Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1991)
ju st o u t T J u ly I M I ▼ 13 Just new s Anti-violence reporting line A method to record data on hate crimes should help encourage gays and lesbians to report homophobic violence D esigned for C ruising 330 by Inga Sorensen L S W 3 r d A ve., (Stark & 3rd) esbians and gays in Oregon can now dial a queer-run reporting line to re port bias crimes. The newly-created project-officially known as the Homophobic Violence Reporting Line-is sponsored by the Lesbian Community Project, and according to LCP Executive Direc tor Donna Red Wing, is primarily designed to encourage lesbians and gays to report hate crimes, but it serves several other purposes as well. “The line will initially act as a voice mail. It will give information including phone numbers for the Portland Police Bureau, Victim’s Assis tance, and numbers that will connect them to counselors. It will also ask people to leave a name and number so we can get back to them quickly. W e’re also hoping to document this information because it’s vital we not just have the statistics but have the anecdotal information as well.” Unlike other hotlines a full time staff member will not be available. Instead a volunteer will return phone calls as quickly as possible, explains Red Wing. Red Wing maintains it’s critical that gays know there’s a place they can turn, and people they can trust, if they’ve been the victim of a hate crime. “It’s important that people know we have a very strict confidentiality mandate and that they can feel safe leaving their name and telephone number. W e’ll also be giving callers a choice of whether they want a woman or man to return their call. Some people d o n ’t care, but if a woman has been violated by a man, she probably doesn’t want a guy to return her call even if he’s gay. Likewise, if a gay man has been bashed, he may want to talk to another man. W e’ll be giv ing people that option,” she says. According to Red Wing, the line is currently “more a reporting line than a crisis intervention line.” She stresses, however, that there will be people trained in crisis intervention ready to re spond. Twenty people are currently involved in the project-all on a volunteer basis. Others inter est«! in applying are encouraged to contact Red Wing at the LCP. Prospective volunteers will be put through a “really tough screening process,” says Red Wing, to ensure they’re equipped to handle the job. During their four to eight hour shifts, volunteers are required to call into the line to retrieve messages “every couple of hours” and then return the phone calls. Red W ing says, “W hen we call people back we first listen to what they have to say and then we let them know what their options are, including doing nothing at all but talk to us...many times people call us to simply tell us what happened to them. They’re very eager to talk about it.” The next step is to document the information. “We want people to first feel safe and comfort able. W e’ll then be asking them questions about the incident and documenting the information,” explains Red Wing. “ We ensure the strictest confidentiality and will only put the person’s initials on the report. No information that could identify the person will be put in the report and we feel it’s very important people know that.” Every six months LCP will publish a sum mary of reports made to the line-including not only the number of calls, but also the details of the cases, minus names and any details that could lead to the identity of the person. Red Wing says that information will be shared with the Portland Police Bureau’s Bias and Hate Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, as well as city and state officials. “It’s very impor tant that people realize just how widespread this problem is. This will help prove that the prob lem does exist and that we all need to do some thing about it.” LCP has received two grants-one from the MS foundation and another from the Fred Meyer Foundation-to help with the project’s start-up costs. LCP will be covering the rest of the costs, including the printing and distribution of thou sands o f fluorescent stickers with the reporting line num ber on them. “The stickers will be placed all over the city, including bathrooms and telephone booths,” says Red Wing. At the end of three months the system will be reviewed and hopefully expanded. “W e’d like to include information about the intimidation law, as well as other referals," she adds. The Homophobic Violence Reporting Line number will not be available until July 1. Any one interested in becoming a volunteer or access ing the number, should contact the Lesbian Com munity Project at 223-0071. A unique environment featuring a wide X'ariety of entertainment, astounding international vaudeville, quality crafts, delicious food and an exceptional spirit of community. Near Veneta, 13 miles west of Eugene Visit the Left Bank! GAY BOOKS MAGS TAPES JULY 12,13 (Si, 14 Present this ad for 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM $2.00 in arcade tokens F r id a y A d m is s io n ............ $ 6 S a tu r d a y A d m is s io n .......$ 8 S u n d a y A d m is s io n .......... $ 7 12 y e a rs & u n d e r F R E E ! 5 5 y e a rs & b e tte r 1 /2 p rice ! 224-2338 TAKE THE BUS Front The Lane County Fair Grounds IT'S FREE! NO does (tn property . , NO public camping hor more information NO video cameras c°d 343-429N Open at 11 ant A rt b y Je a n n e A n n S tro p e celebrate lesbian and gay pride WHEEL ALIGNMENT TIRES AUTOBODY A PAINT FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1952 2454 E. Burnside 232-3600 Olir new address l s i | 4 0 1 6 N E FREM O N T EFFECTIVE JULY 1. 1991 281-7831 same phone num ber CARY LUCXEY
