January - February - March 2001
Here's how women's rights legislation fared across the country

LOST: Mandatory Abortion Waiting Period Amendment 25 (in Colorado) is an anti-choice measure disguised as a 'women's right to information' measure, and would require a woman to view or read state-produced materials 24 hours before having an abortion. The measure includes specific language requiring physicians to discuss the 'anatomical and physiological characteristics of unborn children,' and is an attempt to further restrict women's access to necessary reproductive health care.

LOST: Measure 6 in Maine, the Lesbian and Gay Rights---Related Initiative, an anti-discrimination law that would amend the Maine Human Rights Act to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit.

LOST: Measure 9 in Oregon, the Prohibition Against Teaching LGBT Issues in Schools. This anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender measure would have prohibited 'school instruction encourag-ing, promoting, or sanctioning homosexual, bisexual behaviors.' If it had been enacted, schools failing to comply with the measure---including elementary and secondary schools, and community colleges---would lose all or part of their state fundings. Since Measure 9 was defeated, teachers may continue to present age-appropriate, inclusive cirricula to their students.

PASSED: Measure 416 in Nebraska, a Ban on Same-Sex Marriages and Civil Unions. The Nebraska state constitution has been amended to specify that: 'only marriages between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized.' The measure further stipulates that any other form of same-sex relation-ships will not be recognized. LGBT individuals are still protected from discrimination in other areas.

PASSED: Question 2 a Ban on Same-Sex Marriage in Nevada. Question 2 would amend the Nevada State Constitution to define marriage as a union between 'a male and female [sic] person.'

Source: Feminist Majority, www.feminist.org

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