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Thursday, August 1,2002
Oregon Daily Emerald
Editor in chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing editor:
Jenni Schultz
Citizens debate
discrimination
code changes
The Eugene Human Rights Commission
announces that its recommendations for
a domestic partner registry and other code
changes will be finalized on Aug. 29
By Jan Montry
Oregon Daily Emerald
Civil rights and anti-homosexual activists
faced off before the Eugene Human Rights
Commission on Tuesday night, debating pro
posed changes to the city code. Commissioners
heard testimony and announced they would fi
nalize their recommendation on Aug. 29.
The proposal, if passed by the City Council,
will create a domestic partner registry for ho
mosexual and unmarried heterosexual resi
dents, give “reasonable accommodation” to
transgender persons for dress codes and rest
room access, and allow people to file private
lawsuits if they feel they’ve been discriminat
ed. The proposal will also add “ethnicity” to
city anti-discrimination rules.
Fifteen speakers voiced favorable opinions
to the changes, speaking in support of civil
rights and against labeling homosexuals. Four
opponents to the changes voiced concern that
the proposal would deteriorate the meaning
of family and clash with religious doctrine.
For one supporter in particular, however,
the debate was a typical struggle.
“Eveiy civil rights movement comes back to
the bathroom,” Basic Rights Oregon director
Roey Thorpe said.
Thorpe added that the fear of homosexuali
ty is unfounded. “(Homosexuals) are not
predators,” she said.
Nick Urhausen heavily criticized the rest
room proposal, calling it a “free bathroom
pass for pedophiles” and warning that the
HRC would be a “group of fascists” if they rec
ommended the proposal.
“There’s no constitutional right to what
you’re asking for. It should come about by
some political process,” he said.
Most speakers, however, had kind words
for the proposal and the HRC for working to
ward changes that have already been accepted
in other states.
Adam Jones Emerald
About 30 citizens gather at Eugene City Hall to discuss the Human Rights Commission’s proposed additions to city
code, including gender identity protection and a domestic partner registry.
Doug Smyth, a gay man who attended the
meeting with his partner, set the scene early
for a debate on morality.
“This is a question of morality,” he said.
“The Constitution I read suggests that we are
all created equal, and I would suggest to you
that that is the fundamental, underlying moral
principal behind (the proposals).”
Sue Monaham, who pointed out that she
was a heterosexual, expressed surprise that
such a debate is even necessary.,
“Who are we to accept or not accept another
human being?” she said. “We are all being giv
en the opportunity to act with an informed
mind and a passionate heart.”
Speakers who opposed the proposals often
mentioned God and their fear that homosexu
ality would pose a danger for children.
George and Rennina Brittain, a married
couple, argued their views in terms of reli
gion and family.
“God would not be in favor of this, and
that’s all I will say about that,” George Brittain
said. “The little kids, they can’t take care of
themselves — they are the victims.”
Rennina Brittain used a harsher tone and
left the podium visibly emotional.
“I stand before you absolutely mortified
that my community would bring this to us
and say ‘Help us vote on this,”’ she said. “If
something were to happen to my child, who
is responsible?”
Referring to the domestic partnership reg
istry, HRC Chairwoman Andrea Ortiz said un
married people just want to be recognized.
“For people of the same sex, I think it gives
them an opportunity to make the affirmation
to the community that this is the person I’d
like to be with,” she said.
Contactthereporteratianmontry@dailyemerald.com.
Springfield celebrates 13th annual Filbert Festival
Locals will gather at Day Island Park
forthree days of fun, food and
entertainment as they participate
in the city’s tribute to the nut
By Jenni Schultz
Oregon Djaily Emerald
Filberts, runners, kids and food will fill
Springfield’s Day Island Park Aug. 2 to 4 for
the 13th Annual Springfield Filbert Festival.
A celebration involving filberts may
sound like a “nutty” way to spend a beauti
ful summer weekend, but the event is
loaded with musical performances, includ
ing the Satin Love Orchestra, the Deb Cleve
land Band and Eugene’s own version of
Fox’s “American Idol.”
One of Springfield’s only events has
changed in the past couple years, partly be
cause of a change in management, and partly
from the festival board’s focus, Big Green
Events partner Dave Crory said.
“The focus of the board has been to grow
and enrich the event in all areas,” he said.
The best part of the festival is the Island
Park location, according to festival volunteer
Jenny Johnson.
“It’s gorgeous, and it really gives us a
KDUK karaoke
Son Weia o
Groove Juice Special
Fireworks
Satin Love Orchestra
8a.m.tonoon
Noon to 4 p.m.
3 to 6 p.m.
Main Slap
•Friday
5:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
9:30 p.m.
chance to appreciate what a beautiful place
we live in,” she said.
The event is catered to all ages and levels
of activity. Some of the main attractions are
the Spirit of Springfield Run, Pancake Break
fast, Mayor’s Ice Cream Social, a Nutty King
dom for children and the stages.
Along with the many food and informa
tion booths, there are two stages. The Main
Stage will feature headlining bands and the
Fun Stage will showcase comedy, magic
and folk acts.
The event is not necessarily geared only to
ward Springfield residents. Although it has
been supported by Springfield businesses
and residents, one goal of the festival is to
“showcase what is unique to Springfield by
marketing to wider audiences,” Crory said.
Get geared up to watch local performers sing
Turn to Filbert, page 3
Students
have new
option for
dining out
El Pato Verde (The Green Duck),
on East 13th Street, is set to open
Monday, offering customers a taste
of traditional Mexican food
By Jillian Daley
Oregon Daily Emerald
Victor and Rosa Valverde plan to car
ry on tradition when they open their
new taqueria, El Pato Verde (The Green
Duck), by cooking the kind of food they
enjoyed when they lived in Sonora,
Mexico, a state just below Arizona.
After 14 years in the United States,
much of which they spent in Oregon,
the Valverdes longed for authentic
Northern Mexican cuisine.
That’s fortunate for University stu
dents, as El Pato Verde will be located on
682 East 13th Ave., next to Napoli. Stu
dents who are hungry for lunch will have
a new option for eats, starting Monday.
The Valverdes hope to open El Pato
Verde by 9 a.m. Aug. 5.
“We’ll make every effort to please the
customers,” Rosa said. “(It will provide)
fine restaurant quality at an affordable
price. It will be fine and fast.”
The name El Pato Verde celebrates
the University mascot, and it is also a
play on the family name, Victor said.
“Val” means valley in Spanish, and
“verde” means green.
The family restaurant does not have
set hours yet, but it will be open as long
as hungry people are coming through
the door, Victor said.
“We’re going to find out how late (to
stay open), according to the customers,”
Victor said. “If they want us to be there
late, we’ll be there late. When we make
breakfast, the hours will be from 6 a.m.
to 10 p.m.”
For the first week or so, the restau
rant will be primarily serving lunch,
but Victor hopes to have breakfast
ready to go soon.
The plans for the taqueria have been
in progress for quite some time. It is lo
cated in a space that was previously oc
cupied by Wells Fargo Bank. Victor was
eyeing the lot since it became vacant,
but he was waiting until time and fund
ing were available for his dream.
“Since we came into the area, I had
this idea, but I was too busy with my
job,” Victor said. “I was looking for the
right location, and I think we got a good
one right here.”
Meal prices will most likely be on par
with other local Mexican restaurants,
although nothing is certain quite yet,
Victor said.
The restaurant will serve freshly
made flour tortillas in the tradition of
Northern Mexico, Victor said. Com tor
tillas are traditionally a Southern Mexi
can food.
Drinks will range from 75 cents to
$1.15, a bean and cheese burrito will
run about $2, and all tacos will be
$1.50. One taco might be a little pricier,
however: “Tacos al Pastor.”
This dish requires a vertical rotis
serie, for which the Valverdes have
found two possible vendors. The rotis
serie and the tacos will probably not be
Turn to Taqueria, page 3