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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1988)
ju st new s ACLU opposes anti-gay measure The proposed initiative would not only repeal the executive order, but would prohibit any state official from forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation the executive order, but would prohibit any state official from forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation. The double nega he American Civil Liberties Union of tive adds further confusion in their efforts to Oregon has launched a two-pronged attack on the proposed ballot measure to revoke promote misunderstanding regarding the order. Using disinformation and distortion to Governor Goldschmidt’s order prohibiting advance their cause of repression, supporters of employees of the executive branch from dis the initiative say they are seeking to overturn criminating on the basis of sexual orientation in “ special rights” for homosexuals (which the employment or provision of services. order does not grant). In separate letters filed with the secretary of They also suggest that under the order, an state the ACLU argues: (1) that the initiative agency head could not discipline an employee may not even be placed on the ballot because it whose sexual orientation adversely affects his violates the Oregon Constitution’s provisions or her job performance. Not only is the state separating the powers of the executive branch ment that the order would prevent such disci from the legislative branch, and (2) that the pline plainly false, the initiative sponsors admit ballot title prepared by the attorney general is they know of no cases where a state employee’s inadequate in that it does not convey to voters a sexual orientation has interfered with his or significant consequence of passage of the her work. measure. When the governor signed the order, he did The filing of the letters at this time lays the not intend for it to provide “ special rights” or groundwork enabling ACLU to seek Oregon “ privileges,” nor did he intend it to be a token Supreme Court rulings on these issues. If the gesture. All agency heads are to report efforts court agrees with ACLU’s first argument, we they have made to ensure compliance with the would be spared the necessity of mounting a order, and to state what they have done to edu costly statewide campaign to persuade Ore cate the personnel in their agencies and the gonians to vote “ no” on the measure. public they serve regarding exactly what the The governor signed the executive order on order requires. October 15, 1987, after soliciting suggestions The ACLU Commission on Gay and Lesbian from the ACLU’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Rights (some of which were rejected). Rights calls upon all those who care about this The initiative to revoke the order was filed issue to educate their friends, neighbors and February 22, 1988. by representatives of a con co-workers about these facts. • servative group, formed by evangelical minister Joe Lutz, that opposes civil rights pro Stevie Remington is executive director o f the tection for gay men and lesbians. Oregon Chapter o f the American Civil Liberties The proposed initiative would not only repeal Union. BY STEVIE REMINGTON T photo laura ewig NATURAL FIBRE CLOTHING now open fridays until 9:00 pm new market villaKe* 54 SW 2nd • 228-1693 • 10-6 daily «fri till 9:00 It takes two to have unsafe sex, must meet in order to receive endorsements, which include support for gay and lesbian rights, support for an equal rights amendment and support for reproductive rights; it recently added flexibility on AIDS issues insofar as they benefit the gay and lesbian community. On April 14, Right to Privacy will announce endorsements and disbursements of contribu tions to other candidates statewide. Right to hirley Gold, Beverly Stein and Mayor Bud Privacy expects to disburse more than $20,000 Clark have received early endorsements for • the May 17 primary from the Right to Privacy in campaign contributions at that time. Political Action Committee, according to John Baker, chair of the gay and lesbian political organization. Gold is running for the state Senate in District 7; Stein is running for the state House in District 14; Clark is running for re-election. he Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the At a board of directors meeting in Eugene in University of Oregon will sponsor Gay early March, Right to Privacy adopted goals for Pride Week celebrations in Eugene from Satur immediate action, including defeat of the anti day, April 23, to Saturday, April 30. gay initiative to revoke Executive Order 87-20, Many of the events are free, and prices are passage of a lesbian and gay civil rights bill in low for the others. Security will be provided by the 1989 legislative session, and enactment of the women of Amazon Kung Fu. All events are an ordinance banning discrimination against wheelchair accessible and smoke-free, and gays and lesbians in employment, housing and childcare will be provided for each event, with public accommodations in the city of Portland. the exception of the Monday night banquet, At its formation about 10 years ago. Right to which lacks appropriate space. Privacy adopted conditions that candidates American Sign Language interpretation is being arranged, but has not been confirmed. Volunteers are needed for childcare, taking tickets, putting up posters and a wide variety of other tasks; call GALA at 686-3360. between 9 am and 5 pm weekdays. Tickets are available at Mother Kali’s Book store and at the EMU main desk on the UO campus. In addition to individual event tickets, a Pride Week season pass is available for $22 — the cost of combined events, with one free Pride Week poster. For schedule information, see Out About Town. • Right to Privacy PAC announces early endorsements, immediate goals S only one to prevent it. Find out how. i S a fe r '»ex W iiilo llo p toi jwy i n e n h \ t h e f a > i tile A I D S Pro|**ct. Saturday January 23 Sunday February 21 Saturday M arch 19 Saturday April 16 Saturday M ay 14 Sunday June 5 Saturday June 18 Dow ntow n at th e P ortland Building, 1120 SW 5th C onference Room B, S econd F loor All w orkshops an* from 1pm to 5pm. For more inform ation call CAP at 223-5907 Just O u t* 8 * Apnl 1988 Eugene to celebrate Pride Week T