A V i (“ Sy ____________ i . F 1 — ' Shadbume dismisses aide, aims at Kafoury b y W.C. McRae Multnomah County Commissioner Gordon Shadburne is back in the news. Shadburne, a "Christian” fundamentalist has found himself at the center of controversy since he mailed a letter (on county stationery and at county cost) to his “Christian brethren" labelling the Portland gay community as the “stronghold of Satan.” La ter, local newspapers revealed that not only was Shadbume’s top aide Richard Levy gay, but there were persistent rumors, including allegations from Shadbume’s wife’s divorce testimony, that Shadbume himself had had homosexual liaisons. Last month, apparently in response to pressure from his constituency, Shadburne fired Levy. Both Levy and Shadbume said it was "mutually understood” that Levy was no longer wanted in the office. Levy was given five weeks of pay (not directly from County funds — the County makes no provision for severance pay, apparently Shadbume will “find” the money). Four days after Levy’s dismissal, Kay Foetisch, another Shadbume assistant re signed, citing, "significant policy differences” with her employer. Foetisch, whom one co- v worker describes as an “idealist Christian,” apparently was disappointed at Shadbume’s firing of Levy. In a prepared statement, Foetisch claimed that “to continue with this job would be dishonest because I do not agree with policy decisions that have been made. I do not impose my moral decisions on others. Personal and professional issues need to be separated.” She went on to cite as an example Shadbume’s “stronghold of Satan” letter. However, a source in county government who chose to remain anonymous reported that the issues were slightly more complicated than a simple “gay purge" in Shadbume’s staff. Just O u t’s source claimed that the timing of Levy’s dismissal had more to do with covert political activities in Shadburne’s of fice than sudden pressure form the east county commissioner’s constituency. Specifically, it was alleged that Levy was dismissed for fear of his “spying" on Shadburne’s assistance to Mike Wiley in Wiley’s attempt to unseat County Commis sioner Gretchen Kafoury. Wiley, who opposes Kafoury in the May 20 primary, was characterized by our source as a “Shadbume clone.” Wiley advocates cutting back on hu man service programs and criticizes Kafoury’s “pandering to special interest groups,” such as gays and other minorities. Wiley further clarified his anti-gay stance in a letter to the April 23 Oregonian. He claims he supports “legitimate minority" rights, though he opposes granting minority rights to gays. “It would undermine the effectiveness of laws protecting the rights of legitimate minorities." Kafoury has in the past been a staunch sup porter of human services, gay and lesbian rights, and minority interests. Shadbume and his office, our source claims, has become a clearing house for Wiley’s campaign against Kafoury. (In the past Shadbume’s campaign against Kafoury has taken the form of attempting to gerry mander away her district) Shadburne’s staff, on county time, has provided secretarial services to Wiley and has acted as a resource for names and contacts. Levy, it is suspected, was either unwilling to go along with the Just O ut, M ay 1986 ............................... - . covert campaign against Kafoury, or was in danger of “spying” on the activities. Coinci dentally, Levy’s severance pay, paid at least partially out of Shadbume’s own funds, is offered contingently (Shadburne can cut it off) through the date of the primary. Placing Wiley on the County Commission would give the Fundamentalist Right another vote on the Commission, and would shore up damage done to Shadburne and the Right’s agenda by recent media publicity. Shadbume’s term is up in 1988, and he is not permitted, by law, to run again for the same position. With Wiley on the Commission, the Right, and Shadburne's present aide and chief puppeteer Jim Sanders, will again cast a dissenting vote on human service pro grams and on minority rights. Since coming to office 7 years ago, Shadburne has gone through 17 aides, far more than any other commissioner. How ever, Levy may not be finished at the Court house. It is alleged that Shadbume is attempting to guarantee Levy a job as aide to the soon-to-be-named commissioner who will complete Earl Bluemnauer’s term. Leonard Graff keynotes Pride Week a t U of O CONVENIENT FRIENDLY QUICK & REASONABLE BIKE REPAIRS by Jay Brow n Leonard Graff, Legal Director of the Na tional Gay Rights Advocates, will highlight Pride Week activities at the University of Ore gon with a keynote speech on the University campus at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5. Pride Week at U of O will begin with a picnic in Skinner’s Butte Park on Sunday, May 4 from 1 -6 p.m. Organizers of the Pride Week ac tivities are The Gay and Lesbian Alliance at the University of Oregon, Eugene. Leonard Graff was recently in Washington D.C. to hear oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of H ardw ick us. Bowers, which challenges the constitutional ity of the Georgia sodomy law. Graff says he is “predicting that we re going to win, because of the facts of this case. Hardwick was arrested in his bedroom.” "The law supports us in our position,” Graff says. “A favorable ruling will put a limitation on the government’s right to invade our privacy." Graff predicts that the Court will rule in favor of Hardwick by a split of 6-3. Graff says that O'Connor, Rehnquist and White will vote for the State of Georgia. Graff says he be lieves Chief Justice Warren Burger will vote with the majority in overturning the Georgia sodomy statute. "The Chief Justice voting with the majority gives him the power to designate who will write the opinion,” Graff says. "Otherwise, the senior justice voting with the majority is Bren nan, and he would write a broader opinion.” Graff has been active in the gay rights movement since he was a student at Michi gan State University. At MSU he was instru mental in legal action which permitted the celebration of Gay Pride Day on that campus. Graff was also actively involved in lobbying successfully for the passage of a gay rights ordinance in East Lansing, Michigan, one of the first in the nation. After graduation from law school, Graff practiced in New York and Washington D.C., where he devoted a substantial portion of his time to gay rights litigation. He also was Ad junct Professor of Law at Southeastern Uni versity in Washington D.C. Prior to his appointment as Legal Director of NGRA Graff s most celebrated cases included Gay Rights Coalition u. George to w n University, which seeks to establish the rights of gay student organizations on private as well as public university campuses; and Gay Activist Alliance v. Weishington D.C. Transit Authority, which required the transit authority to accept gay-related advertise ments on their buses. Pride Week activities continue through Saturday, May 10, and include an appearance by Pat Bond performing her one-woman show Beloved Hick. The play is based on the life of Lorena Hickok through her correspond ence with Eleanor Roosevelt Bond will give : w e Fix All Brands IN OLD TOW N one performance only at 8 p.m. in the Forum Room in the Erb Memorial Union. For more information on Pride Week at the University of Oregon, call G A L A at 6 8 6-3 360 in Eugene. C1CL0 35 NW THIRD SINCE 1983 227 3535 Making the Tough Decisions. • • • Commitment Achievement Leadership • • • Re-elect STRACHAN to City Council Paid lor by Friands ol Margaret Strachan « P O Bo* 6991 • Portland. Oregon 97228 5