IN Step • LCBT Wisconsin's Community Newspaper • Founded in 1984 Dec. 3o, 1999 - Jan. 12, 1999 • Vol. XVI, Issue XXVI • $2.95 outside of Wisconsin SECTION ONE: NEWS: Vermont Decision, Rights Yes — Licenses, No NEWS FEATURE: '999 Rewind: The Year in Review Opinion: To Be Young, Black, Gay and Marching Capitol View • Letters • Paul Berge Cartoon • Quips and Quotes SECTION Q: FEATURE: WAY TO GO, SMITH INK: Gore Vidal • Cinema Review: 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' FREEPersonals • The (lassies • The Calendar Keepin' IN Step with Jamie • The Guide 04, Yak 110 OM Apat i rbir 4 IN Convicted Teena Brandon Killer lature, not the courts. A lower court had agreed that same- Seeking New Trial Rights, Yes Licenses, No sex unions "simply fall outside the defin- ition of marriage" as the state legislature LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska had constructed it and dismissed the law- district court judge has set a May visitation rights, and other decision-mak- suit. The plaintiffs appealed to the state 2 hearing date to consider a ing privileges. Vermont High Court Justice Denise Johnson, the only dis- supreme court. motion by condemned killer John Local reaction to the decision was Lotter, who is asking for a new Declares (Near) senting vote, said in her minority opinion, that she supports same-sex marriages and larely positive, "It is great news for gay trial and new sentence in the and lesbian couples everywhere because 1993 killings of Teena Brandon Equality of Couples disagreed with the majority because its, remedy it shows we've entered an era where soci- and two others. Lotter was con- didn't go far enough. by Keith (lark "Denying same-sex couples the bene- ety is addressing the discrimination our victed of the killings in 1996 and fits of marriage on this ground is not only relationships face," said Patrick Flaherty, sentence to death. But Montpelier, Vt. — In a ringing 4-1 Lotter's arbitrary but completely at odds with the co-chair of the Domestic Partnership attorneys say statements made decision, the Vermont state supreme Task .Force. "Unfortunately, with the court has ruled that gay and lesbian cou- stated government purpose," wrote John- by his former friend, Marvin Nis- son, who has become known for her good news conies the right wing back- sen, to a cellmate indicate that ples have to be given the same benefits as lash. It is critical that everybody contact married couples in the state, but tossed strong dissenting opinions on the court. Nissen — not Lotter — was the The case dates back more than two their Wisconsin legislators express their actual killer of Brandon, Lisa Lam- what will undoubtedly be a thorny task support of AB-608 our marriage rights of how that will be done back years, after three couples — Stan Baker bert and Philip DeVine. into the domestic partnership bill." lap of the state legislature. and Peter Harrigan, Nina Beck and Stacy Nissen was also convicted in Other rights advocates say the high The majority ruling, written by Jolles, and Lois Farnham and Holly Put- the killings, but as part of a plea erbaugh — sued after town clerks refused court's majority decision effectively lays Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy, the court down a "separate but equal" rule in bargain agreement, Nissen was said, "Whatever system is chosen, how- to grant them marriage licenses. sentenced to three consecutive Attorneys representing the three cou- attempting to placate both sides in the dis- ever, must conform with the constitu- pute by rejecting the right of same-sex life sentences in exchange for tes- ples in their lawsuit charged that denying cou- tional imperative to afford all Vermon- ples to legally marry in Vermont while rul- tifying against Lotter. Jeff Haley, the couples the licenses was a violation of ters the common benefit, protection and ing that they must have access to the same a cellmate both Vermont state law and the state's con- of Nissen's, has told security of the law. We conclude that rights and benefits of married couples. officials that Nissen told him he none of the interests asserted by the state stitution, which they argued assured all cit- izens "have the same access to the legal pro- The high court's decision even — Nissen — had shot the three to provides a reasonable and just basis for declared that the state legislature should death in 1993 instead of Lotter. the continued exclusion of same-sex cou- tections and obligations of civil marriage." The high court's ruling essentially decide if gay and lesbian couples should ples from the benefits incident to a civil be covered under existing marriage laws White marriage license under Vermont law." agreed. But the state's attorney general's Black & office had insisted that state law only by changing them or through some other But the high court ruling also made it means, such as a "parallel `domestic part- Men Together clear that marriage licenses — which is what allows marriage licenses to be issued to opposite sex couples, and that changing nership' system or an equivalent statuto- the plaintiffs in the case had sought — were ry alternative." Thumbs Down on not possible under current state law. that law requires action by the state legis- Millennium March "The evidence demonstrates a clear legislative assumption that marriage Rights Activists to Counter Dr. Laura, Bauer WASHINGTON — The National under our statutory scheme consists of a Association of Black and White union between a man and a woman," the Radio personality, Dr. Laura Schlessinger is urging her millions of lis- Men Together has voted unani- court ruled. "Accordingly, we reject teners to flood the Vermont Legislative Council and Governor's office with mously not to endorse the Millen- plaintiffs' claim that they were entitled to faxes and phone calls expressing their dismay over the Vermont Supreme nium March on Washington slat- a license under the statutory scheme gov- Court's Baker v. Vermont decision. To counter Dr. Laura's campaign, rights ed for April 2OOO. The group's erning marriage." activitsts are encouraging supporters of the Vermont decision to express board of directors took the action The court decision has been long support of the court's decision to the Vermont Legislative body. after reviewing the evolution of awaited by rights advocates who had Meanwhile, conservative GOP presidential hopeful Gary Bauer com- the march, charging that "it has hoped, after setbacks in Hawaii and Alaska, pared Vermont's Supreme Court decision recognizing gay couples to an become apparent that people of that Vermont would become the first state act of terrorism. color have not been part of the in the country to recognize same-sex mar- "I think what the Vermont Supreme Court did last week was in some process." riages. Although the court's decision is seen ways worse than terrorism," Bauer told reporters at his New Hampshire Underscoring its displeasure as a ringing endorsement of equal benefits campaign headquarters on Dec. 27. with the planned march, which for same-sex couples, it was still short of Bauer called the decision another example of "a judicial decision has been struck by a number of what many activists had hoped for. that attacks America's deeply held values." controversies since its inception, The justices, noting that the case Residents of all 5o states can send a message to the state of Ver- the board also voted to move its went "beyond the imagining of the mont by calling and/or faxing Gov. Dean Howard to express your sup- spring meeting that had already framers of our Constitution," declared port of the Vermont Supreme Court's Baker v. Vermont decision. been slated for the same week- that same-sex couples should have access Gov. Dean's office: (802) 828-3333; fax: (802) 828-3339. Call the common benefits and protections end in Washington D.C. as the to between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. available to married couples in the state, a date two weeks earlier. march to including insurance coverage, hospital Gay Men Smoke "I don't think the government should be in the business More than of making laws about it. But I do think, in terms of the mil- McCain Says Gay Could itary, the military should not have to take open gays," he said. General Public The issue of gays serving in the military has re-emerged as a CHICAGO — According to a hot political potato after first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton said study by researchers at the Univer- Be President Some Day the current policy of "don't ask, don't tell" was not working. sity of California at San Francisco, Washington — Republi- Vice President Al Gore also came out against the policy, gay men smoke at nearly twice the can presidential candidate which the Clinton administration introduced in 1993, and president. rate of the male population in the John McCain said recently said he would work to change it if he were elected U.S. in general. there was no reason why a McCain said military officers had contacted him to complain president The study, published in the gay person could not serve as about Gore's sudden change of heart, which the vice military advisers. "American Journal of Public president some day, but he announced without consulting with senior military commanders who Health," was based on 1992 data opposed openly gay people "I've already heard from some president of the United and found that 48 percent of some serving in the military. feel they've been undercut by the vice justification for their view," he said.