PAGE 12 T Q-Notes T September 20,1997
Feds ordered to foot the bill
by Julia Adams
Special to Q-Notes
SEATTLE—In what is being called an “his
toric development,” the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals ordered the federal government to
pay $420,000 in attorneys’ fees in a successful
challenge of the military’s ban on openly gay
servicemembers. Retired Navy Petty Officer
Keith Meinhold challenged the policy in 1992
when the Navy moved to discharge him be
cause he had acknowledged on ABC TV’s
Nightline that he is gay and won the right to
continue serving his country when the Ninth
Circuit Court ruled that the military’s policy
excluding gay men and lesbians from serving
had no basis in fact or law.
“This nearly half million dollars gives just
an inkling of the true monetary expense of the
government’s attempt to prevent gay military
personnel from serving,” said Kirk Childress,
Staff Attorney of the Servicemembers Legal
Defense Network (SLDN). “Since ‘Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue’ was implemented, the
government has litigated in a dozen cases to
prevent dedicated personnel from serving and
the taxpayers have been smck with the bill for
an estimated $63 million in replacement costs
for those discharged under the policy. More
importandy, the government has not revealed
the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent an
nually on actual gay investigations and admin
istrative discharges.” T
Rights supporters file appeal
to learn plaintiffs identity
by David Stout
Q-Notes Staff
CHAPEL HILL. NC—The name of the
plaintiff challenging Chapel Hill’s policy of
extending health insurance .benefits to gay city
employees’ domestic partners is still not known
— and supporters of the policy are still unhappy
about it.
An appeal has been filed by Durham attor
ney Sharon Thompson, a member of NC
GALA, a statewide organization for gay and
gay-supportive attorneys, asking Judge Coy
Brewer, Jr. to reverse his July ruling which al
lowed “Publius Heterodoxus” to continue as the
anonymous complainant in the case.
In court documents, Heterodoxus states that
he is suing the city because the Chapel Hill
Town Council overstepped its authority by of
fering domestic partner benefits last year. He
contends that Chapel Hill’s policy is at odds
with state guidelines.
The city has a powerful ally in its latest legal
attempt to unmask its accuser; the NC Press
Association has joined in the appeal.
The Press Association is concerned that the
case sets a precarious precedent that may ad
versely affect the free distribution of informa
tion in other court cases. Hugh Stevens, the
Association’s attorney, told the Raleigh News and
Observer, “We’re concerned about any prece
dent that allows anybody to proceed anony
mously.”
This case is probably being closely watched
in neighboring Durham — which may find it
self embroiled in the suit, or a similar one, in
the near future. Reportedly, Durham County
Commissioners are considering adopting their
own domestic partner health insurance regula
tion in the coming weeks. The push for con
sideration appears to have come from County
Manager David Thompson during a work ses
sion with Commissioners.
One potential stumbfing block to imple
mentation, the fact that the county’s current
primary insurer, Healthsource, does not pro
vide domestic partner benefits, will be removed
next year when a secondary insurer. Doctors
Health Plan, is added that does offer the plans.
Judge Brewer is expected to issue a ruling
on the city’s appeal soon. T
zucC
Relaxed, Friendly
Discreet Stigma
Environment for
■Free Shopping
• Plain & Flavored Lubes
• Sexy Lingerie
• Gay/Bi Videos
• Office & Party Supplies
• Outrageous Jokes & Gifts
• Sensuous Oils & Lotions
• Bondage Equipment
• Hilarious Party Games
. Dancewear
• Latex & Leather Clothing & Accessories
• Dressing Rooms available
Video Rentals — Special Prices For Members
Mon. & Tues. Special: Rent One Video, get one for $1.
Monday-Wednesday 9:30am - 11pm • Thursday-Saturday 9:30am
Sunday noon ‘til 10pm • 18 to enter, please
DURHAM
2802 N. Guess Road
(1 block north of 1-85)
(919) 620-6881
FAYETTEVILLE
3800 Sycamore Dairy Rd.
(910) 860-1776
GREENSBORO JACKSONVILLE
3731 High Point Rd. 113-A Western Blvd.
(910) 851-0190 (910) 355-0765
- midnight
RALEIGH
3919 Western Blvd.
(919) 233-7588