by Anthony Glassman
Gay People's Chronicle
Columbus--In a city known nationally as the state capital, it’s not surprise that Columbus Pride chose a political theme for this year’s installment of the Pride Holiday.
“Pride ’08: Our Power” will be a month of events, since one day is never enough in central Ohio. In addition to returning events, like the poker run, 5K walk/run and historical panel discussions, a kick-off concert will be held at Stonewall Columbus, the Center on High, on Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7. $75 VIP tickets get a free copy of Ferron’s new CD, Boulder, as well as reserved seating for the shows and brunch on Saturday with Bitch and Ferron.
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(Columbus) - Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Columbus chapter announced that its 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner will take place Saturday, June 21, at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, 350 N. High St.
This year's event will celebrate 25 years of progress toward equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans. The Gala Dinner will feature a fun evening of entertainment with emcee Bruce Vilanch, the 2008 Equality Award ceremony, as well as an exciting array of speakers, including HRC President Joe Solmonese.
"The gala will be a tremendous opportunity for the GLBT community to come together and remember our history, celebrate the progress we've made and look forward to a more hopeful future," said Ryan Fournier, HRC Columbus Gala Dinner Co-Chair.
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Out lesbian judge Mary Wiseman has been attacked by a fellow judge for being a lesbian. Wiseman became the state’s first openly gay judge when Ohio’s Governor Ted Strickland appointed her Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge four months ago.
Montgomery County Area Court Judge James D. Piergies publicly stated that he believes it would be ethically problematic for Wiseman to rule on gay rights issues. Piergies made these statements as he has announced his decision to run against Wiseman in the Democratic primary. It is rare that a governor’s judicial appointee is challenged by a member of the same party.
Wiseman said that judges must be impartial in applying the law, and that her sexual orientation will play no role in her consideration of cases. “I must take strong exception to someone saying that because I’m gay that I shouldn’t preside over cases that involve gay or lesbian issues,” she said.
LGBT civil rights have taken a step forward in communities in three states: Ohio, Maryland and Iowa.
Toledo, Ohio has become the first major city in that state to create a domestic partner registry. It will be available to same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples who cannot or chose not to marry.
In Maryland, Montgomery County has expanded its human rights ordinance to cover the transgendered. Gays and lesbians were already covered under the law.
The city of Waterloo, Iowa has become the latest municipality to add sexual orientation to the list of classes protected from discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit practices.
The City Council has approved an ordinance to allow gay or other unmarried couples to register their domestic partnerships as proof of eligibility for benefits such as health care.
Those who sign an affidavit at City Hall would receive a certificate and cards to provide employers as proof of an unmarried but committed relationship.
Supporters say the ordinance, which passed on a 10-2 vote Tuesday, does not violate Ohio's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. It is modeled after the only other one in the state, which voters in Cleveland Heights approved in 2003.
The registry also could provide a basis for people to visit domestic partners in the hospital and pick up children at schools, supporters said, noting that the city has a domestic partnership registry for police officers and firefighters who have negotiated benefits in their collective bargaining agreements.
Councilmen Rob Ludeman said he voted to reject the ordinance because of the cost to employers and because he saw it as "one more attempt to tear down the institution of marriage between a man and a woman."
OUT Week, running from Oct. 7-14, is one of two weeks geared toward the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community, with PRIDE week in the spring, said Mickey Hart, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Center at Ohio University.
This year’s theme is “Come OUT! Get OUT! Stay OUT!” The week is anchored around National Coming Out Day, which is October 11, Hart said.
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