bridge. “ We shall not. we shall not be moved.“
Anger is still high. I fear violence.
I decide to stay and let them arrest me. Why
not? Sally and the others will help me. With the
decision comes a peace. This action, this state
ment is strong. It is enough to show our anger.
The dance of energy rises. We keep the peace
and one by one, they arrest 18 of us.
They come for me. I go limp, but I am afraid
they will scuff my boots so I lift my feet. They
drag me 20 feet on my knees. I am in pain. They
handcuff me. tight, more pain.
I am the last one arrested. They put us on a
bus. They won’t say where they are taking us.
We joke and sing, learn each others’ names, talk
earnestly. A cop waves for us to our friends.
We are taken to the police station, booked,
and then have our pictues taken. The ordeal is
nearing an end. I am wet and cold. They hold us
a short time in the hall, then release us. We call
our friends; Astarte and Calliope take me home.
I can’t find my house.
At home, I take off wet clothes, eat. call my
mother. It is hard for her, but she supports me.
We watch the news and see ourselves. I look at
my citation and laugh — the charge is
‘ ‘improper position on highway.” The next day,
my co-worker asks, “ What position were you
//i?” Again, my co-workers are supportive.
Reactions in our own community are mixed.
Many do not understand. What were we doing
on the bridge? Ann Hinds said it best the
other night at a meeting of those arrested:
* ‘ People ask what was the relevance of stopping
traffic on the Burnside Bridge as a response to
the passage of Measure 8. I feel the flow of my
life has been brought to a halt. I feel the bridge
of communication is blocked. People stop for
the bridge when a boat wants passage — my
rights as a human being deserving of equal
treatment under the law are certainly as
important as a boat going by. People stop for a
traffic accident and wait for passage on a
bridge. Measure 8 is an accident of history.
“ Lesbian and gay people deserve and
demand acceptance and respect. When the
traffic of my life is blocked, my ability to live
with the expectation of personal safety and the
ability to earn a living is blocked — how can it
be business as usual on any bridge in this city, in
this state, in this nation?”
I read a newspaper editorial today urging us
to accept defeat. We will not accept defeat,
ever. When the rights of some are taken away,
all suffer. I am proud of our people. We are
strong. We have courage. And we are never
turning back!
ovember 8. Oregon voters passed a law
which legalizes discrimination against
people in state government on the basis of
sexual orientation. The passage of this measure
sent shock waves through our community and
will have national repercussions by encourag
ing discrimination against lesbian and gay
people
How do people react when their rights are
curtailed?
The night of November 8 , 1 am at the
Oregonians for Fairness (OFF) office, head
quarters for No on 8. Election results have
begun to turn against us. Yesón 8 is gaining. We
begin to be afraid. Yet, how could the voters
pass this? We will win yet. One by one we drift
off. disbelieving in our defeat, hoping fora
miracle tonight.
I wake to the news on November 9. Measure
8 passed. Discrimination against us is now
legal. I am shocked. I dress for work, all in
black. I go to work. My co-workers greet me:
“ Oh, good someone else wore black!” They
hug me; they say they’re sorry. They go to the
store with me and buy black crepe paper. We
drape the office in black.
I leave the office at mx>n. Shock and sadness
are turning to anger. I go to the OFF office to see
what I can do. I hear about the march and rally
planned for that night. I go to SisterSpirit’s
office. Pat and I take turns going through our
address btx)ks. calling everyone we know,
passing the word.
At 7:30 we gather in the North Park Blocks. It
is dark and raining. We light candles, pass out
song sheets, and black armbands. I bring my
drum and we march to its cadence, singing.
People line the sidewalks, supporting us as we
march.
Over 600 of us reach Pioneer Courthouse
Square Many speak, voicing anger. Someone
reminds us that this is the anniversary of
Kristallnacht. the night of violence against Jews
that marked the beginning of the Holocaust. We
feel this is no accident.
Once they pass laws allowing discrimination,
w hat is the next step? Where does it end?
Pat speaks of her daughter's support. Ann
Hinds speaks of coming out. I speak of the fact
that we cannot be discouraged, we have gained
so much courage from this fight. We sing
“ Never Turning Back.” We are not going back
in the closet. Later we sing “ We are gentle
angry people ” I emhasize the word “ gentle.“ I
can feel the mood of the crowd, the red-hot
anger here. I can feel the energy building, like a
great spiral dance.
We march to the Burnside Bridge. On the
way. we sing “ Fire of Freedom.” We spread
out across the street, several hundred of us.
Over 60of us block the bridge, stopping traffic.
UK) more stand on the side, singing, watching,
supporting us. Those on the road sit down. It is
cold and wet. We arc warm inside.
I am sitting next to a woman named Monica.
She hands me her candle for a moment. I can
hear Pat and Elizabeth and Sally and others
singing “ Fire of Freedom " I am not alone
Those on the bridge link arms We are there a
long time
The police arrive. They arrest a man. treating
him roughly There is a young man screaming
obscenities at us. more shouting at us from
Cathy Siemens
further away. We stay where we are on the
N
jusi oui •
14 •
Decirinhcr I'MX
photo by Jay Brown
Never Turning Back:
A response to the passage of
Measure 8
Oregonians losers
recently helped with the No on 8 campaign.
It was a hard fight and we lost, this time. I
believe there are definite reasons why we lost. I
believe our fight can be compared to that of
Michael Dukakis and George Bush. Charges
were made and. for the most part, were left
unanswered. We believed, somehow, that the
voters would see the bigotry and prejudice for
what it was. They didn't.
The religious right used every tactic it could
think of in its smear campaign, bringing up
special rights and the fear of AIDS and the
molestation of children. They said that the
supporters of the Governor's executive order
were morally bankrupt and asked what kind of
message did we want to send to our children and
to other states. They distorted the issue at every
opportunity. They called for a referendum
against homosexuality when the issue was
actually discrimination against persons who
work for the state government. They
systematically removed yard signs and
destroyed ad material representing the No side
of the issue, at the same time they distributed
pamphlets door to door describing so called
homosexual activities, that were both repulsive
and distorted.
Well we lost. But I would like to ask the same
question that proponents of Measure 8 asked.
What kind of message do we want to send to our
children and to people out of state? That Oregon
is synonymous with bigotry? That it's okay to
lie and steal and destroy other's property as long
as you believe you are right ? That discrimina
tion is acceptable. That any means can be
justified as long as you feel you are righteous.
On this fortieth anniversary of Hitler's
Holocaust. I wonder if these so called
Christians see any similarities in some of their
activities and those of Nazi Germany.
I don't believe there are any winners with the
results of this issue, just losers, and the state of
Oregon and its people are the biggest losers
of ail.
I
—
—
Rick Kelso
Rev. Frodo Okulam
Campaign workers
inspirational
t has been my honor and privilege to work as
Deputy Campaign Manager for the No on 8
Campaign.
The courage and dedication of all those who
worked on and contributed to the campaign has
been an inspiration. We are more united and
stronger as a result of our efforts. A battle has
been lost, but the war is being won.
I w ant to especially thank Gene in Bend. Lois
in Corvallis. Billy in Roseburg. Richard in
Klamath Falls, Bryce in Ashland. Steve and
Harry in Coos Bay, and Tim in Eugene.
Without the empowering support of my part
ner. Kip Hard. I could not have done the work
demanded of me. Her love has sustained me in
the face of hatred and bigotry Her spirit keeps
me looking forward.
I
— Cathy Siemens
Grafitti, civil disobedience
disappointing
am extremely disappointed in many of my
gay and lesbian brethren, whose reaction to
the passage of Proposition 8 only serves to
hinder our fight for equal rights. I’m referring to
those who blocked traffic on the Burnside
bridge, and those who wrote grafitti, on private
property, saying. “ Gay Love" and “ Bigots
Repent!” These acts lead the general public to
believe the gay community consists of miffed
"juvenile” delinquents who believe the end
justifies the means. It makes those of us who are
out want to head for the closet!
If you are going to declare war. prepare to
die. but don't fool yourself into thinking you are
a martyr. If you want to fight intelligently,
document the supposed discrimination and take
it to court! First, show some self-respect and
respect for others. Your message is not likely to
get across if it is expressed. “ To Asshole . . .
From Asshole."
I
Nancy Rehbock
Poem for November
y poem was written after the passage of
Measure 8. It represents one way of
coming to grips with the pain and anger I think
many of us feel in the aftermath of the election.
This election has really brought home, to
myself and I'm sure to many others, how
politics can affect our lives. But although the
passage of Measure 8 was a political defeat for
the gay community. I think it’s important that
we not feel defeated. I think we as a community
must know that we can survive and that together
we can continue to fight.
M
An Autumn Poem for the Days After
Election Day When Measure 8 Passed
The leaves are falling where we stand.
Our anger red like autumn leaves
does not fall gently.
The leaves flutter golden yellow,
bright like hope which chokes the heart
if hope too falls away.
Can we stand where leaves are falling,
where fear and hate flow in muddy streams
to poison the roots of trees?
The poison is there —
in the forest, in the city.
The poison twists trees and cripples hearts.
The poisoned ones laugh and cannot see
the venom like sap within their veins.
The leaves are falling yet we must stand.
We must harvest the yellow leaves of hope.
and use the fiery red autumn leaves
to fight the poisoners' twisted minds and hearts.
The leaves are falling but we will not fall.
We will guard the orange, green, red, yellow
leaves.
and stand through the seasons
as do these trees.
— Sara Edelstein