Lambda Legal's landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory striking down Texas's 'Homosexual Conduct' law—and every law like it in the
nation—will have broad legal and cultural ramifications for lesbians and gay men nationwide in the years ahead, the organization
said last week. 'Our victory was just the beginning,' said Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal. 'In corporate board
rooms, state legislatures and neighborhoods all across the country, this ruling has sparked a profound dialogue about the rights of
lesbians and gay men in this country. We're on stronger ground than ever before to fight for gay couples, parents, employees and
students—to win fairness in every area of life.' Lambda has launched a resource mapping out how it will use its victory. See
www.LambdaLegal.org/ForgingANewEra.
The Los Angeles Times reports that President Bush is taking wait-and-see attitude on the controversial anti-gay marriage
Constitutional amendment supported by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. 'I don't know if it's necessary yet. Let's let the
lawyers look at the full ramifications of the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is the notion that marriage is between a
man and a woman,' Bush said.
Wal-Mart Stores has modified its employment policies to ban anti-gay discrimination. The company has had many complaints on
labor practices and its banning of certain music and magazines, and a class-action suit is being filed against them by women alleging
discrimination and sexual harassment. The New York Times reports that the nation's largest private employer (with 3,500 stores and
more than one million employees) will include gay employees under rules that prohibit workplace discrimination. The decision was
first disclosed by Seattle's Pride Foundation, which had invested in Wal-Mart and then lobbied the company to change its policy. Gay
employees also put pressure on management.
Six members of the radical gay group 'Gay Shame' were arrested during San Francisco's gay pride parade, according to KRON-
TV. The group allegedly rushed up to San Francisco supervisor Gavin Newsom while they wielded pipes, according to police. The
group, calling itself a radical alternative to the gay mainstream and the increasingly complacent left, says the pipes were intended to
hold a banner they were to unfurl. The charges were dropped.
The once-daily protease inhibitor, Atazanavir, was approved by the FDA on June 20, according to AIDS Treatment News. The
drug, the latest in BMS Virology's line of once-daily drugs, is said to avoid the common side effect of increased cholesterol and lipids
caused by some other protease inhibitors. An increase in lactic acid is possible when the drug is used in certain combination
therapies.
Nearly 1,000 spectators were estimated to have attended a Springfield, Neb., gay rodeo, AP reports. The seventh annual
Heartland Rodeo featured 12 events with about 70 contestants. For the gay audience who may have been uncomfortable with a
traditional rodeo, the Heartland Rodeo featured a 'drag' race and goat dressing.
After serving 12 years in prison for the stabbing death of a gay man, Jon Buice, 29, has an ally—the friend of the man he killed.
According to the San Antonio Express News, Buice was among a group of high school students who attacked Paul Broussard and
several friends who were leaving a gay bar in 1991. Buice, then 17, was convicted of the murder. Gay activist Ray Hill believes Buice
is a new man and is working to convince a parole board that Buice should be released 33 years before his 45-year sentence is
served.
Some members of Charlotte, North Carolina's gay community say city police are using entrapment to arrest gay men on sodomy
charges, according to 365gay.com . Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say they will not arrest gay men engaging in sex in private, but that
they will continue to arrest men who offer to engage in 'crimes against nature' in public.
Lesbian tennis pro Martina Navratilova won her twentieth Wimbledon title Sunday when she took first place in the mixed-doubles
competition, reports the Tribune. The win places Navratilova in a tie for career wins with the other lesbian tennis star—Chicagoan
Billie Jean King. Navratilova was paired with Leander Paes who, incidentally, was born a week before his partner played her first
match at Wimbledon 30 years ago.
Hispanic AIDS Forum of New York filed suit against their former landlord because transgender clients were not allowed to use
restrooms in the building, reports 365gay.com . The landlord reportedly received complaints from other tenants that HAF's
transgender clients were using the 'wrong' restrooms. The American Civil Liberties Union's AIDS Project filed suit on behalf of the
group, saying the landlord violated state state and local nondiscrimination laws.
Mike Huckabee, the conservative Baptist preacher-turned Arkansas governor, said the government should stay out of the
bedrooms of gays and lesbians, but that states should still be allowed to restrict the right of gays and lesbians to marry, reports The
Advocate. Huckabee said if gays keep their relationships behind closed doors and do not ask for benefits supported by taxpayer
funds, he's OK with their right to exist, free from government intrusion.
Gay New Jersey Democratic state senate candidate Jim Morrison is under fire from his own party because of an embarrassing
incident in his past, reports the New Jersey Herald. Morrisson apparently participated in a 'pretty penis' contest in his younger days.
He likened it to a wet T-shirt contest and said it had no bearing on his candidacy.
Some cities are still pride virgins. Vallejo, California, was one such city that lost its virginity this year. The town hosted a dance in
celebration of gay pride, according to the Vallejo News. About 300 people were expected to attend the event that, organizers say,
celebrates pride but welcomes everyone.
Corrections: In a recent column I incorrectly referred to Brandon Teena as 'Teena.Brandon.' The AP report used as the basis for
the news brief relied on legal documents that used Teena's legal name rather than his chosen name.
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