From: elf@halcyon.com (Elf Sternberg) Subject: THE MINORITY STATUS AND CHILD PROTECTION ACT, by the Citizen's Alliance of Washington Date: 25 Jan 1994 07:21:47 -0800 Summary: You asked for it! Keywords: anti-gay initiative >Can anyone tell me what happened with the pro- and anti- gay rights bills >that the Washington State legislature was supposed to have voted on last >week? Here in LA the quake has dominated the news (and my life), so I >only heard about the bills just now on the 'Net. Thanks. There are two initiatives collecting signatures to get onto the ballot by November. The first is the creation of the Citizen's Alliance of Washington, under the guidance of Lon Mabon (remember him?). It's called: THE MINORITY STATUS AND CHILD PROTECTION ACT. AN ACT relating to how homosexuality will be viewed in law and in the public policy of the State of Washington. In this Act, homosexuality is defined as sexual desire for aperson of the same gender, as determined by the individuals willingess to be openly self-identified with those esires, or sexual activity with the same gender. THE SPECIAL RIGHT OF MINORITY STATUS BASED ON HOMOSEXUALITY PROHIBITED The People find that inapproprieate sexual behavior does not form an appropriate basis upon which to construct a minority or class status relating to civil rights. To identify oneself as a person who participates in or who expresses openly a desire for inapproriate sexual behavior, such as homosexuality, fails to constitue a legal minority classification. The People establish that objection to homosexuality based upon one's convictions is a Right of Consciense and shall not be considered discrimination relating to civil rights by any unit, branch, department, or angency of state or local government. The People further establish that in the State of Washington, including all political subdivisions and units of state and local government, minority status shall not apply to homosexuality; therefore, affirmative action, quotas, special class status or special classifications such as "sexual orientation," "sexual preference," or "domestic partnerships" or similar designations shall not be established on the basis of homosexuality. No public funds shall be expended in a manner that has the purpose or effect of promoting or expressing approval of homosexuality. This provision shall not limit the availability in public librarires of books and materials written for adults which address homosexuality, provided access to such materials is limited to adults amd meets local standards as established through the existing library review process. With regard to public employees, no agency, department, or political subdivision shall forbid generally the consideration of private lawful sexual behaviors as non-job related factors, provided that such consideration does not violate the providsion and purposes of this Act and that such factors do not disrupt the workplace. THE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM SHALL NOT PROMOTE OR EXPRESS APPROVAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY The People establish that no person representing the state education system as an employee, student, volunteer, or guest shall undertake any activity that would in any manner advise, instruct, teach, or promote to any child, student, or employee that homosexuality is a positive or healthy lifestyle, or an acceptable or approved condition or behavior. FOSTER PARENT STATUS AND ADOPTION BY PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN HOMOSEXUALITY PROHIBITED. The People find that there is compelling state interest in placement of minor children, where at all possible, in sound, married, male-female households and that such children must never be placed in households where homosexuality is present in any manner whatsoever. Any person participating in homosexuality shall not become an adoptive, foster, or placement parent. The People further establish that, upon the dissolution of a marriage in which one of the natural parents or other legal classification of parent is participating in homosexuality, the minor child, wherever legallly possible, will be placed inthe custody of the parent not participating in homosexuality. Where both parents are unqualified, custondy shall be awarded to the next closest natural relative, such as gradparents, brothers or sisters, aunts, or uncles and so forth. All consideration is to the well being of the minor child and it is the policy of the State of Washington that sound natural family relationships are the most important initial consideration that will maintain that well being. Where this is not possible an adoptive or foster parent is to be ensured. Every appropriate court and government agency of the State of Washington shall enforce the provisions of this section and, at all placement or custody hearings, shall enter and maintain a written finding that the prospective custodial, adoptive, foster or placement parent does not participate in homsexuality. MARRIAGE BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME GENDER PROHIBITED AND NATURAL GENDER DEFINED. The People establish that same-gender marriages and domestic partnerships are hereby declared to be against public policy and shall not be legally recognized in any manner by any agency, department, or political subdivision of the State of Washington. The State of Washington recognizes that gender that is established at the time of conception of all persons is the only and natural gender of that person for the duration of their life. Any physical alterations to the human body do not affect the natural gender, knwon at birth or before, of any resident of the State of Washington. Any same-gender marriage or gender alteration obtained or recognized outside the State of Washington shall not constitute a valid or legal marriage or gender within the State of Washington. ALL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS PROTECED FOR EVERY CITIZEN In the State of Washington and its political subdivisions, no unit, agency, or department of government shall deny to private persons business licenses, permits or services otherwise due under existing statues, nor deprive, nullify, or diminish the holding or exercise of any rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Washington or the Constitution of the United States. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION CLAUSE The People intend that, if any part of the enactment be declared unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining parts shall survive in full force and effect. This enactment shall in all parts be self-executing. In the event that a conflict arises between this legislation and any other provision of law, the policies and purposes of this Act shall govern. LEGAL STANDING Any person residing in the State of Washington or non-profit entity doing business in this state has standing to bring suit to enforce the provisions and policies of this Act. -- PC Bulletin: Henceforth, sentient computers would like to be known as "Silicon Intelligences." "Artificial Intelligence" is a pejorative term invented by humans based on the mistaken belief that computers are some- how not "natural." - elf@halcyon.com