Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Jan. 23, 1992, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
2The Daily Tar HeelThursday, January 23, 1992 Judge denies homosexual couple's right to legal marriage GUlamHall Staff Writer A recent Washington, D.C., court decision reaffirmed a national prece dent denying homosexuals the legal right td marry. D.C. Superior Court Judge Shellie Bowers recently rejected a gay couple's $1.25 million claim against the district government, contending that local laws do not discriminate against homosexu als by denying them marriage rights. "It is simply inaccurate to say the plaintiffs were denied a marriage li cense due to their sexual orientation,'" Bowers said in his decision. "Rather, the plaintiffs were denied a marriage license because of the nature of mar riage itself, requiring, as it does, that the parties thereto be a male and a female." in Townsend Bertram & Company's ANNUAL WINTER SALE 25-50 off WINTER CLOTHING Blown ;Away Prices Sale starts Friday, January 24 . -g-J BETWEEN TALBOTSa WEAVER ST. MKT. The plaintiffs, Patrick Gill and Craig Dean, claimed in a November 1990 lawsuit that the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The two men also argued that the D.C. marriage law is not gender-specific. Bowers used quoted passages from the Bible and a legal dictionary to jus tify his decision. "Societal recognition that it takes a man and a woman to form a marital relationship is older than Christianity itself," Bowers said. Bowers' biblical references in the ruling have created as much contro versy as the decision itself. Both of the plaintiffs were raised in Catholic families and have said they do not believe religion should play a role in their civil lawsuit. "I don 't think that it is appropriate for a civil court to look at the Bible as a basis for a decision," Dean said in a telephone interview. Evan Wolfson, staff attorney for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, an organization that advocates homosexual rights, said Bowers' use of the Bible in a case involving legal pre cedent was inappropriate. "(The homosexual community) feels a sense of shock and outrage that a judge in the late 20th century would think that it is acceptable to quote the Bible as overruling the Constitution," Wolfson said. Eleven thousand of the most Itrilliant people in America work in a profession that few of us even know exists. No matter how smart we are. Yet actuaries are the brains lx'hintl crucial corporate deci sions. Billion dollar deals. And long-term business strategies that have an impact on the health and wealth of millions. Few careers combine more challenge and diversity with greater financial reward. You can learn like a Ph.D. while you earn like an MBA - and have a lot more fun along the way. All majors welcome. Just bring your exceptional mental skills, math skills, people skills and driving will to achieve. We'll show you how to turn a great brain into a brilliant career. Send an introductory letter, a resume and a copy of your transcript by February 1 to: Aetna Beth Schumacher College Placement Coordinator 151 Farmington Avenue, YF56 Hartford, CT 06156 Summer Internships Available. In their lawsuit. Dean and Gill cited several sections of the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, including one pas sage which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. "Every individual (in the District of Columbia) shall have an equal opportu nity to participate fully in ... all aspects of life," the act states. Dean, a practicing attorney, said the act forbade the district from discrimi nating against him and his partner in their pursuit of a legal union. "In other words, it says that you can't treat gay people different from straight people," Dean said. Several homosexual rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union lesbian and gay rights project, have contended that this case could be the landmark decision that forces state officials to allow same-sex marriages. Dean and Gill have said that, if nec essary, they will appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Because of attempts by same-sex couples to marry in the late 1 970s, many states have changed the wording of marriage laws to make them gender specific. North Carolina was among the states Nominee that changed the wording of its mar riage laws, said UNC law professor Sallv Sham. j r "North Carolina law clearly requires ... a male and a female " she said. The D.C. City Council, partly be cause of demands from the homosexual community, is considering a bill that would grant same-sex couples similar ngms to tnose oi neterosexuai coupies. "(The bill) would allow persons to receive certain benefits like those nf a mameu coupie. it wouia appiy to tnose in both private and public industry," said Pamela Pope, a legislative assistant to the D.C. Committee on Government; Operation. ;f The bill could become law within i year, Pope said. Several other large U.S. cities, including San Francisco and Santa Barbara, have passed similar laws,, she said. Whatever the outcome of the D.C case, gay and lesbian leaders vow to. f;i, 1 1...- iigm uiiiii iiviiiuaAuai wuufjica ivbive, .I.. :u.- 1 counterparts. "Ultimately, there will be a ruling, that same-sex marriages are constitu-. tionally protected," Wolfson said. .. : i ii A 1 r O . trustee." Board of Governors member Harold Webb also is nominating Thigpen, Bibbs Correction In the Jan. 22 Daily Tar Heel ar ticle, "Public Enemy rap video raises Arizonans' ire," the name of the Pub lic Enemy song was incorrectly iden tified. The song is "By the Time I Get to Arizona." The DTH regrets the error. Campus Calendar ThCrSSa7 The University Counseling Center is suiting Black Graduate Women's Support Group to begin today. Oil 962-2175. 2 p.m. Student Congress Finance Committee mandatory meeting for the budget process for fiscal year 1992-93 in 224 Union. 3:30 p.m. JOB HUNT 101: Basic information on how to use UCPPS, 210 Hanes. Du! Schau' doch mal bei KaffeeKlatsch vorbeil German Department Reading Room. Stock Dey. UNC Study Abroad information session on pro grams in England, ScoUand and Ireland. Caldwell. 4 p.m. Association of Nursing Students, 205 Union. 4:30 p.m. UNC Study Abroad, on London School of Economics in the lower level of Caldwell. 5 p.m. Applications due for Feb. 4 elections for Campus Y co-presidents, co-treasurers and secretary 5:30 p.m. Association of International Students will meet in 208-209 Union. 5:45 p.m. Baptist Student Union, Battle House. 6 p.m. BROTHERS discussion group will meet in the first-floor lounge of Hinton James Residence Hall. 6:30 p.m. Collegiate Black Caucus, in BCC. 7 p.m. Carolina Pep Band wants students to cheer for wrestling team in Carmichael against State. Marine Action Committee to meet in Campus Y. 8 p.m. ModernExtension will hold a free, modern dance performance in the Women's Gym. La Casa Espanola presents "El Salvador y said. 'f"Ycct ic Vfrv rnmmillprl tn curv ing on the Board of Trustees and is very excited about his prospects as a nomi- nee " he. said. Thigpen said he was flattered to be nominated for the Board of Trustees. but he would have to decide whether time would allow him to serve. . , "I am teaching at the law school at' North Carolina Central, and I have my., (law) practice," Thigpen said. Thigpen said he did not have a pre determined agenda. "I will have to familiarize myself with the issues and work from there and deal with those issues as they arise," he -said. '' Thigpen is a graduate of North Caro lina Central University and Rutgers La w , School. He is presently a partner in the Raleigh law firm of Thigpen, Blue," Stephens and Fellers. bidds said it was oenericiai to nave more trustees who were not University alumni. "Currently our Board of Trustees has nine Chapel Hill alumni out of 1 3 mem- Uo u :.. , . rn ...... uia, lie aaiu. si i uiifjuuaiil iui uui Board of Trustees to be diversified with members coming from all walks of life and members who hold degrees from other institutions." Thigpen would bring a different per-- m. Cm t .1- .It. ' I I T play not only in the UNC system, but also in the state and the region, Bibbs -said. : ; The Board of Governors will appoint a new trustee in February. On-campus job recruiting February 17-21 Resume drop: Jan. 21 Open Sign-up: Feb. 5 Date Company Positions Majors 2-17 Booke and Company ACTS ACTSBS Circuit City Stores, Inc. ACCT BUBS, ECONBA FINN Green Corps Field ANYBABS Campaign Mgr. 'PIRG Organizer, ANYBABS Emir. Advocacy Unum Insurance Co. SALE ANYBABS 2-18 Booke and Company INSR ACTSBS, APMABS, STATBS, MATHBABS Branch Banking and Trust BNKG BUBS, ECONBA, INDRBA, APCSBS, APMABS, COMPBS, ORSABS, STATBS, MATHBABSMS Eli Lilly and Company CHEM CHEMBSMSPHD, APMSBS, BIOCHEMMSPHD 2-18 Burlington Industries MFCM BUBS, ECONBA 2-19 SALE FINN OPER 2-19 Milliken & Company DBMG COMPBSMS PROG SOFT SANL 'Northwestern Mutual NC ANYBABS 2-19 Kraft USA SALE ANYBABS 2-20 2-20 Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette ABAL BUBS, LIBABA, MATHBSMS, APCSBS, COMPBSMS 'Nat. Or. for Paralegal 3-Month ANYBABS Lawyer's Asst. Program Wallace Computer Services SALE BUBS, INDRBA, SPCHBA 2-20 Baxter Healthcare Corp. SALE BUBS 2-21 2-21 Northern TelecomBNR ACCT BUBS Advisory Board Company MKTG ANYBABS Liz Claiborne GMGT ANYBABS Northern TelecomBNR DBMG APCSBS, COMPBS PROG SANL Peebles Department Stores RMGT ANYBABS Prudential Securities ANAL ANYBABS BNKG FINN WRTG Additional information available at 211 Hanes Hail
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 23, 1992, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75