The Flint Hills Observer
January 1997

Top Ten 1996 News Articles from The Electronic Gay Community Magazine
by The Land of Awes Computer Information System

Colorado's Anti-Gay Amendment 2 Struck Down by Supreme Court: Washington, DC (EGCM) The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against Colorado's Amendment 2. The measure would have amended the Colorado state constitution to overturn existing protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and prohibit the passage of any such protection in the future. It was passed by majority vote in 1992.

OCA Abandons Signature Drive on Discrimination Measure: Seattle, OR (EGCM) The Oregon Citizen Alliance announced they will abandon their drive to gather signatures for another ballot measure asking to write discrimination into the Oregon Constitution. The decision came as no surprise to anti- discrimination advocates in light of the US Supreme Court's ruling in Romer v. Evans. The ruling struck down a discriminatory measure (Amendment 2) passed in the state of Colorado.

Man Admits Killing Lesbians in Oregon Because They Were Homosexual: Washington, DC (EGCM) The man charged with the killing of Roxanne Ellis and Michelle Abdill of Medford, Oregon, has said he killed them because he hates homosexuals and bisexuals. The statements by the alleged killer, Robert Acremant, have refocused attention on the case and reopened wounds in the Medford community.

DOMA Passes: Washington, DC (EGCM) Unless you have been living on some other planet, you have probably heard that Congress has been considering the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act". This legislation--which passed both the house and senate--would deny recognition of same-gender marriages. President Clinton signed the act into law.

AIDS Virus Reduced Below the Limit of Detection in Many Patients Taking Crixivan in New Triple Combination: Washington, DC (EGCM) In 86% of patients (6 of 7) receiving Merck's investigational protease inhibitor Crixivan (Indinavir sulfate) in triple combination with two other AIDS medications (AZT plus 3TC), HIV in the bloodstream was reduced to levels below the limit of detection of the assay used, a result that was sustained in these six patients for at least six months. The triple combination reduced median virus levels by more than 99%.

IRS Denies Equality to Domestic Partners: Activists denounced the biased determination of the IRS to tax health and other social benefits being offered by companies to domestic partners--solely because of sexual orientation--as not only discriminatory but reprehensible.

ACLU Argues Gays in the Military Case Before Federal Appeals Court in Seattle: Seattle, WA (EGCM) A challenge to the Pentagon's two-year-old law barring lesbians and gay men from openly serving in the military was argued before a three-judge panel of the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle, Wash. The case, filed on behalf of former Navy Petty Officer Mark Philips, contends that the current "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" ban on gays in the military violates the constitutional guarantees of equal protection and free speech, and is based solely on the government's fear that heterosexual troops are prejudiced against lesbians and gay men.

Senate Unanimously Passes Repeal of Discriminatory HIV-Discharge Measure: Washington, DC (EGCM) The U.S. Senate unanimously agreed to an amendment to repeal the discriminatory HIV-discharge provision of the recently enacted Department of Defense authorization. Led by Sens. William Cohen, R-Maine, and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., 56 U.S. Senators had agreed to co-sponsor the repeal legislation, but decided to put it forth as an amendment on a stopgap spending measure with the agreement of the Senate leadership. That measure, H.R. 3019, the Omnibus Rescissions and Appropriation Act, also known as the Continuing Resolution (CR) which funds many parts of the U.S. Government, passed by a vote of 79-21.

Sheila Kuehl named 2nd in Command of California State Assembly: Fresno, CA (EGCM) After an all-day session, California Democrats announced that their new Assembly Speaker would be Cruz Bustamante of Fresno. News was leaked out that Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl had been chosen as the Assembly's Speaker Pro Tem, which places her second in command. This historic agreement is possible because Sheila Kuehl has proven herself far more than a one or two issue politician Her savvy and willingness to work with members, regardless of political orientation, cemented relationships based in respect.

Lambda Wins Federal Ruling That ADA Applies to Insurers: Los Angeles, CA (EGCM) Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund announced it won a federal court decision on behalf of a married couple, stating that the Americans with Disabilities Act band unjustified discrimination by insurance companies. Lambda won the ruling for a woman seeking to sue a California branch of a New Hampshire based insurer that rejected her life insurance application because her husband is infected with HIV.

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