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CU in Massachusetts?

Boston MA— Leaders of the Massachusetts State Senate are preparing a bill that would legalize civil unions for same-sex couples, providing most of the rights and protections of marriage. Robert Travaglini, president of the state Senate, told the Boston Globe early last month that the legislation would not be introduced until the state’s highest court rules on gay marriages.
      Travaglini, a Democrat and a Catholic, said his religion prevents him from backing same-sex marriage, but his desire for fairness allows him to favor civil unions. A civil union bill in Massachusetts would face an uphill battle, since Governor Romney, a moderate Republican, and House Speaker Finneran, a conservative Democrat, would oppose such a measure.

A Dangerous Place For Transfolk

Washington DC — Within one week in August, three violent crimes against transgender individuals were reported, just one year after the unsolved murders of two transgender teens. As reported by the Human Rights Campaign, Aaryn Marshall, 25, a male-to-female transsexual, was found beaten and shot to death hours after another transgender woman was found shot. Five days earlier, Elvys “Bella Evangelista” Perez, 25, a popular drag performer was murdered. Arrests were made in both murders. Seven states and the District of Columbia have hate crime laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act pending in the Senate would add real or perceived sexual orientation and gender to the categories protected by federal law. The National Transgender Advocacy Group maintains the ‘Remembering Our Dead’ list, with the names of individuals who have been killed due to transgender prejudice. They report that 2003 is keeping pace with 2002, which is so far the deadliest year on record.

Altercation at the Altar

Hong Kong — Protesters disrupted Mass at Hong Kong’s oldest Catholic cathedral to protest the Bishop’s support of the recent Vatican announcement against same-sex unions. Eight activists chanted slogans criticizing the Bishop and struggled with church officials at the altar during a morning mass, attended by hundreds of people. The police were called and protesters were reprimanded.
      The demonstration was organized by Rainbow Action in response to Bishop Zen Ze-kiun’s articles in the Chinese Catholic weekly in which he supported the Vatican’s recent directive against same sex marriage. During the disruption, protesters demanded a public apology for the Bishop’s anti-gay position. In response to the protest, the head of Hong Kong’s Catholic Church called for an apology from Rainbow Action. Some gay rights activists have distanced themselves from the protest, stating that they share the concerns of the group but could not support the strategy.
      Homosexuality was decriminalized in Hong Kong in 1991. Later last month, a surprisingly amicable meeting between Rainbow Action and the Bishop found “common ground” for discussion, while disagreements remain regarding the issue of gay marriage.

UPS Policy Challenged

San Francisco CA — United Parcel Service continues discussions with Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund over couple policies affecting lgbt employees. Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit against UPS in California state court in late August on behalf of Daniel Kline, who has worked UPS for more than two decades, and his partner, Frank Sories. Sories was transferred to Chicago by his employer, United Airlines.
      Kline had applied for a transfer under UPS’s policy permitting employees to relocate to avoid having their families broken apart when loved ones are transferred. Kline’s transfer was approved at district and regional levels, but was ultimately rejected by the corporation because the men are gay and therefore not legally married.
      Hours after the lawsuit was filed, UPS announced that it had changed its policy to include domestic partners. “We’re encouraged by UPS’s public statements,” said Jon W. Davidson, Senior Counsel for Lambda Legal. At press time, Lambda Legal’s lawsuit against UPS had not been dropped.

Gay 101

Kalamazoo MI — Representative Jack Hoogendyk (R-Kalamazoo) has assembled a list of 60 courses taught at Michigan universities that he feels need closer scrutiny. The lawmaker is proposing a bill that would require universities to submit class lists to the legislature for approval. Legislators could decide to prohibit the teaching of any of the classes.
      A Kalamzoo TV station reported late last month that Hoogendyk’s greatest concern is a course at the University of Michigan entitled, “How to be Gay.” He questions whether the course should be supported with public tax dollars.
      Other questioned courses include “Women, Crime and Deviance,” “The Rhetoric of Hate and Fear,” “Gender and Society,” and “Culture and Sexuality.”
      WMU President Judith Bailey says she and Hoogendyk have agreed to disagree on the issue. “It’s faculty’s responsibility to represent a broad range of ideas, thoughts, philosophies and facts around issues wide-ranging from science to gender,” she says.

Smoking Kills More Than AIDS

Sacramento CA — Gay activists and health professionals are targeting smoking as a health risk bigger than HIV. “Smoking kills more gays than AIDS, hate crimes, suicides and breast cancer combined,” according to Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project, a Washington-based LGBT health advocacy group. As reported in the St. Petersburg Times in August, the Mautner Project, the California Department of Health Services, and the American Legacy Foundation have created anti-smoking campaigns specifically for gay and lesbian smokers. The Mautner campaign boldly declares, “Lesbians prefer smoke-free kisses.” The Gay American Smoke Out was created in San Jose and Seattle to coincide with the Great American Smoke Out, each November.
      A UCLA survey of 55,000 people found that gays and lesbians are 70 percent more likely to smoke than heterosexuals. Even more dramatically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as many as 59 percent of LGBT teens use tobacco, compared to 35 percent of straight teens.

State Dept Bans HIV+ Workers

Washington DC — Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that the State Department illegally prohibits anyone with HIV from being hired as a Foreign Service officer.
     Lambda Legal announced last month that it represents Lorenzo Taylor, a federal employee who is fluent in three languages, holds a Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University, and easily passed the State Department’s difficult Foreign Service Officer exams, but was rejected because he has HIV.
      The State Department claims that people with HIV may require medical treatment unavailable in less developed countries. Taylor has been living with HIV for 18 years and has never had long-term illnesses or opportunistic infections. His doctor reports that Taylor is in ‘excellent’ health.
      Ironically, Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke passionately about the need for employers to stop discrimination, calling for corporate leaders to “ensure there is no discrimination related to a person’s HIV status.” He continued, “[U]nder President Bush’s leadership, this government will commit all of its resources, all of its energy, all of its leadership ability, to playing its part.”

First Annual Texas Shootout

Dallas TX — Different Strokes isn’t a sex club, though clubs are certainly involved — golf clubs, that is. It’s a gay golf association that is announcing a golf tournament open to gay golfers from around the globe. The “Texas Shootout” tournament, will be held October 25-26 in Dallas, co-sponsored by American Airlines and Avis. The 2-day stroke event will award trophies in a variety of categories. An established USGA handicap or the last five scorecards are required to compete.
      The Different Strokes Golf Association (DGSA) has created an event for gay and lesbian golfers “to share their love for the game,” compete in a “highly organized stroke play tournament” following USGA rules, and socialize with other gay golfers, according to their press release. Check the web site for info: www.dsgadallas.org.

Corporations Good For Gays

Washington DC — In a recent report, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) praised corporate America for working toward equal treatment of lgbt employees. Nearly 95 percent of the companies rated this year include a sexual orientation non-discrimination policy, and 74 percent incorporate diversity training.
      HRC’s Corporate Equality Index rates America’s largest companies on how they treat lgbt employees. Factors evaluated include existence of domestic partner benefits, gender expression protection, lgbt employee groups, and intolerance of activities “that would undermine the goals and equal rights” of lgbt people.
      “Most business decisions come down to dollars and cents,” said Daryl Herrschaft, deputy director for HRC WorkNet. “The positive movement in the Index says that being fair to glbt Americans ƒ is the best way to do business.”
      Most improved was Lockheed Martin, moving from 0 percent in 2002 to 71 percent this year, in response to shareholder demands. No company scored 0 percent, and 21 major firms, including Xerox, Nike, Lucent, Intel, American Airlines, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Apple Computer, Aetna, and Capital One, among others, scored a perfect 100 percent. The lowest-scoring companies include ExxonMobil, Domino’s, Meijer and National Gypsum.

Gay Catholics Claim Territory

Chicago IL - In a prepared statement, the Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) challenged Soulforce, an interfaith gay group, to stay out of the struggle within the Catholic Church regarding homophobia and acceptance of gays. RSM was apparently responding to Soulforce’s announcement that it would demonstrate, for the fourth consecutive year, at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting to be held in Washington, DC in November. Three Soulforce demonstrators were arrested at last year’s meeting and charged with misdemeanor unlawful entry.
      RSM, a national Catholic lgbt organization, applauded Soulforce for their actions against the Southern Baptist Church and agreed “[b]igotry must be addressed where it happens.” But, their statement continued, “We ask that you respect our faith differences, and allow your slower sisters and brothers in the Catholic faith to make their own journey.” RSM members have chosen to stay within the Church and “to speak out from the pews.”
      Soulforce, a network of local groups committed to non-violent resistance, is dedicated to “ending the spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against GLBT people.” This month, they will demonstrate for the third year at Jerry Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Tennessee.