The Oregon Senate made history by passing SB1000, a measure that would grant rights and protections to same-sex couples and their children as well as bar discrimination against the LGBT community, the Washington Post reported. The move was applauded by gay organizations across the nation. Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) president Joe Solmonese said that ' [ b ] y passing this important legislation, the Oregon Senate has said that every family needs the same rights and protections and that no one should face discrimination simply because of who they are.' ( HRC is working with Basic Rights Oregon to pass the measure. ) The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force called Basic Rights Oregon's efforts 'a model of perseverance and commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.'
In Virginia, St. John's Reformed United Church of Christ ( UCC ) was vandalized with anti-gay graffiti. Fire was set and caused damage to a portion of the church, but did not spread throughout the entire building. Police and church leaders believe the attempted arson was in response to the UCC's General Synod overwhelmingly approving a resolution supporting same-gender marriage.
In related news, the number of visitors to the UCC's Web site hit all-time highs in the days following the synod's vote. More than 190,000 people have visited www.ucc.org—the highest volume of traffic in one week in the site's history.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a statement condemning a New York Times story, 'Straight, Gay or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited,' because the article, according to the organization, promotes bisexual stereotypes. The study, led in part by controversial researcher Michael Bailey of Northwestern University, claims results that dispute the existence of bisexuality in males. Matt Foreman, executive director of the Task Force, stated that the organization is 'stunned that The New York Times Science section would carry such a shoddy, sensationalistic and downright insulting story. It—and the profoundly flawed 'study' it purports to cover—are laced with biased premises, misstatements and inaccuracies.'
In Boston, oral arguments began in Cook v. Rumsfeld, a challenge to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' filed by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network ( SLDN ) in December, according to SLDN. Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., heard arguments regarding the government's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed on behalf of 12 former servicemembers discharged under the military's policy. The plaintiffs are represented by SLDN and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
While in Denmark, President Bush said he will not use a 'litmus test' on controversial issues—including abortion and gay marriage—when deciding on a nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Reuters reported.
In Ohio, a jury has ruled that McDonald's Corp. discriminated against a restaurant manager who said he was forced out of his job after the company learned he had AIDS, according to CNN.com . The jury awarded Russell Rich of Akron $490,000 in damages in the second trial on his claim against the fast-food giant. Rich, 41, won $5 million in a 2001 trial but that verdict was overturned on appeal.
The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, in a statement, praised the integrity of New York Times journalist Judith Miller—who refused to disclose a confidential source—and strongly condemned the contempt ruling that sent her to a federal detention center. After refusing to bow to months of pressure to divulge her source, Miller was jailed.
