National/International News

Proposal Would Extend Partner Ben-
efits to all State Workers

Boston, MA - A proposal presented to
Massachusetts governor William Weld
by his Advisory Commission on Wom-
en’s Issues would grant lesbian and gay
state employees bereavement leave for
the death of a partner, or partner’s parent
or child. If approved by the governor, the
proposed executive order would extend
visiting rights at state hospitals and pris-
ons to individuals in “nontraditional” re-
lationships. The Commission also called
for a study into the feasibility of pro-
viding health benefits to the domestic
partners of state workers. The governor
has not indicated his position on the or-
der, although he has been a supporter of
the rights of lesbians and gays in the past
and appointed a gay man to the Mas-
sachusetts Commission Against Dis-
crimination. While more than seventy
municipalities recognize domestic part-
ners in some form, Massachusetts would
become the first state to do so if the order
is signed. (Boston Herald)

The Changing American Family

Monroe, OH - The September issue of
Scholastic Update, a ‘magazine widely
distributed to high school students, de-
voted its cover story to “The Changing
American Family.” Included among the
families in the article was a gay couple
and their 14 year old son Jake. A family
photo and interview with Jake made this
a positive piece. (GLADD Newsletter)

Anti-gay Remarks Defamatory

Los Angeles, CA - Donna Summer is
suing New York Magazine for $30 mil-
lion in damages, charging that anti-gay
remarks attributed to her were “false and
defamatory.” The article quoted a “in-
dustry insider” as saying that Summer
had refused to include a song that was

“written for the homosexual community”
on her most recent recording. Summer is-
sued a denial saying “I would never say
the things attributed to me in this article.”
(Washington Blade)

Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination
Law Enforced

Boston, MA - A national consumer credit
company and a local car dealership will
pay a $1,500 settlement to a lesbian
couple reportedly refused a car lease be-
cause of their sexual orientation. The
Massachusetts Commission Against Dis-
crimination took action against the com-
panies, citing a provision in the state’s
civil rights law prohibiting discrimination
against gays in the area of credit. In addi-
tion to the payment, the credit company
stipulated that it would not deny auto
lease loans to “non-spousal co-signers”
because of sexual orientation or marital
status and would update its application
forms to alert consumers of the state's
anti-discrimination laws. The car deal-
ership has agreed to place informational
posters in its showroom and educate its
sales staff about the civil rights law.
(Washington Blade)

University of Michigan Discriminates
Against Gay Couples

Ann Arbor, MI - Voting unanimously
against the recommendations of the Uni-
versity’s Housing Law Reform Project
and the Study Committee on the Status of
Lesbians and Gay Men, the Board of Re-
gents of the University of Michigan de-
nied gay and lesbian couples the right to
rent university housing currently des-
ignated for “married couples.” “The fami-
ly definition is changing all over the
country,” Tracy Ore of the university's
Lesbian and Gay Programs Office, “and
it’s time for the university to enter the
21st century and recognize that lesbians
and gay males have families.” (Washing-
ton Blade)

Januaty 1992

U.S. West May Cut Scout Funding

Denver, CO - U.S. West, Inc. is con-
sidering cutting financial support for 10-
cal Boy Scout groups because of the
Scouts’ national policy against admitting
gays. Company officials began reviewing
scouting membership policies after sever-
al employees raised questions about the
scouts, according to Jane Prancan, ex-
ecutive director of U.S. West Founda-
tion. The Boy Scouts’ policies were de-
scribed as “particularly troubling in light
of U.S. West’s values around pluralism
and diversity.” (Equal Time)

Canadian Court Recognizes Gay Cou-
ples

Vancouver, B.C. - A British Columbia
court decided in favor of a gay coup1e’s
application for joint health coverage Jus-
tice Anne Rowles of the British Co-
lumbia Supreme Court ruled that the
province must consider Raymond Gar-
neau the spouse of Timothy Knodel un-
der the provincial health plan. The justice
based her mling on the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms, which forbids
discrimination. Justice Rowles’ ruling is
at least the second in Canada to state that
anti-gay discrimination" violates the char-
ter. While everyone in Canada is guar-
anteed health coverage, sotne provinces
charge health care taxes while others
charge premiums. In British Columbia,
married couples pay approximately $84
less in premiums than two single people.
(The Advocate)

First Black Lesbian Elected to Office
in Seattle t

Seattle, WA - Sherry Harris became the
first black lesbian elected official by win-
ning a seat on the Seattle City Council by
a wide margin (67% to the incumbent’s
33%). (Washington Blade) A

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