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Story inside on page 4.

 

 

Photo David Grist

Morning After Bittersweet
for Gay and Lesbian Voters

Deborah Lashman

it was a bittersweet victory celebration both
Ir} Vermont and around the nation for les-
blart and gay voters and their supporters.
Nationally, the Clinton sweep was a relief
and a testimony to the Democratic party’s
efforts to return to the days of a more in-
clusrve campaign. The Republicansefforts
to use gay rights and “traditional family val-
ues” against the Democrats appeared to
have resulted in a backlash, though the ma-
Jor determinant appears to have been the
eC0n_0my; cutting across all ethnic, social,
and income levels, except for the wealthiest
Americans. High voter turnout around the

country testified to voters desire for a
change.

The defeat of Measure 9 in Oregon was
also cause for celebration and a testimony
to organizing and get out the vote efforts.
While Oregon’s harsh anti-gay measure
was defeated 57% to 43%, opponents of
Colorado’s Initiative 2 were not success-
ful. The initiative petition in Colorado,
stating that there should be “no protected
status” for lesbians and gays, passed by

Continued on page 3

l Vo|umeVl|, Number 10 ,UNWER3'TV0F"”P-MONT December1992
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the Country

Kentucky Sodomy Law

The Supreme Court of Kentucky over-
turned that state’s anti-sodomy law on
September 24, claiming that the law vi-
olates the equal protection clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment and a right to
privacy guaranteed in the Kentucky state
constitution. In a 4-3 decision the major-
ity wrote, “Our guarantee that all persons
are entitled to ‘equal’ treatment forbids a
special act ounishing the sexual prefer-
ence of homosexuals.” The justices noted
that the Kentucky state constitution guar-
antees greater protection from privacy
from government intrusion than the U.S.
constitution and added that “The majority
has no moral right to dictate how every-
one else should live.”

California Anti-Discrimination

On September 25, California became the
seventh state to protect lesbians, gay
men, and bisexuals from discrimination
in public and private employment with
the signing of AB—2601 by Governor
Pete Wilson. The law takes effect on J an-
uary l, 1993. Last year Wilson vetoed a
more comprehensive bill, AB-101, which
would have provided protections in hous-
ing in addition to employment.

Salt Lake County Anti-Discrimination
Law

On September 30, the first civil rights
laws in the state of Utah to include sex-
ual orientation were passed, prohibiting
discrimination in the areas of employ-
ment and services in Salt Lake County:
An August 1992 poll conducted by the
Salt Lake Tribune showed 65% of
Utahns agree that “Gays and lesbians
should be protected by laws against hous-

ing and job discrimination.” V