Out in the Mountains

Nationalllnternational News

Nevada Sodomy Law Repealed
Carson City, NV - Nevada Governor Bob

. Miller signed into law a bill to repeal Ne-

vada’s sodomy statute on June 16, 1993.
This marks the first legislative repeal of a
sodomy law since 1986 when the U.S. Su-
premem Court ruled in Bowers v. Hardwick
that homosexual sodomy is not constitu-
tionally protected. Fiist-year Nevada state
senator Lon’ Lipman Brown introduced the
bill to repeal the law. The 82 year old law
was previously amended in 1977 to apply to
sexual activity between members of the
same sex only. The repeal measure passed
both chambers by a more than two to one
vote, following intense lobbying efforts by
Nevadans for Constitutional Equality and
the Nevada Association of Criminal Justice.
(Washington Blade)

Colorado Supreme Court Blocks
Amendment2

Denver, CO — By a 6-1 majority, the Col-
orado Supreme Court in July upheld a
lower court injunction against Amend-
ment 2, the anti—gay rights law passed by
voters last November. The court said
that, “fundamental rights may not be
submitted to a vote”, and that the law ap-
peared to violate the equal protection
clause of the U.S. Constitution. The
Court found that the measure would
“fence out” homosexuals from the polit-
ical process by prohibiting legal pro-
tection of a single group. “No other iden-
tifiable group faces such a burden, No
other group’s ability to participate in the
political process is restricted and en-
cumbered in a like manner. Such a struc-
turing of the political process is contrary
to the notion that the concept of ‘We The
People’ visualizes.”

Amendment 2 has lead to a boycott of
Colorado that has cost the state more

than $35 million in lost connvetion busi-
ness. Petitions for measures similar to
Amendment 2 are currently circulating in
Florida, Maine, Idaho, and Michigan, all
campaigns backed by the religious right.
(New York Times, Washington Blade)

NY Republicans Kill Civil Rights Bill

Albany, NY — Republican senators,
meeting behind closed doors, killed an
attempt to pass a statewide lesbian and
gay civil rights bill without allowing it
to come to the floor for public debate.
The bill passed the New York stae As-
sembly by a vote of 90-50, after a 20
year effort. Republican Majority Leader
Ralph Marino killed the bill telling re-
porters “I am throughly convinced that
my conference doesn't want this bill
passed and therefore it will not see the
floor. I oppose discrimination but I’m
not sure you can legislate against it”.
This despite a statement by Marino ear-
lier in the year that he supported “rea-
sonable measures” to bar discrimination.
It was a bitter blow to the lobbying ef-
forts of the Pride Agenda, Gay Men’s
Health Crisis, New York Civil Liberties
Union and a host of labor, religious and
good governement groups. (Community)

Ohio Rep. Introduces Bill to Prohibit
Domestic Partner Inclusion

Columbus, OH — On July 20, 1993 Rep-
resentrative Fox introduced legislation
in the Ohio House of Represenatives
that would prohibit state universities and
colleges from opening “family housing”
to same sex couples (by listing who
could live in such housing) and pro-
hibiting the universities and colleges
from providing insurance coverage to
same sex partners of employees. (Action
Alert)

po Box 220 (802) 888-4100 Office
Hyde Park, Vermont 05655-0220 (802) 888-2977 Home

VALERIE WHITE

Humanist Minister
American Humanist Association

Naming: - Weddings - Union Ceremonies - Memorial Services

"Fool Head and Shoulders
above the crow "
Introducing... §\\ '\

,1/2 hr Head, Neck, and Shoulder
' Massage

Leah Winenberg 864-6764

14