Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 33 No. 22
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
May 29 - June 4, 2009
Gays to wed in PA?
CA Supreme Ct. upholds Prop. 8 By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The California Supreme Court this week upheld the ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the state, but also validated the thousands of samesex marriages performed in the state when such unions were legal. The court released its longawaited ruling May 26, which was met by a sea of “shame on you” chants from the nearly 1,000 LGBT and ally supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court building in San Francisco. Although the court ruled in a 4-3 decision last May that denying same-sex couples access to marriage violated the state constitution’s equal-protection, due-process and privacy clauses, this week’s ruling noted that the constitution “explicitly recognizes the right of the people to amend their state constitution through the initiative process.” Following last year’s court ruling that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, marriage-equality opponents spearheaded the ballot initiative to limit the definition of marriage in the constitution as being between one man and one woman. Prop. 8, one of the most expensive and contentious ballot measures ever put forth in the country, passed with a 52-percent margin in the November election. This week’s ruling stemmed from several lawsuits filed by numerous same-sex couples and
marriage-equality organizations, as well as the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles and the county of Santa Clara, after the passage of Prop. 8. The 6-1 decision, written by Chief Justice Ronald George, found that Prop. 8 was a proper amendment to the constitution, not a revision — a fundamental change to the constitution that would have required approval by the state legislature being posed to the public — as charged by opponents of the measure. The opinion noted that Prop. 8 “does not by any means ‘repeal’ or ‘strip’ gay individuals or samesex couples of the very significant substantive protections afforded by the state equal-protection See DECISION, Page 15
MORE THAN 5,000 PROTESTERS MARCHED IN SAN DIEGO ON MAY 26 TO PROTEST THE PROP. 8 DECISION. Photo: Rex Wockner
— Sarah Blazucki
LGBT seniors: Out of the closet and nowhere to go Part two of two
Photo: Wockner News/Steve Silberman
See SENIORS, Page 6
ON YOUR MARK: Swimmers take the plunge May 23 in the Fins Aquatic Club’s ninth International Swim Meet at the University of Pennsylvania’s Sheer Pool. The meet brought together nearly 130 swimmers from 17 teams, who competed in such races as freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, medley and relay. Anh Dang, president of the local LGBT swim team, said the meet, which the Fins host every other year, was a big success, drawing teams from Florida to New England. Photo: Scott A. Drake
By Victoria A. Brownworth PGN Contributor
OUTSIDE SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING
According to a recent study by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law at UCLA, lesbians and gay men are twice as likely as heterosexuals to grow old unpartnered and nearly 10 times more likely not to have someone (a spouse, child or other family member) to care for them in old age. In addition to these daunting concerns, the Williams Institute report also cites lesbians and gay men as being half as likely to have health or long-term-care insurance. And, like a majority of seniors overall, the LGBT elderly do not have access to affordable and accessible housing. This worrisome reality leaves many LGBT seniors — as well as those in their 40s and 50s — fearful of an uncertain future. At 73, James Morrison (not his real name) is representative of many older gay men. He lives with his three cats in the tiny Manhattan apartment he’s rented for nearly 30 years. But with a kidney ailment
State Sen. Daylin Leach (D17th Dist.) announced Wednesday he plans to introduce a same-sexmarriage bill in the Senate, and is seeking co-sponsorship. The bill would mark the first time marriage equality is being considered by the state legislature. In addition to full marriage rights, the legislation would also recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other states. Leach said he planned to introduce the legislation next Tuesday and hoped it would be referred to the Judiciary committee, of which he is minority chair. Leach said he had been considering introducing similar legislation for some time and, in light of the recent California Supreme Court ruling revoking marriage equality, several nearby states enacting or considering marriage-equality laws and the intention of Sen. John Eichelberger (R-30th Dist.) to introduce a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, this was the “most propitious time to do it.” “It’s on people’s minds, and Pennsylvania should be part of that conversation,” he said. “I know it’s not going to pass with the ease with which we congratulate sports teams. But the legality of same-sex marriage is inevitable.” Jake Kaskey, policy and outreach coordinator of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, commended the senator’s announcement. “Sen. Leach has been such a great ally and this is a historic first,” he said. “And we are still focused on passing H.B. 300 to protect thousands of LGBT people across the state from discrimination.” HB 300, presently in the House Appropriations Committee, would add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. ■
There are few gay men who can’t do an imitation of Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard.” (“I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”) The quintessential commentary on what it means to grow old in a perpetual youth culture, Billy Wilder’s classic film featured a 50-year-old Swanson in the role of the “aging” silent-film star, Norma Desmond. Today, 50 is the new 40, not the death knell it was for both Swanson and her character. Yet, for many LGBT seniors, life can be as lonely and desperate as Desmond’s was in “Sunset Boulevard.” Add scary to that list. LGBT seniors face challenges their heterosexual counterparts simply do not. The most notable problems facing queers as they age are being alone and penniless. And for many older gay men, HIV/AIDS is another issue they face, making aging all the more difficult.