Out in the Mountains National/International News New York One Step Closer to Gay Rights Albany, NY - The New York State As- sembly passed a gay rights bill February 1, by an unexpectedly large margin. The 90- 50 vote was the first time such a bill had made it through either house of the Leg- islature in the 23 years it has been con- sidered. Nine Republicans joined 81 Democrats in voting for the bill, which gave hope to supporters that it might have a chance of passage in the Republican con- trolled Senate. The bill will only make it to the Senate floor if a Republican controlled conference committee decides to let it up for a vote. The debate included numerous references to national discussions about gays in the military and references to civil rights gains by other groups. The most moving testimony came as Deborah Glick, New York’s only openly gay Assembly member, spoke about the discrimination she had faced as “a Jew, as a woman, and as a lesbian.” Governor Mario Cuomo supports the legislation and has promised to sign the bill if it is passed. (The New York Times) Colorado Initiative on Hold Denver, CO - On January 15 a Colorado state district court judge issued a pre- liminary injunction halting the imple- mentation of Amendment 2 which was scheduled to take effect at 5 pm that day. The litigation was filed by a group of nine individual plaintiffs, a local Boulder County school district, and the Cities of Aspen, Boulder, and Denver. On February 3 the town of Telluride, CO became the first municipality to directly challenge the initiative by passing an or- dinance that includes protection for gays and lesbians. The ordinance, passed by a vote of 484 to 151, outlaws discrimination in housing, employment and public ser- vices that is based on a person’s sex, sexual orientation, race, religion and other cat- egories. (The Washington Blade, The New York Times. lambda Legal Dq‘ense Fund) Sailor’s Death Investigated Los Angeles, CA - The fatal beating of Seaman Allen Schindler is finally being in- vestigated as a bias crime after pressure from gay rights groups and the sailor’s mother. Schindler was battered to death against the fixtures of a public toilet in a park near a US naval base in Japan. Schin- dler’s mother, Dorothy Hajdys, said she was only able to recognize him by tattoos on his forearms. She plans to lobby Con- gress and the Clinton administration to de- termine why the captain of the Belleau Wood failed to approve her son’s request for a transfer following repeated threats on his life. The day following Schindler’s death, another gay sailor who expressed concern for his safety was removed from the ship. It took until February 3 for the Navy to decide to charge Airman Terry Helvey with the murder of Schindler. An- other sailor, Charles Vins, who has ad- mitted his involvement in the beating, was tiredinNovemberinacourtmania1and given a four month sentence and a bad- conduct discharge. The unusually light sen- tence was defended by the Navy as part of a plea agreement. Vins is expected to tes- tify at Helvey’s trial. (The New York Times, Washington Blade) Minneapolis to Appeal Library Ruling Minneapolis, MN — Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser, the City Council’s Executive Committee, and the Minneapolis Library Board are appealing a November Civil Rights Commission order to provide health care benefits to domestic partners of city and library employees. The Library Board, saying that “under the present law it has no authority to extend health benefits to do- mestic partners of its employees”, also said the board wants to preserve its autonomy from the City Council and that the Civil Rights Commission’s decision jeopardizes the L1l)rary’s self—rule. Despite the fact that both Mayor Fraser and City Council Pres- ident Sharon Belton say they support pro- viding domestic partner benefits, the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Council, which includes the mayor, voted a week after the Library Board also to appeal the decision. The case, which began five years ago, is expected to end up in the Minnesota Su- preme Court. (Equal Time) Canadian Government Introduces Rights Bill Toronto, Canada - Canadian Justice Min- ister Kim Campbell introduced a bill in Canada’s parliament seeking to prohibit discrimination against gays in federal are- nas. The bill would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the federal government and federally regulated in- dustries such as banks, airlines, and rail- ways. However it would limit the legal def- inition of marriage to members of the opposite sex, excluding gay couples from spousal benefits in the areas of insurance, pensions and taxes. If passed the measure would overturn a mling by the Ontario Hu- man Rights Commission in early Sep tember extending spousal benefits to gay couples. (The Washington Blade) Achtenberg Nominated to HUD Post Washington, D.C. - San Francisco Super- visor and Clinton supporter Roberta Ach- tenberg was nominated to a number two position in the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) February 2nd. If, as expected, she is confirmed, Ach- tenberg would be the highest openly gay person ever to serve in the executive branch of government. Achtenberg, who lives with her parmer and their 7 year old son, would serve as Deputy Commissioner for Fair Housing in HUD. (The New York Times, The Washington Blade) Montpelier 802-229-5220 Josie Juhasz, MA CCMHC Specializing in Feminist Psychotherapy Milton, VT Some insurance (802) 8934816 accepted Janet K. Brown,MA,C.AC Jean Townsend, M.A. Licensed Psychologist Certified Alcohol Counselor Certified Mental Health Counselor - ACOA - IDENTITY ISSUES - TRAUMA AND LOSS - DEPRESSION Individuals Couples Families Burlington, VT (802) 863-8162