|
Arizona governor Gov. Janet Napolitano signed an executive order that forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation in state agencies . The order was later challenged in court and was declared legal. Tucson began domestic partner registration almost immediately. Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn signed legislation giving same-sex couples limited partner rights. The legislation was passed unanimously by the legislature. It guarantees the partners of gays and lesbians visitation rights in hospitals, and allows them to make decisions regarding their partners' funerals, but little else. In June The US Justice Department barred gay employees from holding their annual Pride event at DOJ headquarters in Washington. Most federal agencies have LGBT employee groups which hold Pride observances. This was the first time such an event has been blocked. The Episcopal Church elected its first openly gay bishop. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, 56, of New Hampshire. The vote was then ratified at a national convention of bishops and lay people but is still the cause of much strife within the Episcopal Church. General Electric, one of the nation's largest and oldest manufacturing and financial services companies reached agreement on new contracts with its unions that includes health care coverage for employees' same-sex domestic partners. GE makes machinery, home appliances, and owns the NBC television networks and GE Capital a financial company. This year Wal-Mart agreed to include gays and lesbians in its written employee anti-discrimination policy. The discount department store chain is the nation's largest private employer. Lesbian tennis star Martina Navratilova at age 46 won her 20th title at the All England Club tying with fellow lesbian Billie Jean King for the most Wimbledon titles. Protesters shouting "Die Fags" and carrying antigay placards demonstrated in front of New York's Harvey Milk High as the LGBT school opened for the fall term. Before leaving office California Gov. Gray Davis signed the Gender Identity nondiscrimination bill, making the state only the fourth in the US to protect the transgendered from housing and job discrimination. He also signed into law landmark legislation giving California same-sex couples most of the rights of marriage. The Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003 mandates child custody and child and spousal support obligations, the right to make funeral arrangements, community property and spousal support, access to family court, parenthood presumptions, state court testimonial privileges, access to married student housing, and mutual responsibility for debts. The lawyers were the only winners in the nasty court battle between Rosie O'Donnell and her former magazine publishers. Minutes after the two sides rested their cases New York State Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman shocked the court, ruling that neither side had proved their case. |