The Carolinas’ Most Comprehensive Gay & Lesbian Newspaper
Archbishop Rev. Carl
Bean was among special
. guests for Rev. Tonya
Rawls’ installation as
pastor of the new Unity
Fellowship Church in
Charlotte. See story on
page 3.
Published Every Two Weeks On Recycled Paper • Volume 15, Number 21 * March 3, 2000 * FREE
Montana college shocked by
recent attack on gay student
Many question administration’s silence
by Lainey Millen
Q-Notes Staff
HELENA, MT — In the past, most stu
dents at Carroll College would "probably say
they have felt safe in the sanctity of their dorm
rooms. But now, that sense of security has been
rocked by an attack on a gay student who was
severely beaten by an intruder. And the crime
has sparked more than fear; the administrations
handling of the attack has generated a wave of
criticism, as well.
According to a rcpott filed by the student
(whose identity has not been released) with
school authorities, the attack occured on Janu
ary 17 as the victim was returning from a shower
around 1:30 am. He was struck in the head
with a bottle and knocked unconscious, but his
assailant apparently continued to beat him.
The victim received lacerations to his eye
that required surgery and “Die Fag” was
scrawled on his body. Because he feared for his
life, he left the school — one semester away
from completing his degree.
School administrators decided not to involve
the Helena City Police Department or alert the
general campus community. But once the vic
tim left, the news was issued to great contro-
versy
On February 15, a forum was held
to address concerns by the student
body and faculty. Vice President of
Student Affairs Bob Pastoor claimed
responsibility for the handling of the
incidenet when students asserted that
they should have been informed
about it as a security measure. Pastoor
responded, “If an error has been
made it has been mine.”
Increasing campus security in the
future was the key issue at the forum.
Prior to the incident, the school
maintained only a part-time student-
staffed security desk located in each
dorm. During the forum, Pastoor an
nounced that three security guards would be
hired to ensure safety on a full-time basis, and
that a campus-wide security audit would be
conducted.
The Student Right to Know and Campus
Security Act of 1990 requires that schools keep
and publish on-campus crime statistics.
During that time, Carrolls security record
is unblemished except for alcohol and drug pos
session violations. But because these reports are
The quiet facade of Carroll's campus belies
the fear and anger over anti-gay assault.
based on police arrest records and not incidents
handled by the school, students charged that
they are an inaccurate measure of campus safety.
Controlled-substance crimes compose mosr
of the 150-200 disciplinary actions taken by
Carroll’s administration. More recently, rapes
and acquaintance rapes topped the list of the
most violent crimes. He further commented
that with exception of the more severe cases.
See MONTANA on page 6
Rep. Nadler reintroduces GLBT immigration bill
by April Herms
Special to Q-Notes
WASHINGTON, DC — United States
Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) gave
GLBT bi-national couples a Valentine’s Day
present by reintroducing in Congress the Per
manent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA) on
Febtuary 14. A coalition of human- and gay-
rights organizations joined. Nadler at a press
conference for the introduction of the bill.
PPIA would allow United States citizens and
lawful permanent residents to sponsor their per
manent partners for residence in the United
States, granting same-sex couples all the privi
leges that currently accrue to legal spouses un
der federal immigration law.
First introduced in February of 2000, the
PPIA garnered
nearly 60 co
sponsors in its
first year, as
well as the
support of the
Lesbian and
Gay Immigra
tion Rights
Task Force
(LGIRTF),
the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the Na
tional Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF),
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),
and many other human rights groups.
On February 16, openly gay Representative
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) signed on as the bill’s first
ism
Republican co-sponsor. “A permanent pattner
. is a permanent partner, period. No one in gov
ernment should be empowered to make dis
tinctions between the propriety of gay/lesbian
or heterosexual unions. ” Kolbe stated when
asked to comment on his co-sponsorship. “It is
a matter of simple fairness that INS apply the
same standards to all Americans.”
US immigration is largely based on the prin
ciple of family unifidation, which allows_ US
citizens and legal permanent residents to spon
sor their spouses and other family members for
immigration purposes. Approximately 75 per
cent of the one million green cards or immi
grant visas issued each year go to family mem
bers of US cirizens and permanent residents.
See NADLER on page 17
TCW gives funds
totalling 25% of
budget back to
United Way
by Will Elliott
Special to Q-Notes
RALEIGH, NC — Triangle Community
Works (TCW) a nonprofit organization serv
ing the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
communities in the Research Triangle area,
announced in January it would retutn dona
tions it has received from the Triangle United
Way. The action represents TCW’s opposition
to Triangle United Way’s decision to continue
providing funds to the Boy Scouts despite their
discriminatory policies against gays.
“It would be hypocritical for TCW to ac
cept money from the same organization that
funds discrimination against us, even though
it means a significant cut in our funding,” said
Wayne Wilson, TCW chairperson.
TCW is a coalition of individuals, programs,
projects and organizations whose aim is to fos
ter a safe, healthy and life-affitming
envirionment for members of lesbian, gay, bi
sexual and transgender communities and allies.
TCW programs include the Gay and Les
bian Helpline, Resource Library, Health Pro
vider Resource Project, and Community Re
source Guide. Other organizations affiliated
with TCW include GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian &
Straight Educators Network), Lesbian Health
Resource Center, N.C. Pride, PFLAG (Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and
NCBiNet.
At the heart of the issue is the Triangle
United Way’s membership policies which al
low for discrimination based on sexual orien
tation. Curtently, organizations are only re
quired to meet tbc minimum standards tier for
NC Pride sets fall date, dual venue for PrideFest 2001
F’o,
or the first time, the Pride Committee
of North Carolina has chosen two cities for
North Carolina’s l6th Annual Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Transgendered Pride Parade and
Festival. North Carolina PrideFest 2001 will
consist of activities in both Durham and Ra
leigh. The Parade will be on Main Street in
Durham, and the Day Festival on the East
Campus of Duke University in Durham. The
Night Festival will be in Raleigh. Othet cities,
including Chapel Hill, will host pre-Pride
events. Additional participation and help from
neighboring Pride organizations and groups in
the cities of Atlanta and Washington, DC, is
also being planned, accotding to a February 17
announcement from The Pride Committee of
Notth Carolina, Inc.
Another exciting development for the festi
val is the change of date. Rather than the usual
June celebration, PrideFest 2001 will be held
September 29. The Pride Committee hopes to
allow greater participation by the thousands of
GLBT students and student organizations at
tending North Carolina colleges and universi
ties by moving events to September. In addi
tion, concerns with interrupting summer vaca
tion plans, as well as long exposure to June’s
high heat and humidity by parade marchers
were other factors that influenced the Pride
committee’s decision. Weather in September is
expected to be in the mid-seventies and with a
less likely chance of rain. Surveys of past Pride
participants indicate that a large majority fa
vored the change of date into the autumn of
the year. The trend throughout the South is to
move these events to either the spring or au
tumn months.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Em
brace Diversity,” is the International Pride theme
chosen by the Pride Committee at last years con
ference of the International Association of Les
bian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Co
ordinators. The Pride Committee of North Caro
lina is a proud member of InterPride, which rep
resents over 60 cities and organizations from 22
countries around the world. In keeping with the
theme, the committee intends to reach out to
other minority communities.
A complete schedule of events will be posted
on the website www.ncpride.org as decided,
along with information on sponsorship, ven
dors and volunteers. June will remain Pride
Month with a planned series of events and
fundraisers around the S.tate. The Pride com-
mitree has issued a general call for participa
tion from all of the cities of North Carolina
from Wilmington to Asheville. If you ate in-
tetested in Pride and are willing to volunteer or
organize a small group, from your own city
please contact the committee at
inIo@ncpride.otg or at PO Box 466, Durham,
North Carolina 27702. V
“It would be hypocritical
... to accept money from
the same organization
that funds discrimination
against us."
membership — a level that excludes rules re
garding sexual orientation anti-discrimination.
The Triangle United Way has chosen to fund
the Boy Scouts of America despite their dis
criminatory polices against gay participants,
which were upheld by the US Supreme court
in June (Boy Scouts of America, et. al., vs. Dale).
TCW believes that discrimination based on
sexual orientation is no different than discrimi
nation based on race, sex or religious affilia
tion.
“Our hope in returning the funds is that we
might be able to educate Triangle United Way
on the importance of inclusion and that dis
crimination, of any form, is not acceptable in
our community. TCW invites Triangle United
Way as well as other organizations to join us in
saying we won’t accept any discrimination, es
pecially where our young people are con
cerned,” explained Wilson. ▼
[People hiterested in donating to TCW can do
so directly. Donations may be given through their
web site or by mail. For more information, visit
the TCW web site at www.tcworks.org or call the
local Gay & Lesbian Helpline at 9l9-82l-0055.\
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