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Task Force names new secondWASHINGTON, D.C. — Darlene Nipper, aseasoned leader with nearly two decadesexperience innon-profitmanagementand programdevelopment,public policyadvocacy andoutreach,budget managementandcoalition building,has beennamed deputyexecutivedirector of theNational Gayand LesbianTask Force,effective Oct. 1,2008. ExecutiveDirector RaeNot for Reproduction Copyright 2008 QNotes Not for ReproductionNational News Notesby David Stout . Q-Notes staffD O M E S T I Cjudge David J. Audlin Jr., stemmed from In November 2007, the Montgomerythe case of an openly gay Key West fosterfather who has been trying to adopt law prohibiting discrimination on the basis ofCounty Council voted unanimously to pass ac othe 13-year-oldpboy he has raisedrsince genderiidentity in employment,ghousing, publicaccommodations, and taxi and cable serv-h t2001. The adoption was ruled to be in the“best interest” of the unidentified teen, ice. The measure was signed into law and setwho has special needs.to take effect February 21, 2008, but was put Campus design team.The social worker assigned toconduct a home study in the case“highly” recommended the manand his partner, noting that theyprovide a “loving and nurturinghome,”“fair and consistent” disciplineand financial security.During the proceeding the boywas asked why he wanted to beadopted by his foster father.2 0“Because0I love him,” the teen8explained.Florida is one of only twostates (along with Mississippi)New NGLTF Deputy Directorthat explicitly bans adoption bygay parents. The law has beenruled unconstitutional twice inthe past, but both challenges havebeen lost in higher courts.on hold when signatures were submitted insupport of a petition to place a repeal measurebefore voters.Twelve Montgomery County residents fileda lawsuit challenging the validity of signaturesthat were submitted, as well as the processused to certify them. In July, the Circuit Courtfor Montgomery County ruled that the measureshould appear on the November ballot,concluding that the lawsuit was untimely. TheCourt of Appeals decision reverses the CircuitCourt ruling.LGBT high school proposedCHICAGO, Ill. — LGBT advocates want tocreate a Chicago high school for LGBT students.The Greater Lawndale Little VillageSchool for Social Justice has submitted a proposalto Chicago Public Schools, which willmake a decision about the school by the endof October. The school, named Pride Campus,would serve students who feel isolated andunsafe at their current schools.“We hope this venue will further theprocess by providing a venue where policyIf approved, Pride Campus would openin fall 2010. There is currently one schoolin the U.S. specifically serving LGBT students,New York City’s Harvey Milk HighSchool. The executive director of HarveyMilk High School is part of the PrideStudy examines Big Apple couplesNEW YORK, N.Y. — A new study compiledby UCLA’s Williams Institute from Census2000 data finds that there are nearly 26,000same-sex couples in New York City, most ofwhom (62 percent) live outside of Manhattan.“We need to look beyond ‘Will & Grace’ tounderstand the lives of gay and lesbian NewYorkers,” study co-author and Senior ResearchFellow Gary Gates said.Census data show that the city’s same-sexcouples are raising an estimated 8,400 childrenin their homes, with 92 percent of childrenbeing raised by same-sex couples outsideof Manhattan. These families have averagehousehold incomes between 7 percent(Brooklyn) and 36 percent (Staten Island)lower than their married counterparts. Theyare also less likely than their married counterpartsto own their own homes in everyborough except Manhattan.There are also significant differences in thecharacteristics of same-sex couples among thefive boroughs. For instance, while same-sexDarlene NipperRuling halts trans ballot fightCarey held the position before she was chosen ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Marylandto replace Matt Foreman, who stepped down Court of Appeals, the state’s high court, ruledas Task Force head earliercthis summer.oSept. 9 that apreferendum petition seekingrtoi g h trepeal a new law prohibiting discriminationJudge rules against adoption ban based on gender identity may not appear on and practices supportive of LGBTQA students male couples outnumber female couples by aKEY WEST, Fla. — A Monroe Circuit this November’s ballot, reversing a decision can be formulated and spread throughout the 3-to-1 margin in Manhattan, the proportionsCourt judge has found the state’s 31-yearoldban on adoptions by gays and lesbians civil rights protections to a vote indesign team spokesperson Bill Graves told and female couples outnumber male couplesby a lower court that would have put basic rest of Chicago Public Schools,” Pride Campus are fairly even in Queens and Staten Islandunconstitutional. The ruling from circuit Montgomery County.Chicago’s Windy City Times.in Brooklyn and the Bronx. ◗c o p r i g h t2 0 0 8c o p r i g h tSEPTEMBER 20 . 2008 • QNotes 7Not for Reproduction Copyright 2008 QNotes Not for Reproduction