NewsWrap for the week ending March 27th, 1999 (As broadcast on This Way Out program #574, distributed 3-29-99) [Compiled & written by Cindy Friedman, with thanks to Graham Underhill, Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Martin Rice, Rex Wockner, Chris Ambidge, Greg Gordon & Lucia Chappelle] Anchored by Cindy Friedman and Leo Garcia This week, the eyes of the world turned to the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming, where trial began for the first of two suspects in the notorious bashing murder of openly gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. Russell Henderson is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery in the October attack, along with Aaron McKinney. Both could face the death penalty. Although the courthouse has been outfitted with new fences, locked doors, metal detectors, and additional security staff, jury selection began in a quiet and routine manner. Much of the proceedings have been closed to the public, with no cameras and only three reporters allowed limited access. Several hundred area residents filled out 20-page questionnaires and were winnowed down to four panels of prospective jurors of 72 people each before the proceedings began. It won't be easy to find people who can be sequestered for the three weeks of the trial and who are willing to impose the death penalty if necessary -- even aside from concerns about how influenced they may have been by the extensive media coverage surrounding the killing. Jury selection is expected to take about two weeks, with opening arguments tentatively scheduled to begin April 6th. Prosecutor Cal Rerucha opened the proceedings by telling the panel that Shepard was "a victim that was different, a victim that was not the same as you and I," but that the Constitution calls for fairness for all. Henderson's public defender Wyatt Skaggs indicated that he will argue that Henderson was only a witness to the attack on Shepard, maintaining it was McKinney alone who was responsible for the brutal assault. Another U.S. elected official has publicly identified as a gay man, at one of the more than 350 events held in all fifty states this week as part of the campaign called Equality Begins At Home. At a rally at the state Capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut, where the rainbow flag flew for the first time, state Representative Patrick Flaherty said at the urging of the crowd, "I don't think this is going to come as a surprise but yes, I am gay." Two other Connecticut state Representatives, open bisexual Evelyn Mantilla and open gay Art Feltman, each took one of his hands and raised it high. Flaherty remarked later that in the wake of his coming out, "The silence has been deafening," with only a single negative phone call he says "wasn't even that hostile." The nationwide lobbying activities of Equality Begins At Home this week have had limited success so far in advancing civil rights legislation. Three state Houses voted on civil rights protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, but only one bill was passed. Maryland's House of Delegates voted 80-to-56 to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. That's the farthest any such bill has advanced there in eight years and six attempts. The vote is credited in large part to the advocacy of Maryland's Democratic Governor Parris Glendening. He not only took the extraordinary step of personally testifying before a House committee -- he threatened to hold back funds for some of the legislature's favorite projects if it didn't move on this bill and some of his other top priorities. Glendening has a personal interest in the measure, after watching his gay brother live in fear throughout a 19-year military career, before dying of AIDS-related illness. But even with the governor's active lobbying, there seems little hope for passage in the more conservative state Senate. Neighboring Delaware's House of Representatives defeated a bill against employment discrimination by an 18-to-15 vote on the very day that 80 activists were lobbying in its support. The bill's House sponsor, Representative William Oberle, was pleased that his majority Republican caucus even allowed the bill to reach the floor. It was intensely debated for three hours, the longest debate in the Delaware House for any bill this year. This is the fourth time a measure against sexual orientation discrimination has failed in the state. The Illinois House of Representatives narrowly voted down civil rights protections for gays and lesbians 59-to-57, although it may revisit the proposal later. The defeat came despite active support from Republican Governor George Ryan, along with Illinois' Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. The bill's sponsor, openly gay Democratic Representative Larry McKeon, was so frustrated by the defeat that he lashed out at three Republican Representatives for failing their gay siblings. He later made a written apology to the entire House for the outings. Lobbying and rallies as part of Equality Begins At Home continued to urge support for the bill despite its defeat. But in California, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-to-1 to give preliminary approval to establishing a domestic partners registry. With ten million residents, including 230,000 households of unmarried cohabitants, it will be one of the largest entities ever to take such a step. The certification will be open to any cohabiting couple who are both unmarried and over 18. The certificate in itself will confer absolutely no rights, benefits or privileges, but the Board expects that this official process will make it easier for more businesses to extend health benefits to their unmarried workers' partners. Blessing the committed relationship of two gay men has resulted in suspension for a United Methodist minister in Illinois. A church court jury by a 10-to-3 vote found Reverend Gregory Dell guilty of disobedience. They determined to suspend him from his pastoral duties from July 5 until either he agrees to abide by the church's ban on blessing same-gender couples, or the church changes its rules. Dell has no intention of changing his practice, which he believes is a vital part of his ministry. A rule change would not come any sooner than May 2000, the next meeting of the United Methodist General Assembly, which adopted the ban in 1996. Dell is the second United Methodist minister to be tried and the first to be convicted for presiding at a same-gender union ceremony. A year ago, a Nebraska church jury narrowly failed to convict Reverend Jimmy Creech because some jurors believed the ban to be a guideline rather than church law. However, when that case was appealed, the church's highest court found that the ban was in fact a law, and that ministers who violated it could be suspended or even defrocked. Dell went ahead with his ceremony after that appeals court had ruled. And while Dell's trial was only the second in the United Methodist Church for blessing gay and lesbian couples, it will definitely not be the last. In California, United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert this week referred a church judicial complaint for prosecution of 69 of the more than 90 ministers who together celebrated a lesbian couple's union in Sacramento. That January action was described by its organizer Reverend Don Fado as an act of "ecclesiastical disobedience." Talbert's referral statement was actually a passionate objection to the ban, but he felt it was better that he proceed with the complaint before others did who might use it as an anti-gay platform. Briefly, in other news this week... Primate of the Scottish Episcopal Church Richard Holloway has threatened to withdraw his church's funds from the Bank of Scotland, protesting its plans for a joint venture with politically powerful anti-gay U.S. TV preacher Pat Robertson. Holloway also intends to lobby other religious groups to do the same. But the Bank of Scotland this week stated it still intends to proceed with the deal. A decision by Britain's Law Lords, acting as the nation's highest court, should make it easier for refugees seeking asylum in Britain from homophobic oppression in their homelands. In the case of several Pakistani women battered by their husbands, the Lords broadened the definition of what could be considered a "specific group" under the Geneva Convention. Even the lone dissenter in the 4-to-1 ruling was convinced that homosexuals constituted such a group. In Canada, Alberta's Social Services Minister Lyle Oberg announced that he will personally review a written justification of any placement of a child in foster care with a gay or lesbian. Although he makes no such review of heterosexual placements, he insists that it's a matter of accountability for him to personally ensure that gay and lesbian placements are in the best interests of the child. Opposition politicians as well as activists said this policy was not only discriminatory, but likely to intimidate both prospective gay and lesbian foster caregivers and the social workers responsible for placements. They questioned what qualifications Oberg could offer to override the judgment of his professionally-trained staff. But before a meeting of Alberta's ruling Conservative Party last week, the province had been altogether banning foster placements with gays and lesbians. And finally ... Sir Ian McKellen didn't get an Academy Award for his gay leading role in "Gods and Monsters”, but he did get a date for its gala London premiere. In the course of various Oscar parties, McKellen had met former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and found her to be "a brave, intelligent girl." Since she was in London pushing her book, he thought it would be nice for her to see the film with him. When twitted for appearing with the openly gay actor, Lewinsky shot back, "I always seem to find myself attached to unavailable men."