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Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
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National News |
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| National News | |
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by Rex Wockner -
SGN Contributing Writer
Calif. Supremes: Doctors can't discriminate against Gays Doctors can't discriminate against Gay people because they disapprove of homosexuality, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously August 18. The ruling came in the case of Guadalupe "Lupita" Benítez of Oceanside in San Diego County, who was denied assistance in getting pregnant by North Coast Women's Care Medical Group, the only such facility covered by her insurance plan. Doctors at the group claimed their Christian beliefs prevented them from inseminating Benítez. But the court declared that constitutional protections for religious liberty do not excuse unlawful discrimination. "Defendant physicians contend that exposing them to liability for refusing to perform the IUI [intrauterine insemination] medical procedure for plaintiff infringes upon their First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. Not so," the court said. "California's Unruh Civil Rights Act imposed on business establishments certain antidiscrimination obligations, thus precluding any such establishment or its agents from telling patrons that it will not comply with the Act." Lambda Legal's Jennifer Pizer, who argued Benítez's case before the court, commented: "There's a great diversity of religious beliefs in California, and they're all protected - but not to the point where laws are violated and other people are hurt. Each of us is protected both in our religious beliefs and also from religiously based discrimination in the doctor's office and other commercial settings." Benítez said that even though her battle with the medical group took nearly 10 years to win, "it was worth it." "It's wrong and shocking that some doctors felt their religious beliefs allowed them to ignore the law and discriminate," she said. "This isn't just a win for me personally and for other Lesbian women ... it's a win for everyone, because anyone could be the next target if doctors are allowed to pick and choose their patients based on religious views about other groups of people." Benítez, 36, now has three children. Law schools to honor Hyatt boycott The Association of American Law Schools said August 18 it will move the events of its January 2009 annual meeting from San Diego's Manchester Grand Hyatt to the Marriott hotel next door. Attendees are scheduled to stay in, and events had been planned for, both hotels. The Hyatt is being boycotted by Gay groups, unions and others because the owner of the local hotel, Doug Manchester, gave $125,000 to the campaign to amend the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. Voters will face a ballot proposition to that effect November 4. "Several years ago, the Association booked rooms at the San Diego Marriott and the Manchester Grand Hyatt," the AALS Executive Committee said. "Our contracts with the hotels provide that each hotel reserve a block of guest rooms, and leave to the AALS the choice of where to locate the AALS Registration, Exhibit Hall, Section Programs, Presidential Programs, and House of Representatives meetings. We will honor our contracts with both hotels, and we have exercised our option to hold all AALS events at the Marriott to ensure the maximum participation by our members." "Faculty and staff at law schools will soon receive housing information and you will be able to choose your individual hotel room on a first-come, first-served basis." GLAAD: 1,049 U.S. daily newspapers accept Gay wedding announcements The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said August 18 that 1,049 daily U.S. newspapers now accept same-sex wedding announcements - a 15-fold increase since 2002. According to the group, 83 percent of all U.S. newspaper consumers now read a paper that accepts wedding announcements from same-sex couples, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have newspapers that print announcements for Gay and Lesbian couples, all but three of the nation's top 100 media markets are home to newspapers with an inclusive announcement policy, and every daily newspaper in nine states and the District of Columbia prints wedding announcements for same-sex couples. The states batting 100 percent are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont. In addition, California and New York each have only one daily newspaper that will not print the announcements. However, of the 1,049 papers, only 339 of them ever have received a same-sex wedding announcement to print, GLAAD found. "Local newspapers across the country are reflecting the growing visibility of our lives and our commitments by opening their pages to these stories," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "When we seize that opportunity to share our milestones and celebrations, we help Americans see the diversity of our community and recognize the common ground that we share." A new GLAAD webpage offers an interactive state-by-state map of newspapers with inclusive policies, guidelines for submitting announcements, and related resources and tips. Knights give $1 million to undo California marriages The Roman Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus has given $1 million to the campaign to amend the California Constitution to undo the state Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage. Voters will face a ballot measure to that effect November 4. "Right-wing organizations ... will stop at nothing to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry," said Equality California Executive Director Geoffrey Kors. "They want to target same-sex couples to be treated differently under the California Constitution, a document that was created to ensure our equality. We need your help to stop them!" Such help can be provided at http://www.eqca.org/NOon8/donate. Poll: New Jerseyans ready for same-sex marriage A Zogby Poll released August 19 found that 59 percent of New Jerseyans support granting same-sex couples access to marriage "if public officials conclude that the civil-union law has not worked to provide same-sex couples the legal protections that marriage would." Thirty-six percent oppose the idea. Sixty-nine percent said marriage equality is inevitable in New Jersey, while 21 percent think it isn't. In the meantime, 57 percent of New Jerseyans would support Gov. Jon Corzine's following the lead of New York Gov. David Paterson and recognizing same-sex marriages entered into outside the state. Thirty-seven percent oppose the idea. Seventy-one percent said there will be no backlash against legislators who vote to legalize same-sex marriage, and 67 percent said legalizing same-sex marriage won't "hurt the institution of marriage for heterosexual couples." "No one should doubt the meaning of these numbers," said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality. "New Jersey wants to end discrimination in marriage, and is ready for our public officials to do it right now. The civil-union law is one of the greatest civil rights failures of our time. New Jersey sees that, and understands that justice delayed is justice denied." Zogby polled 803 likely voters in mid-August and reported an error margin of 3.5 percent. With assistance from Bill Kelley |
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