San Francisco Set to Define ‘Family’

In a November 7 referendum that could influence public policy nationwide, voters in San Francisco will vote yes or no on that city’s proposed “domestic partners” law. If approved, the law would allow homosexual couples and unmarried heterosexual couples who live together to register their relationship with the county clerk for a $35 fee. A written notice from either partner can end the relationship.

The law proposes to give domestic partners the same hospital visitation rights enjoyed by married couples. Unmarried city employees, whether straight or homosexual, would receive bereavement leave upon the death of a partner. Also, in a key sidelight to the ballot fight, a task force is considering whether to provide health benefits for the partners of city employees who register under the law.

The Issue On Hold

The controversial measure was approved unanimously by the city’s board of supervisors in May. It was signed the following month by San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, who called it a model for the nation and the first step toward “modernizing [the city’s] family policy.” But on the day the law was to become official, religious leaders presented petitions with 27,000 signatures opposing it.

Harry Britt, president of the city’s board of supervisors and the author of the controversial law, has called his campaign a “spiritual war,” accusing his opponents in the struggle of wanting an “authoritarian” world.

In contrast, a Roman Catholic official wrote recently in San Francisco Catholic magazine that “anyone who holds traditional moral values regarding sexuality and family life is now, by definition, considered a bigot by much of the media in San Francisco.”

The Disputed Law

Supported by: San Francisco’s gay community and some religious leaders.

Opposed by: Roman Catholics and evangelicals.

At issue: a definition of family that would afford legal recognition to unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples.

Broadening The Coalition

In an effort to combat the religious-fanatic stereotype, religious leaders who oppose the law sought allies this summer from San Francisco’s business and civic communities. One result was San Franciscans for Common Sense, a coalition that is urging voters to reject the domestic-partners law not just on moral grounds, but for legal and economic reasons as well. The group has gone so far as to hire a professional campaign consultant to conduct voter research.

Coalition spokesperson David Gilmour, an evangelical, acknowledges his side has made some tactical mistakes. The coalition had to disassociate from a rabbi who wrote an inflammatory ballot argument. And, Gilmour added, opponents of the law may have unnecessarily given ammunition to the law’s supporters by allowing Charles McIlhenny, pastor of the 50-member First Orthodox Presbyterian Church, to serve in a visible leadership position.

According to Gilmour, the very mention of McIlhenny’s name undeservedly arouses anger in the gay community. Several years ago McIlhenny fired a church organist who refused to cease homosexual practice. McIlhenny successfully defended himself against a lawsuit claiming discrimination. His house was firebombed in the process, and in press headlines he is referred to as the “anti-gay minister” and the “longtime foe of gays.”

This summer picketers marched with signs outside McIlhenny’s church; vandals also spray-painted the outside of an adjacent pregnancy counseling center. “If we win,” McIlhenny said, “they promise to blow up the church.”

Supporters of the law, however, point out that threats have also been directed against their leaders, including Britt, whose press releases call him “the first openly gay man to be elected to the Board Presidency.”

A Close Call

Both sides agree the vote could be very close, and both sides are attempting to raise $250,000 for their cause. Supporters of the law recently got help from Bob Lurie, owner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, who gave $5,000 to the cause.

An opposition spokesman characterized this gesture as Lurie’s attempt to “buy off the gay vote” in his quest for approval of a new, $100 million baseball stadium in downtown San Francisco; Lurie said he thought the law made sense.

Roughly three dozen religious leaders and proponents of various faiths have signed official ballot arguments in favor of the law, now known as Proposition S. “Far from undermining family values,” reads one argument, “Proposition S will strengthen family life by giving a small degree of integrity and dignity to loving and responsible relationships which are ignored in our civil laws.”

Roman Catholics and evangelicals, however, have campaigned extensively against the law. Catholic Archbishop John Quinn was among the first to oppose it publicly, saying that it “seeks to provide domestic partners all of the public benefits of marriage while imposing none of the legal obligations of marriage.”

In disputing charges of bigotry, Quinn has noted his opposition to past efforts to deprive homosexuals of their “legitimate rights” and his condemnation of violence against homosexuals. Also, Gilmour said he would not attempt to block a law that merely provided visitation rights and bereavement leave to homosexual couples.

But opponents argue the domestic-partners law, as it stands, weakens society’s commitment to marriage and family at a time when both institutions need affirmation. They also maintain the new legal status will cause a rash of litigation, somewhat similar to palimony suits.

Economic Fallout?

Opponents’ most effective argument, however, might be economic. They maintain it could cost the city millions of dollars in additional health-care costs if partners of city workers are afforded medical benefits.

Supporters of the law point out that those added to the health-care plan under the new law would have to pay a premium. But opponents say that, given the nature of the new law, it would likely add many homosexuals to the city’s health-care plan. They point out that in San Francisco, the incidence of AIDS is extremely high, as is the cost of treatment.

The polls show widespread support for the domestic-partners law among city residents. But in early September, those favoring the law released a poll showing that, among those most likely to vote, the law was favored 41 percent to 38 percent, with 22 percent undecided.

Whatever happens, McIlhenny said he was delighted that so many have mobilized for the purpose of “fighting City Hall on a morals issue.”

By Robert Digitale.

WORLD SCENE

HONG KONG

Boat People Adrift

While thousands of Hong Kong’s residents are leaving the British colony, which will be handed over to China in 1997, growing numbers of Vietnamese boat people are arriving on its shores searching for a new home. More than 55,000 boat people are currently housed in camps, detention centers, tent cities, and on boats, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees. Vietnamese, who slightly more than one year ago numbered only 14,000, are now the largest non-Chinese ethnic group in Hong Kong.

The flood of immigrants—an average of 1,500 per week—has overwhelmed officials, and the Hong Kong government is under pressure to stop the flow and return the Vietnamese to their homeland.

Last year, the government, which has always allowed refugee boats to land, began screening immigrants to determine if they qualified for resettlement. Only about 3,000 per year have been resettled for the past five years. Those who do not qualify may be returned to Vietnam, though none thus far have been involuntarily returned. The Vietnamese government, however, has opposed the returns.

CHINA

Pornography Targeted

Chinese government officials have ordered a nationwide effort to eradicate pornography and “bourgeois” ideas and material. According to a directive issued by China’s publication administration, provincial and municipal governments are to put a stop to the marketing of banned publications, which include bourgeois propaganda, false political views, and all pornographic, violent, superstitious, and obscene materials.

Government agencies have seized 90,000 videotapes and 12 million copies of books and magazines, according to the China Daily.

Videotapes of the June 4 massacre in Beijing reportedly have been smuggled into China and circulated widely, especially in large cities. China observers believe the tapes are a main target of the campaign.

SCOTLAND

Presbyterians Divide

The excommunication of a member of the British government’s highest judicial body has led to a schism among Scotland’s free church Presbyterians, the latest in a series of splits dating back more than 100 years.

Lord Mackay was excommunicated last spring by the Free Presbyterian Church for attending two Roman Catholic funerals. Recently, as many as 2,000 of the 7,000 members, including one in three clergy, have joined a breakaway group, the Associated Presbyterian Churches, which has suported Mackay. The schism has bitterly divided villages and families throughout the country.

AFRICA

Women Address Issues

Two thousand Christian women from 36 African nations met in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss national, international, and continental issues. Kenya’s president, Daniel arap Moi, addressed the opening session of the Pan-Africa Christian Women Assembly (PACWA), which received daily media coverage. Meeting under the theme “Our Time Has Come,” delegates examined topics such as AIDS, evangelism, polygamy, alcoholism, social justice, and stewardship. They also produced a covenant on the status of women and their role in confronting contemporary issues.

The idea for launching a continental women’s movement began in 1987 at the Fifth General Assembly of the Association of Evangelicals of Africa and Madagascar (AEAM). Five consultations were held in various regions of Africa during the past two years, leading to the assembly. PACWA executive committee chairman Judy Mbugua has been named by AEAM to help establish and direct a women’s department and continue the networking and education begun at PACWA.

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Briefly Noted

Opened: A 2,000-year-old tunnel near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Last year, an attempt to open the tunnel sparked riots when Muslim leaders said it violated their holy sites. No protests have occurred this year.

Promoted: By the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), women’s ordination. The general council of the 175-member group called on churches that oppose women’s ordination to reconsider in light of the scriptural call for oneness. It also reelected as WARC’s president South African antiapartheid activist Allan Boesak.

Approved: By the North-West diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, the use of condoms as a way to control the spread of AIDS. The group emphasized, however, that shunning promiscuity is the most effective way to prevent AIDS.

Discontinued: International Christian Digest, a monthly journal that excerpted Christian writings from around the world, after its October issue. Methodist publishers in the U.S. and Britain cited lack of subscriptions and advertising as reasons for the decision.

Joined: The Lutheran World Federation, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Soviet Union, which represents more than 500 German-speaking congregations.

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