuses criticism on Dole's new negative tack and deletes the reference to the gay marriage ban.
"There's a value we all teach our children and practice ourselves -- telling the truth," the ad says. "Unfortunately, Bob Dole has resorted to untruths."
Beatrice Dohrn, legal director of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Sharon Thompson of N.C. Gay and Lesbian Attorneys (NC GALA) brought the appeal on behalf of Fred Smith, a North Carolina father who had raised his two sons all their lives until losing custody in 1995.
Thompson said, "The two children in this case were uprooted from their father's home where they were thriving in North Carolina, to live with their mother in Kansas, just because our client's ex-wife discovered he is gay."
Thompson continued, "We are pleased the appeals court today clarified to judges throughout the state that decisions to modify custody must be based on concrete facts showing harm to children, not based on speculation that children are harmed by a parent's sexual orientation or private sexual behavior."
Dohrn said, "The law has always been that a change in custody is only warranted when children are being harmed in their present home. The ruling makes cler that having a gay parent does not harm children."
Dohrn added, "North Carolina is among the majority of states that hold the law must treat gay and non-gay parents equally. The children in this case were happy and well-adjusted, doing well in school and in other activities under their father's care. The appeals court found no reason to take them away from their father just because he is gay."
New York, NY October 15, 1996 --- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund applauded Tuesday's decision by the New York State Court of Appeals that said dentists cannot refuse to treat patients with HIV or AIDS.
"New York state's Human Rights Law protects not only access to 'ice cream parlors and skating rinks' but also access to dentists and doctors," said Lambda AIDS Project Director Cathrine Hanssens, quoting from the ruling.
Lambda, the oldest and largest gay legal organization, joined several disability and AIDS advocacy organizations in a friend-of-the-court brief that argued on behalf of the state Division of Human Rights (DHR) that dental and medical offices are public accommodations and, under state law, cannot discriminate against people who have, AIDS or HIV.
The state's highest court said that legislators did not intend "that persons with disabilities should be free from discrimination in such places as ice cream parlors and skating rinks , but that dental and medical providers could lawfully deny health care to them solely on the basis of their disability..."
The case was sparked when a Long Island dentist, Dennis Caheill, refused to treat a patient he believed had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Hanssens added, "Hopefully, this ruling will help alert dentists and their patients to the law and discourage discrimination and protracted law suits."
The ruling may be persuasive in other states, as well, Hanssens said, noting, "This decision should be helpful in states with similar human rights statutes where health care providers nonetheless attempt to evade their obligations."
Noting the significance of the ruling, Heather C. Sawyer, Lambda's AIDS Project staff attorney in its Midwest Regional Office in Chicago, said, "When it comes to HIV, there are more discrimination problems with dentists than with any other health care provider. Nothing justifies the hysteria around dentists and HIV."
Below is the text of the new radio ad entitled "Too Much". It has replaced the ad that went up on Monday, which will not be re-run.
CGR--------:60 "Too Much"
There's a value we all teach our children and practice ourselves:
Telling the truth.
Unfortunately Bob Dole has resorted to untruths. Desperate. Behind. He's attacking President Clinton on late term abortions.
Fact. President Clinton supports a complete ban on the late term abortion procedure - except when the mother's life is in danger or faces severe health risk, such as the inability to have another child.
Why is Bob Dole distorting the facts? To hide his own record.
Fact. Bob Dole opposes the V-Chip to help us block out violent TV programs our children shouldn't see;
Fact. Bob Dole has voted for $900 billion in higher taxes - so many taxes fellow Republicans call him tax collector for the welfare state.
Fact. Bob Dole voted to slash Medicare $270 billion - abandoning our duty to the elderly.
SO don't let Bob Dole fool us; he just doesn't share our values.
WASHINGTON D.C. Oct. 16, 1996 Despite rumors among gay Democratic activists that the Clinton-Gore campaign would soon alter, pull or repudiate an anti-gay radio ad running on Christian radio stations, a campaign spokesman defended the ad and confirmed that it would continue running unaltered.
In an article in today's Washington Times, entitled "For Christian Radio, Clinton Changes Tune on Gays, Abortion," it was reported that the Clinton-Gore campaign "shrugged off" angry calls to shelve the radio ad. The article cited reports from gay and lesbian groups that the campaign might delete the portion of the ad which boasts of Clinton signing the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but "Clinton campaign spokesman Joe Lockhart said there are no plans to alter the radio ads, which will run for 'a few more days.'"
After boasting about Clinton signing the anti-gay DOMA, the ad concludes with the line: "President Clinton has fought for our values and America is better for it."
"After flip-flopping on gay issues for four years, President Clinton seems to have made up his mind in the last days of the campaign to go anti-gay," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "These ads reveal exactly where gays and lesbians stand in his vision of America -- we're completely expendable."
Log Cabin Republicans is the nation's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization, with 52 chapters in 30 states and 10,000 members.
Log Cabin Republicans: Voice: 202/347-5306 E-mail: logcabin@cais.com FAX: 202/347-5224 Home page: http://www.lcr.org
"This ad is a mistake and a serious political miscalculation," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "It was designed to pander to a segment of the electorate that isn't going to support the president under any circumstances. It completely contradicts the president's past statements."
The White House has complained in the past that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act was nothing more than "gay-bating" and "A classic use of wedge politics that are designed to provoke anxieties and fears." The president signed the bill in the middle of the night, minimizing media attention.
The Clinton ad was a calculated response to a recent Bob Dole ad titled "Moral Crisis," which scapegoats gay people and grovels for the votes of extremists. The Clinton spot, which was running on many of the same Christian radio stations, sought to counter the Dole ad by promoting Clinton's work on protect religious freedom.
"Signing the unconstitutional 'Defense of Marriage Act' is nothing to be proud of, and Bill Clinton knows this," Birch said.
Washington, D.C. Oct. 9, 1996 --- In a targeted radio ad entitled "Moral Crisis," Bob Dole has once again resorted to scapgoating gay people and groveling for the votes of extremists, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
"This is clearly a case of the Christian Coalition saying, 'Jump,' and Bob Dole responding, 'How low do you want me to go?'" said Daniel Zingale, HRC's political director. "Once again, Bob Dole is pandering to the religious political extreme elements of his party."
The 60-second ad, which is only airing on right-wing radio stations in the Midwest, attempts to paint President Clinton as a liberal for seeking to end anti-gay discrimination in the military. It also attacks Clinton for his policies on women's health, and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy.
"This is just another sign that Doe's campaign is floundering," Zingale said. "When all else fails, he demagogues against gays and knowtows to anti-abortion extremists. Bob Dole's bridge to the past would be a disaster for gay and lesbian Americans."
Last month, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson told his group's annual conference it would take "a miracle from Almighty God" for Dole to win the White House. On Monday, he downgraded Dole's chances even further, predicting a Clinton "blowout" in November.
The Christian Coalition, which generally aligns itself with conservative Republican candidates, has been uring Dole to put more emphasis in his campaign on the social issues such as abortionthat are important to its members.
Dole is not the only federal candidate resorting to using gays as political scapgoats. The Republican National Committee helped pay for a gay-bashing television ad on behalf of Sen. Jesse Helms, who is running for re-election in North Carolina. The Helms ad attacks his opponent, Harvey Gantt, for his past support for the gay and lesbian community.
Washington, D.C. Oct. 9, 1996 --- In its ongoing campaign to promote the values of openness and honesty about being gay or lesbian, HRC's National Coming Out Project today announced the publication of its Resource Guide to Coming Out. Timed to coincide with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, HRC is making the booklet available to lesbian and gay bookstores, community groups, student organizations and individuals.
"Coming out can be such a challenge for lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans, so HRC is providing people with basic information to show them where they can turn as they strive to accept themselves," according to HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "Polls show that Americans who know gay people are much mroe supportive of ending discrimination -- so coming out is important both personally and politically."
HRC's booklet provides information to help people come out to themselves and others, and includes a listing of organizations and books they can refer to for further assistance. In addition to the Guide, HRC's National Coming Out Project is sponsoring a "COme Out Voiting" rally in Washington on Oct. 11, and continues to provide guidenace to local organizations that are planning their own National Coming Out Day events.
The rally is just one of hundreds of events around the country celebrating National Coming Out Day, created in 1988 to recognize the importance of coming out and to honor the first anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights. HRC's National Coming Out Project is an ongoing campaign to help end discrimination by encouraging and assisting gay people to be open and honest about their lives.
Copies of the HRC's Resource Guide to Coming Out can be obtained by calling HRC's National Coming Out Project at (800) 866-6263 or sending an email to ncop@hrcusa.org. The Guide can also be accessed through HRC's website at: http://www.hrcusa.org/whowhat/whatwedo/ncop/resource .
HRC Media Contact: Kim I. Mills 202-628-4160 pager 800-386-5997.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Cammermeyer's co-counsel, said the ruling preserves an important federal court opinion that ruled the militry's anti-gay policy to be unconstitutional. Although the government earlier agreed to not discharge Col. Cammermeyer, Lambda continues to wage a legal challenge to the military's on-going anti-gay rules which treat lesbian and gay personnel differently than non-gay personnel.
Col. Cammermeyer is now on inactive duty awaiting resolution of her case. She drew widespread public support and inspired a 1995 made-for-television movie, "Serving in Silence," starring Glenn Close.
"Grethe Cammermeyer's courage and perseverance in this case are vivid examples of how wrong the military's anti-gay polices are," said Jon W. Davidson, SUpervising Attorney in Lambda's Western Regional Office in Los Angeles.
Today's ruling by the Ninth Circuit sends the case, Cammermeyer v. United States, to U.S. District Court Judge Thomas S. ZIlly in Seattle. Judge Zilly ruled in 1994, that Col. Cammermeyer's discharge was a violation of her Constitutional rights to equal protection and due process. The judge also said it was unconstitutional to discharge Col. Cammermeyer solely on the basis of her sexual orientation. Although the appeals court refused the government's request to vacate the earlier decision, it left the option to Judge Zilly to consider.
From her home in Whilbey Island, Washingtin, Col Cammermeyer said, "This is not just a matter of principle or pride. We believe it has important ramifications to day, because of the constitutional issues Judge Zilly has address."
A 28-year veteran of the Army and National Guard, and Chief Nurse of the Washington State National Guard, Cammermeyer is the high-ranking service member to be discharged for being lesbian or gay. Among many other honors, she received a Bronze Star for her service in Vietnam.
During the taping, Schmitz learned that his "secret admirer" was his gay neighbor, Amedure. Several days later, Schmitz allegedly went to Amedure's mobile home and shot him twice at close range. He later confessed to police, and has been quoted as saying, "He's gay, I'm not. That's why I killed him."
The defense claims the humiliation of the talk show as well as mental illness drove him to confusion and rage and that Schmitz did not intend to kill Amedure.
According to Jeffrey Montgomery of the Triangle Project, Michigan's lesbian and gay anti-violence program, "We have been very concerned and fearful that the Jenny Jones element could divert attention from the fact that this is a pure case of anti-gay violence resulting in the murder of a young man."
Court TV plans live coverage of the trial beginning at 9 am EDT, October 8. For more information contact Jeffrey Montgomery (Triangle Project) at (313) 537-3323.
The demonstration took place on the steps of the Unitarian Universalist Church on Pearl Street, and was sponsored by a national protest group, Transexual Menace, and several local organizations.
"An integral part of democracy is diversity," said Worcester resident Laurie Labarthe, who used to be a man, but after an operation, became a woman. "Diversity is messy, exciting, wonderful and it moves us forward."
Matt Stickney wore a dress to school Sept. 9. School officials told the 15-year-old he could not wear the dress to school again because it was disruptive. Stickney was suspended for swearing at the school principal, and 100 students protested the officials' decision banning his dress. Stickney was also attacked by a 17-year-old South Burlington boy.
Though he was not at the rally, Stickney sent a message that was read aloud.
"This is not just my own personal issue," Stickney wrote. "Young people must be more secure of their own identities ... the issue is not just about cross dressing at Burlington High, it's drawing awareness to a sensitive issue."
Stickney also thanked the people who have supported him.
Many at the demonstration said the issue is not just about a teen-age boy wearing a dress.
"This is all about fear," said Burlington City Councilor Dave Keller. "There is a huge need, for the school system in particular, to educate kids today...that it's OK to be yourself."
Diane Mansfield of Burlington brought her 4-year-old daughter, Katherine, to the rally.
"I want her to have good values, and this helps her see people who are different and teach her the values we have," Mansfield said. "But she was hoping we'd march down the street with a sign."
Others, like Ricki Anne Wilchins, a New York City resident and founding member of the protest group Transexual Menace, said transgendered people are often harassed and physically harmed for being different.
"This is about the amount of tolerance people in a community show to people who are harassed," Wilchins said.
Others at the rally wanted to thank Stickney for being himself.
"He's the one who told me how to express myself," said Grace Treanor, a Burlington High freshman. "Thank you Matt, for teaching me something."
Washington, D.C. September 6, 1996 -- Over 15,000 people took part today in AIDS Walk Washington. Tipper Gore led the 10th Annual walk which raised over $2,000,000 for AIDS care and support.
GLINN will make professionally duplicated copies of the VHS tape available to gay/lesbian television/cable programs for only $29.95 per tape including rights for public exhibition at no additional cost. Overnight express delivery is available for an additional $10.00. Tapes will be unedited raw footage. More than one tape will be available, depending upon the events you want footage of. We will be back in Milwaukee on October 15 and begin shipping. If you need it before that, special orders will be considered wherein the tape will be duplicated in Washington, D.C. and sent FedEx on Monday.
Individuals who would like copies of the 2 hour VHS highlight video tape may order them from GLINN Media Corporation for $29.95 per copy which includes ground shipping and handling. Unlike most video tapes, GLINN will permit community organizations and businesses such as taverns, free rights to public exhibition. Plan a party or a video night to watch this tape. Telephone: 1-800-311-6353 to order or fax your credit card information to GLINN at 414-289-0789.
GLINN will also be posting photographs from the events right here on our Web site. Depending on certain issues yet to be worked out, GLINN may post photographs from these events online within hours of their happening, directly from our Washington, D.C. location. Watch this site for more information.
New York, NY October 3, 1996 --- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund invites lesbian and gay rights activists and supporters to a Freedom to Marry Briefing & Workshop in Washington, D.C., Saturday, October 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Activists in Washington for the Names Project Foundation's display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt are encouraged to take this opportunity to meet and discuss this effort to advance lesbian and gay civil rights.
This is the first national briefing for the lesbian and gay community about the Hawaii marriage trial, with Even Wolfson, Lambda Marriage Project Director, just back from Honolulu following his work as co-counsel in the historic Hawaii marriage trial for lesbian and gay couples. The workshop will discuss state-by-state tasks we must tackle now for winning and keeping the freedom to marry. The outlook for victory will be discussed, plus why the misnamed "Defense of Marriage Act" will not stop equal marriage rights in Hawaii and throughout the country.
What: Lambda Briefing on Freedom to Marry and Lesbian & Gay Rights
When: Saturday, October 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Dupont Plaza Hotel, Garden Room, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. (Dupont Circle).
For more informaton: Lambda Marriage Project, 212-995-8585.
Washington, D.C. October 2, 1996 --- The omnibus spending bill signed by President Clinton on Monday night includes a 12 percent increase in spending for HIV and AIDS care, prevention and research, the Human Rights Campaign said today.
The House and Senate earmarked a total of $996.2 million for AIDS care in fiscal 1997 -- $100 million more than President Clinton had requested.
That money, part of the omnibus spending bill, was appropriated under the Ryan White CARE Act, the federal program that provides funds to states and cities to care for people with HIV and AIDS. The proposed increase is 32 percent more than Congress appropriated in fiscal 1996 under the Ryan White program.
House and Senate negotiators also agreed to increase spending on HIV prevention through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under tems of the omnibus bill, the CDC's spending would increase from $585 million in fiscal 1996 to $617 millin in 1997. This is a 6 percent increase.
"This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Clinton administration, which pushed this funding," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's deputy director for legislation. "These funds offer greater hope, especially for people who need financial assistance to purchase the new, multi-drug therapies that have proven to be so effective."
The proposed spending increases came as Congress also agreed to remove a discriminatory HIV measure from the immigration reform bill. The immigration bill was wrapped into the overall spending bill without a provision that would have denied access to treatment services to HIV-positive immigrants.
"This was a victory for common sense and common decency," Stachelber said of the immigration provision's removal. "But it remains unfortunate that this Congress waited until the last possible moment to show some compassion toward people with HIV and AIDS."
The proposed Ryan White spending increases included $167 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which helps get drugs to about 70,000 people annually who are not covered by Medicaid or private insurance. In fiscal 1996, Congress appropriated $52 million to this program.
Overall, discretionary spending on HIV and AIDS-related programs went from $2.9 billion in fiscal 1996 to $3.4 billion in fiscal 1997.
The negotiators also worked out a compromise on handling the Office of AIDS Research at the National Institutes of Health. The OAR would no longer be a line item in the spending bill; rather, the directors of OAR and NIH would determine how AIDS monies are distributed among the various institutes and divisions of NIH. The OAR director would have authority to transfer up to 3 percent of AIDS money among the institutes.
"Several members of Congress deserve credit for joining the administration in pushing for these funding increses," Stachelberg said. She singled out Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sens. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.
In a separate appropriations bill passed earlier in the session, Congress approved and Clinton signed a 13 percent increase for the program Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS. That program will get $196 million in fiscal 1997, up from $171 million the previous year.
Chicago, IL October 2, 1996 --- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund will argue to an Illinois state appeals court that a divorced mother in Washington, IL, should not lose custody of her two children due to a lower court judge's fear the children might one day be subjected to "Social condemnation" because their mother is in a relationship with another woman.
Oral Argument in the case, Schoeder v. Schroeder, is scheduled before the Third District Appellate Court in Ottawa, Illinois, on Thrusday, October 3, at 2:30 p.m.
"Parenthood is not a popularity contest," said Patricia M. Logue, managing attorney for Lambda's Midwest Regional Office, who will argue the appeal for the mother. Noting that the lower court's ruling has dangerous ramifications for any gay or socially unpopular parents, Logue added, "Everyone in this case agreed that these children have been thriving for years in the care of their mother. They should not be uprooted based on hypothetical fears."
The two young children have lived all their lives with their mother, Rebecca Schroeder. But last January 31, a Tazewell County circuit court judge ordered custody changed to the father, Stuart Schroeder, stating possible negative social ramifications from the mother's relationship with another woman, who lives with the mother and children in their suburban home outside Peoria, Illinois. A three-judge state appellate panel is expected to rule in the case by the end of the year.
Seattle, WA October 1, 1996 --- The Pride Foundation of Seattle today announced that applications are available for its winter 1996/1997 granting cycle, with $50,000 or more available to fund programs of non-profit organizations that serve members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and their family and friends. New for the winter 1996/1997 granting cycle is a fund targeted to projects and programs which benefit lesbian and gay families with children.
All projects must operate within one or more of the five Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. The Pride Foundation will strive to balance the mixture of projects funded among those that serve both men and women. Organizations applying for funds must have 501(c)3 non-profit tax status, or be afiliated with an organization that has 501(c)3 status that will assume responsibility for administering all funds received and expended. Grants to individuals cannot be considered.
Application packets for the winter 1996/1997 granting cycle are available from the Pride Foundation at 122 E. Pike Street, #1001, Seattle, WA 98122-3934, phone 06-323-3318. Completed applicatons must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 1996. Granting decisions wil be announced in January 1997 and checks distributed by February 1997.
The Pride Foundation also awarded an additional $50,000 in its summer 1996 cycle. Through the generosity of over 2,500 donors and the efforts of 200 volunteers, the Pride Foundation plans to award $300,000 in grants and scholarships in 1996/1997.
The stated mission of the Pride Foundation is to work to strengthen the lesbian and gay community today and build an endowment for tomorrow. As a community foundation, Pride raises funds for its granting and scholarship programs, educates about community needs and solutions, fosters leadership and promotes the leveraging of availabl ecommunity resources. Pride funds a wide variety of areas including youth and family services, the arts, advocacy, recreation, AIDS education and support, health and human services, volunteer development and education, outreach and visibility. Since 1987, the Pride Foundation has made grants of nearly 1 million dollars to more than 150 organizations.
See GLAAD Bulletin in the "Features" Section for more information and news.
Politicians who voted for DOMA have faced increased speculation that they are closeted homosexuals.
According to Shepherd Express, Milwaukee's weekly newspaper, local gay activists held a September 11 protest outside of conservative Senator Herb Kohl's (D-WI) office demanding that he "come out of the closet." The Sheperd Express also ran a photo of Kohl and a headline implying that he was gay. The article itself did not discuss Kohl's sexual orientation. The headline was added by an Editor, who was later forced to resign. This is the first newspaper attempt at outing Kohl, though gay activists in Milwaukee and Washington have for some time claimed that Kohl is gay. Gay community leaders in Milwaukee have expressed their belief (off the record) that Kohl is gay, though no one has been able to prove it. (Click on the following photo of David Mixner for his views on outting and other subjects.)
This latest in a number of incidents resulted from Kohl's vote in favor of the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA. Kohl did vote in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which failed in the Senate by one vote. Wisconsin's other Senator, Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted against DOMA and voted for ENDA.
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Ohio, the September 27 Gay People's Chronicle reported that pro-gay Democratic challenger Cynthia Ruccia has requested a Justice Department ethics review of 12th District Representative John Kasich (R). Kasich's chief of staff, Donald Thibaut, whose salary exceeds $108,000, is also Kasich's housemate of 14 years. "It should not be permitted for a member of Congress to live with his own staffperson, whose salary and position he directly controls," Ruccia wrote in her letter. In the story, Bruce Cuthbertson, Kasich's press secretary, stated that, "'Neither one of them is gay and no, they don't have any gay relationship.'" While she has received some criticism and been accused of "gay-baiting," Ruccia has denied that the allegations are anti-gay.
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David Mixner (right) and his partner Patrick. David Mixner appeared in Milwaukee, WI for a book signing of Stranger Among Friends and fundraising reception for the Milwaukee AIDS Project. He answered a number of questions concerning Clinton, Outing, the gay equality struggle and other things. Click on the photo to read this
extensive interview. He also walked in AIDS Walk Wisconsin on Sept. 22nd. See the Guide Section for AIDS Walk photos, including photos of Bette Midler.
Washington, D.C. September 26, 1996 --- Hundreds are expected at a "Come Out Voting" rally Friday, October 11, 1996 where lesbian and gay community leaders will celebrate National Coming Out Day, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
HRC's National Coming Out Project is sponsoring the event to highlight the importance of this year's elections. It is set for 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on the Ellipse, behind the White House. The rally coincides with the weekend-long display of the AIDS memorial quilt on the Mall, across from the Ellipse.
"Coming out and being honest about who we are is crucial thorughout our lives as we work to end discrimination," according to Candance Gingrich, sister of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and HRC's 1996 voter mobilization spokeswoman. "This year, I can't think of a better place to come out than in the voting booth."
Gingrich will be among the speakers addressing the crowd, as will HRC spokesperson Sean Sasser, an AIDS educator who first came to national attention on MTV's The Real WOrld III; and Chastity Bono, a writer for The Advocate magazine and duaghter of pop icon Cher and Rep. Sonny Bono R-Calif. A broad range of lesbian and gay community leaders will speak at the event.
Gingrich cited AIDS, women's health issues and the Senate's 49-50 vote Sept. 10 on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as key reasons for lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans and their friends and families to vote on Nov. 5.
"Against all odds in the most challenging Congress we've had in years, the U.S. Senate came within one vote of passing a bill protecting Americans from job discrimination," Gingrich said. "Just think of the progress we can make toward equal rights if we can elect a few more fair-minded people to Congress, and keep this president in the White House."
This year, HRC has been working with other lesbian and gay organizations across the country to promote voter registration through grassroots organizing and public service advertising. HRC is supporting more than 150 Republican, Democratic and independent candidates in this fall's congressional races.
The rally is just one of hundreds of events around the country commemorating National Coming Out Day, created in 1988 to recognize the importance of coming out and to honor the first anniversary of the 1987 march on Washington for lesbian and gay equal rights. HRC's National Coming Out Project is an ongoing campaign to encourage and assist gay people to be honest about their lives.
Washington, D.C. September 27, 1996 --- During the weekend of October 11-13, close to one million people will converge on Washington DC to view the unfolding of the 40,000+ panels of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.
At 8 p.m., Friday, October 11th, at Washington's historic Lincoln Theather, NMAC will host its 2nd Annual In Tribute Event entitled Love at First Laught, an evening of riotous comedy starring: Downtown Julie Brown, Margaret Cho, Kate Clinton & Thea Vidale, with a special appearance by BETTY!
All proceeds from Love at First Laugh will go to support NMAC's Woman & Families HIV/AIDS Program, a public policy initiative to address the unique challenges of women of color and their families living with AIDS.
NMAC's Executive Director, Paul Akio Kawata comments, "It is so important that as many people as possible see and experience the Quilt. However, we also felt that afterwards, many people would appreciate a release and an opportunity to leaugh a little."
Downtown Julie Brown -- Hailed as the "Dick Clark" of the video age, Downtown Julie Brown's style and personality inspired the developed of Club MTV. She has since appeared on American Dance Traxx, the Ace Awards and numerous Super Bowls. Currently, she can be seen on the E! Entertainment Cable Channel's "The Gossip Show."
Margaret Cho -- Dispatching pre-conceptions and delivering punchlines that sting with wit and veracity, Korean-American Margaret Cho's comedy was first seen at The Improv and later on ABC's "All American Girl." More recently Margaret brought visibility to AIDS issues through her role in the feature film, "It's My Party."
Kate Clinton -- A self-described "fumorsist" (that's feminist + humorist), Kate Clinto has appeared on everything from "The Arsenio Hall SHow" and Comeedy Central to Nightline & CNN. She also hosted "In the Life", a gay & lesbian news/variety show. Most recently, Kate has joined the writing team on the runaway daytime hit "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."
Thea Vidale -- Best remembered for her ABC show "Thea", this former wise-cracking waitress from Pasadena, Texas made her debut at a local comedy club. Soon after, she found herself starring in Edinburgh, Scotland's Fringe Festival, going on to Rodney Dangerfield's HBO special "Where's Rodney" and "Def Comedy Jam."
BETTY! -- Part Laurie Anderson, part James Brown, this all-girl, bi-racial, rock n' roll performance/cabaret trio weaves original songs and character sketches into their trademark performances.
Tickets are on sale at The Lincoln Theatre box office, Lambda Rising Bookstore, Lammas Books and also through Ticketmaster (800-551-SEAT).
Founded in 1987, the National Minority AIDS Council develops leadership in communities of color to address HIV/AIDS issues. NMAC has over 600 community-based member AIDS service organizations, nationwide.
New York, NY September 25, 1996 --- After nearly 14 months of planning and national fundraising, an important new non-profit, all-volunteer organization, including service to gay and lesbian youth, is set to debut. The Gay and Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH) will officially open its toll-free telephone lines at 6 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, October 1, 1996. The phone number will be 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564).
The GLNH will provide peer counseling, information and referrals to gay, lesbian and bisexual people, as well as others concerned with gay-related issues. The services are without charge and totally anonymous.
"The Gay and Lesbian National Hotline meets a critical need in the gay and lesbian community today," said Brad Becker, president of the GLNH. "Last fall we conducted a survey of local gay and lesbian switchboards throughout the country. We quickly learned that many, vast areas of the country went unserved or, in areas with access to a local switchboard, the hours of operation were often limited.
"The Gay and Lesbian National Hotline aims to meet that need," he adds. "Callers anywhere in the country will be able to reach volunteers, any weekday evening, toll-free.
"A young person struggling with sexual orientation questions often times has nowhere to turn," Becker says. "Our volunteers are well-trained and compassionate -- they know how to listen and that can mean a great deal to a caller."
In addition, the GLNH maintains a database with more than 13,000 local community groups, organizations, businesses and professionals. With this extensive resource of information, the GLNH can link callers with thousands of services available.
The entire organization is run by volunteers. All financial donations go directly to supporting these services.
The hotline accepts calls weeknights from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., EDT. With additional fundraising the GLNH hopes to expand its hours in the future.
More information on the GLNH can be obtained on the world wide web -- http://www.glnh.org . Individuals interested in volunteering for the GLNH can call 212-633-7492.
Gay & Lesbian National Hotline 332 Bleecker Street, Suite F-18, New York, NY 10014 For More Information Contact: David Caouette at 212-633-7492
Washington, D.C. September 24, 1996 --- Although the 104th Congress was one of the most anti-gay in history, advocates of equal rights for gay men and lesbians achieved some remarkable victories, the Human Rights Campaign said today in releasing its congressional scorecard.
A total of 157 members of the House and 14 members of the Senate scored zero percent on issues of concern to gay and lesbian Americans. In contract, 65 House members and 12 senators scored 100 percent in the 104th Congress.
The Oklahoma delgation was the most anti-gay in the 104th Congress, will all six House member sand both senators scoring zeros.
The four members from Hawaii comprised the only full state delegation to score 100 percent on gay and AIDS issues in both the House and Senate.
"The 104th Congress has been one of the most toxic for our community," Elizabeth Birch, HRC executive director, said at a news conference to release the report. "Yet, despite this noxious atmosphere, gay and lesbian Americans made some significant progress in this Congress, which I think is a testament to the maturing of our movement."
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation, was defeated 50-49 on Sept. 10.
Daniel Zingale, HRC's political director, pointed out that 33 senators voted in the last Congress against codifying the ban on gays and lesbains in the military.
"The 49 votes in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- which included eight Republicans -- show that we have made significant progress, despite the conservative bent of this Congress," he said. "And, as has often been the case with our issues and Congress, many of the success storeis are not about what happened but what we prevented from happening."
Among the initiatives HRC helped turn back this session were attempts to interfere with local school programs for gay youth; a proposed ban on gay couples' adopting children; cuts in funding for AIDS care and prevention; and efforts to dismantle Medicaid.
"Perhaps our most stunning success was the repeal of Congressman Bob Dornan's amendment to discharge all members of the military with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, said WInnie Stachelberg, HRC's deputy political director for legislation.
HRC's congressional scorecard rated members of the 104th Congress on a series of issues including the "Defense of Marriage Act," a bill aimed at blocking any moves toward legalizing same-sex marriages. The bill passed both chambers this year by overwhelming margins and was signed by President Clinton on September 21, 196.
Members were also scored on whether their offices have employment politics that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The 104th Congress was marked by an unprecedented wave of anti-gay activity. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., was up to his usual anti-gay assaults, introducing insidious amendments to cut AIDS prevention funding and penalize the National Endowment for the Arts. Rep. Bob Dornan, R-Calif., made numerous inflammatory floor speeches about openly gay members and their partners. The House held a hearing on the alleged promotion of homosexuality in public schools with the intention of launching anti-gay legislation. Dornan also sponsored amendments to expel all HIV positive members of the military and , when it was repealed early this year, he reintroduced virtually the same measure. He also attempted to repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and replace it by making the old-style gay and lesbian witch hunts federal law.
But the House hit a new anti-gay low when it passed, by a lopsided 342-67, a divisive and unconstitutional anti-gay marriage bill. The debate proceeding this shareful spectacle was laced with some of the most repugnant rhetoric, as members of Congress vilified gay people as "perverts," "hedonists" and much worse. Nearly two-thirds of all Democrats and virtually all House Republicans voted in favor of this gratuitous measure. In September, the bill passed the Senate, 85-14.
Despite this poionous atmosphere, gay and lesbian Americans amde a surprising degree of progress on Capitol Hill. A Small Business subcommittee held the first House hearings on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Congress extended the Hate Crimes Statistics Act for another six years. Dornan's permicious amendments were striped out by a conference committee. Steps were made in improving health care by assuring portability of health care coverage and limiting pre-existing condition restrictions. And the Senate confirmed the first openly lesbian federal judge.
As has often been the case with our issues and Congress, many of the success storeis are not about what happened but what we prevented from happening.
BILLS PROPOSED BUT NOT ENACTED: Interfere with Local School Programs for Gay Youth; Ban Lesbian/Gay Couples from Adopting; Dismatle Medicaid; Increase Anti-Gay "Witch Hunts" in Military; Ban HIV+ Service Members (reversed); Repeal D.C. Domestic Partner Law; Cut AIDS Care Funding; Cut AIDS Prevention Funding; Eliminate AIDS Housing Program; and Penalize NEA for Producing Lesbian film.
Washington, D.C. September 22, 1996 --- Gay rights advocates Saturday denounced President Clinton's midnight signing of a bill to deny federal recognition and benefits to cuples of the same sex who might marry, dismissing it as a "historical misjudgement" that endorsed a "needless and mean-spirited bill."
Such criticism came as no surprise and was in fact exactly in line with the reaction Clinton expected -- and even wanted -- when he announced in May that he would sign the bill to avoid a political firestorm on an issue he did not support in the first place.
The president's spokeman, Michael McCurry, acknowleged the Clinton signed the bill because "the president believes the motives behind this bill are dubious and the president believes that the sooner he gets this over with the better.
No state allows same-sex marriage, but a court case decision pending in Hawaii may allow it in the future. Clinton has long supported civil rights for gays and lesbians, but also has long opposed same-sex marriage.
Some civil rights advocates had urged the president to veto the bill on the constitutional ground that it would weaken the "full faith and credit" clause requiring states to honor regulations of other states. However Clinton, who paid a heavy political price for his early, unsuccessful effort to allows gays to serve openly in the military. He eager to prove himself a social moderate, unwilling to pick a fight over such a sensitive issue, especially since he has never supported same-sex marriage itself.
"President Clinton has become the first president in history to trample on statesl traditional jurisdiction over marriage," said Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign.
"With the stroke of his pen, he has condoned the exclusion of all lesbians and gay Americans from the federal benefits and responsibilities that come with marriage, even though it will be years before such an instittuion becomes available to them.
Clinton signed the bill without ceremony in the wee hours Saturday morning, after returning from a four-day campaign trip to six Midwestern and Western states.
Clinton was not eager to be seen as tolerating the anti-gay rhetoric used by the bill's supporters, and though he has often been happy to endure criticism from the left because it makes him appear more moderate, he did not want a messy election-year fight with gay rights advocates who have been among his strongest supporters. Thus, the White House has soft-pedaled the issue at every turn.
Honolulu, September 20, 1996 --- The landmark trial to win civil marriage rights for lesbian and gay couples, Baehr v. Miike, concluded Friday, with Lambda Senior Staff Attorney Evan Wolfson and Honolulu civil rights lawyer Dan Foley optimistic of success for their clients seeking the first marriage licenses ever granted to lesbian and gay couples.
The two co-counsel in the case said they easily disproved Hawaii's claim that a compelling state interest in the optimal development of children justifies discrimination against lesbian and gay couples who wish to marry -- even though many may now or one day be parents themselves.
"Everybody agrees," said Foley of the witnesses who testified during the nine-day trial before Judge Kevin S.C. Chang in the state Circuit Court. "Gay man and lesbians are good parents. They raise children and do it well, and their sexual orientation is not an issues," he said before presenting closing arguments in the case.
Lambda's Evan Wolfson, whose questioning of the state's and plaintiff's witnesses prompted statements from both sides in support of gay parents. "Marriage is an important personal decision that belongs to the couple, not the state. Hawaii ended racial discrimination in vicil marriage years ago when it ended the ban on interracial marriage. Now, it is leading the nation in ending sex discrimination in civil marriage."
Judge Change, who heard the non-jury case from September 10 to 20, is expected to rule by late November or early December.
Overview of Baehr v. Miike
In 1993, citing the equal protection clause of the state's constitution, the Hawaii Supreme Court found that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples appears to be sex discrimination. It remanded the case to the lower court, requiring that the State either show a compelling state interest in such discrimination, or stop discriminating.
In this trial, the burden of showing a "compelling state interest" is the highest burden of proof that the court can require, and it rests solely on the defendant, the state of Hawaii. The plaintiffs have no burden. The State chose as its compelling justification for the discrimination in civil marriage the proposition that keeping same-sex couples from civil marriage showhow helps children develop "optimally." The State also claimed that two biological parents are the "best" for raising a child.
What the State's Evidence Actually Showed:
The State called four national expert witnesses (including one who testified he disagreed with much of his field as well as the theory of evolution.):
Kyle Pruett, M.D., expert in psychiatry, Yale University Child Study Center
David Eggebeen, Ph.D., expert in sociology, Penn State University
David Popenoe, Ph.D., expert in sociology, Rutgers University
Richard Williams, Ph.D., expert in qualitative research, Brigham Young University
The plaintiffs called our national expert witnesses who, unlike the State's witnesses, are recognized by their peers and colleagues as the leading experts in their fields.
Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Washington, sociologist regarded as a lading national expert on family, couples, gender and sex; author of American Couples;
Charlotte Patterson, Ph.D., University of Virginia, psychologist regarded as the leading national expert on the development of children, especially children of same-sex couples;
David Brodzinsky, PhD., Rutgers University, research and clinical psychologist regarded as the nation's leading expert on adoption and non-biological parenting;
Robert James Bidwell, M.D., Director - Dept of Pediatrics, Kapiolani Medical College for Women & Children in Honolulu,; practicing pediatrician; University of Hawaii School of Medicine professor; heads the Pacific's most comprehensive pediatric unit.
By Hugh Coyle
BURLINGTON, VT "Out in the Mountains" September 9, 1996 -- Burlington High School sophomore Matthew Stickney, 15, was found on Thursday, September 19, after having been listed as a runaway. Stickney had been suspended from school the previous week after school officials demanded that he cease wearing a dress to classes.
A rally at Burlington High School following Stickney's suspension turned violent on Friday, September 13, when Stickney was struck in the face by another teen, Shawn Stevens of South Burlington. Stickney had been joined by about one hundred supporters outside the school building.
On Tuesday morning, September 17, Stickney failed to appear for a follow-up meeting with a police mediator. After some investigation into his absence, Stickney was declared a runaway later in the afternoon.
Stickney reportedly spoke via telephone to the local media, claiming "they won't find me, I am deep underground and they will never find me." The following day, Stickney was discovered in Burlington and taken back into state custody. He had previously been living in a foster home supervised by the Baird Center.
Lt. Bill LaWare, a member of the Burlington Police department's special Community Based Office, reported that "Matt has been found; he is safe and that was our real focus during this time frame. He is where he needs to be and hopefully things will work out for Matthew."
Stickney, who openly refers to himself as a drag queen, withstood repeated warnings from BHS Principal Ridgely Schott to stop wearing a wig and dress to school during the opening weeks of the school year. When Stickney persisted, Schott suspended him, also claiming that the teen had used abusive language in discussions with the School's administration.
"I thought I would do it because it is who I am as a person," said Stickney in defense of his actions. "I thought of the reaction I would get -- people making fun of me -- but I just winged it and thought I'd deal with it if it came along."
Donna Jemilo, Superintendent of Schools, called the initial series of events a "complex situation," citing the challenge to "balance the need to maintain an environment that facilitates learning for all students and the rights of one individual." She referred to Stickney's cross-dressing as a "distraction" in the classroom setting.
Despite Jemilo's statement, many of Stickney's peers considered the school's treatment of him to be unfair. Amy Lawson, also a sophomore at BHS, commented during the protest, "Everybody here just dresses the way they want to be. They wear spikes, purple, green colored hair. He wants to wear a dress and a wig and that is no different than the way other kids are dressing."
Matt approached the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union on the day of the protest, and the organization immediately provided him with legal counsel in the person of Board member and cooperating attorney Lisa Shelkrot. Openly gay state Senatorial candidate David Curtis, former Defender General and an ACLU board member, also offered to be of assistance if needed.
Leslie Williams, Executive Director of ACLU/VT, said, "The ACLU thinks any disruption to the educational process at Burlington High School that has occurred is the direct result of the actions of the school principal in refusing to allow a student to attend school wearing a dress. Matt has as much right to wear a dress to school as a Scotsman has to wear a kilt or a girl has to wear blue jeans. It seems to us that school officials should keep their prejudices at home and conduct school business in a fair and impartial way."
Shelkrot had previously voiced her support for Matt in a television interview, saying, "He has the right to self expression. He also has the right to be treated without gender discrimination . . . a dress code that treats boys and girls differently -- a policy that prohibits men from wearing dresses and allows women to -- would probably be in violation of the equal protection clause."
Local parent Tracy Buttles of Westford also expressed dismay at the School's position. "As a parent, I want my kids to go a school that does not tolerate discrimination of any kind," she said, "and is accepting and supportive of differences in individuals."
On Friday, Stickney's supporters skipped classes to join him outside the School building in a protest rally. Some had cross-dressed themselves to further demonstrate their support.
During the protest, a false fire alarm led to the evacuation of the School. The group of protesters was subsequently asked to leave School property, and the students moved on to North Street, eventually ending up near the bus stop on North and Institute. Meanwhile, Stickney and two of his classmates attended a meeting with school officials, police officers, and a mediator.
Shortly after returning from the meeting, Stickney was assaulted by Stevens. Burlington police have already classified the incident as a hate crime. A second assault complaint involving another juvenile is currently under investigation by the Burlington police department. If convicted on the assault charge, Stevens may face stiffer sentencing due to Vermont's Hate Crimes law.
Following Stickney's return to custody, concerns and allegations about the state's foster care system have surfaced. Bill Young of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) commented on the criticisms, saying, "I am in constant awe that teenagers can present a wide varity of issues -- including some we didn't expect. I suspect there are peripheral issues we can't even begin to discuss because of the privacy act, but oftentimes with any situation what you see isn't what you get, and this community needs to be sensitive to that before they start pointing fingers at anyone."
Outright Vermont, a Burlington-based group whose mission is to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning youth and to increase societal awareness of their issues, hopes that the Stickney case will highlight the need for increased sensitivity in departments such as SRS and the local school systems.
Vermont's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered newspaper Out in the Mountains will try to keep its readers up to date on the matter by posting frequent updates on its Web Site.
In doing so, it has become the largest U.S. business to offer domestic partnership benefits, and has joined a progressive trend of a few hundred major American businesses who have extended such benefits over the past few years.
"These eligibility criteria changes will help us meet the crucial needs of our current workforce and, at the same