2 - OITM december 2001 NEWS‘ Changing of the Guard at the Human Rights Cam BYJUANITALJLERCH?‘ I-,1 _- ; _ __ "«'\_ OITM Staff Writer ' " 4 A S There has been a -changing of the guard, so to speak, at HRC (Human Rights Campaign), with Robert Appel becoming the new executive director. Selected by the commission to serve a five-year "term, Appel comes to HRC with a back- ground heavy in law-, having" served as the Defender General for eight and a half years. Priorto that, Appel worked'for_the Civil Rights Union, with offices in St. ]ohnsbury,VT.. _ ' * - t " " S ‘ Appelcontends that. this position ”gives me an opportunity to work on issues that are important tome,” as stated in an interviewwith Out In The Mountains. ”I’ve spent my entire "career in the law. Gone back and forth between civil rights and defense.” . . ’ ' e ‘ _ ’ ‘ A School harassment isa primary concern for the new executive director, as well as housing and access for all public lac'c’ommod“at’i'ons. Appel, ”Would like the commission to take the position that government" services must be of a non-dis- criminatory practice.” Although a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed increasedacceptanceof gay, lesbian and bisexu'al‘Americans, HRC, however, -expresses concern that discrimination and violence remain persistent problems. -”We-need’ to get the word that that we [HRC] are a viable enforcement author- ity. The commission needs to provide a better leadership role; raising the con- sciousness in areas of concern, like school harassment and the perceptions of homosexuality.” 0 As America's llarghest gay and lesbian organization, the Human Rights‘ Campaign provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues. The HRC effec- tively lobbies congress; mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities; invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress; and increases public under- standing through innovative education and communication strategies. HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sex- ual orientation and gender expression and identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. Robert Appel brings with him to the HRC a history that is rich in the protec- tion of those in need and a staunch belief in civil rights for all people. ”Insuring that civil rights are protected. Dignity and respect for what the person is...not what they perceive them to be.” We all need to make an effort to, ”value and rec- ognize the humanity in each of us.” . . ' For more information on the Human Rights Campaign and the wealth of info they have to offer, log on at: .http://www.hrc.org. HIV-AIDS “Make a Wish” Grants Available The Butterworth Foundation, Inc., of Orange, Mass., announces the continua- tion of its, ‘make-a-wish’ grant program for people living with HIV/AIDS in specified areas,-of Massachusetts, Vermont and New- Hampshire. A wish is defined as something -that the individual wants but has‘ never had the time or resources to attain since contracting HIV/ AIDS — generally a one-time occur- rence _or need. It should be something primarily for enjoyment. Applicants-must be able to document their HIV / AIDS status and must reside in Cheshire County, NH; Windham County, VT, Franklin County, MA, and the following towns in Worcester County, MA: Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Gardner, Hardwiic-k, Hubbardston, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton and Winchendon. The residential and status requirements are strictly enforced. ' Guidelines and an application form are available from HIV-AIDS agencies in the specific geographic area or by writing to: Butterworth Foundation, Inc., PO ' Box 653, Orange MA01364 Montreal Bid for the 2066 Gay Games VII On October 25, The Federation of Gay Games announced Montreal, Canada as their. selection for host of the Gay Games VII in 2006‘. The games have not been held in North America since 1994 when New York City hosted the fourth edition. Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles also made bids to host the 2006. ”We are proud to name Montreal as host for Gay Games VII in 2006,” said Gene Dermody, male co-president. ”Montreal’s team demonstrated an overall knowl- edge and keen understanding of what it takes to make the Gay Games a success- ful event and we look forward to our partnership in the years to come.” Conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, the Gay Games was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Participation has increased significantly with an expected 14,000 participants traveling to Sydney for the VI games in 2002. ~ Mark Tewksbury, honorary co—president of Montreal 2006 said, ”We are delighted and honored to be chosen by the Federation of Gay Games as host city of Gay Games VII. We believe that Montreal, working with the Federation, will host a spectacular Gay Games and take the movement and its values of partici- pation, inclusion and personal best forward in the years leading up to 2006.” Proposed Constitutional Amendment The proposed ”Federal Marriage Amendment” states as its purpose to: ”strengthen American fami- lies and reintegrate the role of a strong father fig- ure.” Most interpretations of the specific wording point out that in achieving these lofty, patriarchal goals, the rights of gay people and any other groups to choose a civil union or marital status would be non-existent. The passage of this amendment would diminish the minimal levels of equality only just now being realized. The July 2001 amendment to the Constitution would add two sentences: ”Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.” ”Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed _to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.” The actual reading is more complex and speaks to the rights of individual states versus the control of federal government regarding marriage laws as they relate to ’other than heterosexual’ relationships. Further information is available through the ACLU, Vermonters for Civil Union and HRC. Mississippi State Board of Health vs. Goldstein-Perdue BY JUANITA L. LERCH OITM Staff Writer ‘ ”No comment,” was the official response from Public Relations Director, Nancy Kay Wessman, State of Mississippi Board of Health, concerning their office's refusal to produce a birth certificate for Taliesin Phillip Charles Goldstein Perdue, son of Martha Holly Perdue and Cheri Lynn Goldstein. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund on behalf of Perdue and Goldstein have filed suit against the State of Mississippi Board of Health for refusal to issue a birth certificate for their adopted son, Taliesin. Goldstein and Perdue complied with all legal requirements that apply to interstate adoptions, and the child has lived continuously with his parents since placement eight days after his birth. On April 18, 2000, the Washington District Probate Court, State of Vermont, Hon. George Kendrick Belcher pre- siding, granted the petition to adopt and a copy of this order was sent to the Branch Director of Vital Records Certification in Mississippi. Sanford R. Horton, ]r., attorney for the State Department of Health, informed Kurt M. Hughes, then attorney for Perdue and Goldstein that an amended birth certificate would not be issued due to the state's policy concerning adoptions by same—sex couples within Mississippi._ Pursuantto Mississippi law, the State Board of Health is required to issue birth certificates to per- sons born within the state and adopted outside the state. By refusing to do so, they have" subjected this child and his parents to adverse treatment. By refus- ing to honor adoption orders by out-of-state courts on behalf of children adopted by parents of whom they disapprove, while honoring others of whom they approve, the State of Mississippi has created two classes of Mississippi born children adopted out-of state. . This clearly violates Mississippi's own law and deprives the adopted child the security, benefits and convenience a state-issued certificateof birth pro- vides and that other persons born in the state of Mississippi enjoy as a matter of course. Singling this child out for different treatmentnot only creates an unlawful exception to Mississippi's own" state laws and regulations, but it also violates the guarantees of equal protection of the "law under the Mississippi Constitution. _ For more information, log on at: http:/ /www.lambdalegal.org.