Whirlpool creates network for gays
In Benton Harbor, Mich., the Whirlpool Corp., the kitchen appliance maker, has formed an organization for gay and lesbian employees, and also banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, reports The South Bend Tribune.
But the company stopped short of extending health and other benefits to unmarried same— or opposite—sex partners of its workers.
Whirlpool says it created the gay and lesbian network and similar affinity groups for women and blacks to improve its business operations as well as show respect for differences among employees.
The gay and lesbian network met for the first time February 24.
Lambda demands
insurer cover
disability claim
A Massachusetts—based insurer that refused to pay disability benefits to a long—time policyholder with HIV should stand trial for violating state law that prohibits such unfair insurance practices, said Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.
On Tuesday, April 4, the California Supreme Court was expected to hear argument to reinstate the case, Galanty v. The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, which was dismissed by a lower court. Mark Galanty, whose insurance company refused to pay his AIDS—related disability claims, is represented by Lambda Cooperating Attorney Mary Newcombe and Lambda Supervising Attorney Jon W. Davidson. "California law explicitly bars insurers from taking years of premium payments and then leaving a person high and dry when they become disabled," said Davidson. "People with AIDS should be able to depend on disability insurance to keep them from financial ruin. Here is a man who paid his insurance bill faithfully for five years, yet was told that this meant nothing since he was HIV—positive when he bought his policy."
Paul Revere argues that Galanty's HIV—positive status was equivalent to an inevitable AIDS diagnosis, despite evidence that people with HIV often live decades before developing AIDS symptoms that make work impossible. Galanty's appeal follows the 1998 ruling of the California Court of Appeal that affirmed a lower court's dismissal of his case on the grounds that HIV could be considered an excluded "manifestation" of a disability. In granting Galanty's appeal, the California Supreme Court vacated the prior courts' decision.
Reform rabbis
can bless gay unions
In Greensboro, N.C., the world's largest group of Reform rabbis voted overwhelmingly to allow its clergy to bless gay and lesbian unions, reports The News & Observer.
The resolution does not mandate such ceremonies—it will be up to rabbis to decide whether they will perform a gay union.
Leaders of the Central Conference of American Rabbis ( CCAR ) , which includes 1,700 mostly North American rabbis with a following of at least 1.5 million people, spoke forcefully in favor of blessing gay unions, and suggested they will immediately design appropriate liturgy, the paper reported.
Since its founding, CCAR has taken progressive views on a many issues. It supported Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil—rights crusade, opposed the Vietnam War 1970s and voted in 1977 to oppose any legislation that would limit the civil liberties of gays and lesbians.
More Light Presbyterian Churches give more
More Light Presbyterians announced March 31 that its member congregations show outstandingly high giving rates, and higher increases in giving over the last 10 years than in PCUSA congregations as a whole.
More Light Presbyterian congregations' contributions per member were 14% higher than the denominational average in 1998 ( about $100 difference per member ) . The rate of increase in per member contributions was 41% higher over the last decade than the denominational average, with More Light contributions increasing by 62%, compared with only 44% denomination—wide.
More Light Presbyterians is a national organization and network of individuals and churches that work for the full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church ( USA ) .
Iowa offers gay
scholarship program
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Judy Shepard, the mother of slain student Matthew Shepard, have announced the establishment of a college scholarship program in Shepard's name for openly gay high school students, reports Associated Press.
Three scholarships a year will be given to school graduates who want to attend one of Iowa's three state universities.
Funding comes from a charitable foundation established by Des Moines businessman Rich Eychaner, an openly gay Republican, who made an unsuccessful bid for the House in 1984 but lost in the primary.
School: OK for girl to take girlfriend to prom
In Virginia, Floyd County school officials decided a high school junior can take her girlfriend to the junior prom, following an appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union, reports The Roanoke Times.
The ACLU of Virginia faxed a letter to Floyd County High School saying a rule prohibiting same—sex couples from dances "must be revoked immediately." Within hours Floyd County schools Superintendent Terry Arbogast called the Lapine family and told them 17—year—old Tiffany Lapine and her female date were welcome.
ACLU's prom guidelines
The American Civil Liberties Union has released "Who Are You Taking to the Prom?" a resource to help young people combat bias. It includes the text of U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Pettine's ruling in the landmark gay prom case, Aaron Fricke v. Cumberland High School Principal Richard B. Lynch. In that 1980 case, the court ruled that Fricke's First Amendment rights were violated by the school's refusal to allow him to take another male to the prom. The Court also found that the school was required to ensure Fricke's safety at the prom.
Access "Who Are You Taking ...?": www.aclu.org/issues/gay/prom.html .
Kentucky student sues school officials
Bradley Putman, a former student at Somerset High School in the southeastern Kentucky community of Somerset, has filed a complaint for damages in the Easter District of Kentucky against the Somerset Independent School District, superintendent Monte E. Chance, and several agents and employees for depriving him of his "constitutional and statutory rights to be free from sexual harassment, to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex and to be free from discrimination on the basis of his actual or perceived sexual orientation."
The suit arises after numerous alleged instances of harassment against Putman—including death threats.
New leader at IGLHRC
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has named Surina Khan as its next executive director.
Khan comes to IGLHRC from Political Research Associates, a national progressive think—tank based in Massachusetts where she has been employed as a research analyst for the last five years. At PRA, she was charged with monitoring and analyzing the US political Right as well as the ex—gay movement in the US and abroad. Her research and writing have been widely published and Khan is a well—known speaker about the Right's assault on LGBT people.
Khan is scheduled to begin work at IGLHRC in early May.
Bush snubs Log Cabin Republicans—again
Leaders of the Log Cabin Republicans, are upset that George W. Bush—who recently reversed position and suggested he would consider meeting with them—has flip—flopped again and now appears to reject such a meeting, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.
A key reason, according to Log Cabin leaders, is that they supported John McCain in the primaries.
Scott McClellan, a Bush campaign spokesman, told The New York Times that Bush probably would not meet with the group because they continued to "politicize'' the question of whether there would be a meeting, reports The Chronicle.
Coalition joins
in Boy Scout case
Assembling one of the broadest, most powerful coalitions ever to come before the U.S. Supreme Court in a lesbian and gay rights case, the American Civil Liberties Union March 29 filed a friend—of—the—court brief on behalf of 18 groups urging the Court to rule that Boy Scouts of America cannot discriminate against gay people.
The nation's premiere African—American, Asian—American, Mexican—American and women's organizations joined leading First Amendment advocacy groups on the brief in Dale v. Boy Scouts of America. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case April 26.
James Dale, a former Boy Scout and Assistant Scout Master, was told to sever his relationship with the organization because he is gay. He sued, and the trial court ruled against him. An appellate court reversed that decision, and the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the reversal. Dale is represented by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Continental Airlines
offer same—sex benefits;
GE also adds benefits
Continental Airlines announced that the union representing its 8,500 flight attendants ratified a new 4 1/2—year contract, reports Reuters.
A new provision extends insurance coverage to same—sex domestic partners. The contract also expands flying companion benefits to all flight attendants. A flight attendant may designate any person they choose to receive the same discounts and benefits they receive on flights as employees, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, joining other corporations such as Ford Motor Co., IBM, Citigroup Inc., Philip Morris and Boeing, General Electric, ranked as the world's third largest most valuable company based on market capitalization, has added sexual orientation to its anti—discrimination policy. More than 340,000 people are employed by GE worldwide.
Oregon group pushes for anti—gay school initiative
Under the title of "Student Protection Act," the anti—gay Oregon Citizens Alliance is gathering signatures to place an anti—gay initiative on the November state ballot. It reads in part, "the instruction of behaviors relating to homosexuality and bisexuality shall not be presented in a public school in a manner which encourages, promotes or sanctions such behaviors." It also calls for sanctions of withholding public funds from schools that do not comply.
Cummins' domestic—partner policy draws fire
Hundreds of people descended on Columbus, Ind., March 26 to join separate rallies for and against Cummins Engine Co.'s decision to offer benefits coverage to the domestic partners of unmarried workers, including gays and lesbians, reports The Louisville Courier—Journal.
Cummins' chairman and CEO, Tim Solso, said the policy is a way to attract and retain a quality workforce at a time of low unemployment, not a statement about lifestyle.
Partner protection added
It's almost certain that Colorado will ban gay marriage, but legislators appear willing to protect "domestic partnership" agreements offered by some cities and companies, reports The Denver Post.
The Senate approved an amendment March 24 that makes it clear that Colorado's same—sex marriage ban will not affect cities or companies that offer recognition of gay relationships.
Mississippians 'Phone Home'
Current and former Mississippi residents are rallying for fairness, after right—wing legislative maneuvering revived a bill that would ban lesbian and gay adoption in the state.
The House Public Health Committee recently amended an unrelated bill ( already passed by the State Senate ) to include a ban on lesbian and gay adoption. The bill ( Senate Bill 3074 ) will now move to the full House.
Earlier this month, the Mississippi House was flooded with calls from the "Phone Home for Families" campaign, supported by a chorus a local and national groups.
Call ( 601 ) 359— 3770 for a list of House members, or see www.clarionledger.com/news/miss/legislature/housedir.html
Skinhead convicted in friend's murder
A skinhead accused of killing a friend by striking him 30 times in the head with a hammer was found guilty of first—degree murder March 18 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, reports Philadelphia Inquirer.
Just before sentencing, Keith James Pearce Jr., 22, of Norristown, Pa., apologized to his weeping family, but did not mention his 18—year—old victim, Yohann Lee.
Pearce testified that he had killed Lee because Lee had bragged about raping, killing, necrophilia, and cannibalism earlier in the evening, causing Pearce to be afraid for his and his family's safety.
The mother of the victim, Suzanne Lee of Plymouth, said after the verdict that she believed Pearce had killed her son a fit of homophobic rage. "My son was harassed for years on the suspicion that he was gay," Lee said. She said she was unsure if her son was gay, reports the Inquirer.
Judges rule Title VII covers
discrimination based on gender identity
In San Francisco, a three—judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has ruled that discrimination against individuals based on their gender identity is illegal under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The ruling is subject to review by the full court, and is not binding on other courts.
The case involved a prison inmate, Douglas Schwenk, a self—identified transsexual who accused a guard at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla, Wash., of violating her civil rights after sexual overtures and an attempted rape. Schwenk cited the federal Violence Against Women Act as the basis for suit. Prison guard Robert Mitchell argued that the act should be interpreted to apply only to women, and that Schwenk, a pre—operative transsexual, is a man.
The judges relied on a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling—which said using sexual stereotypes about gender roles in making employment decisions was a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act—to rule that gender identity is also covered by Title VII. They further ruled that the Violence Against Women Act also outlaws violence based on gender identity.
Supreme Court limits strippers
The Supreme Court has limited some of the freedom—of—expression protections that permit nude dancing, reports AP. The justices, by a 6— 3 vote, reinstated an Erie, Pa., ordinance that requires women who work as bar dancers to wear at least pasties and a G—string, AP said.
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said nude dancing is "expressive conduct" that merits some First Amendment protection. But she said the ordinance was aimed at combating crime and other effects of adult establishments, and not at the erotic message of nude dancing, AP reported.
Gay refugee allowed to stay in Canada
A gay man who claims he was gang—raped by a cabinet minister and three police officers in his native Namibia has been granted refugee status in Canada, reports The Toronto Sun. The 23—year—old Toronto man, identified only as Johan, said he was raped in June 1998 after he was stopped in a police blockade. He claimed he was gang—raped by three officers and a cabinet minister.
