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Prudence Miles
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An out lesbian on the Corvallis City Council
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by Marilyn Davis
rudence Miles, one of only a few openly
lesbian elected officials in Oregon,
admits that being a city council mem­
ber in Corvallis makes her “a kind of
celebrity.” Still, she refuses to take
4 )
Vi
herself too seriously. “In the grand scheme of
things,” she says, ‘I ’m pretty small potatoes.”
That may be true, but in her own neighbor­
■
hood, Miles is a well-known and influential fig­
I
ure. “ PeOple
stop by. They
com e to the
house. I see them
when I ’m walk­
ing the dog.
People stop me
and say, ‘This
c a r’s
been
parked here for
.n
i — —
two weeks and it’s got expired plates. Do some­
thing about it! ’ and I make a call to the police
department.”
“The whole City Council and the city staff know
But there’s more to being a city council mem­
I’m a lesbian, but probably a lot o f the people I
ber these days than towing abandoned cars off the
represent don’t know.” She’s not sure what effect
streets. The Oregon Citizens Alliance has filed a
her announcement might have on the voters, but
local initiative in Corvallis to prevent the council
she says, “I ’m hoping that if I do enough about
from passing any ordinance that would protect
abandoned cars and noisy neighbors and water
people horn discrimination on the basis o f sexual
bill problems, that is what people will remember.”
orientation.
“ You always look at what the risks are; what
"W e’ve been working really hard to pass anti-
you could lose. And I feel you lose a lot more by
discrimination and anti-harassment legislation that
not being open. I ’m sine there will be some
will help protect people against the kinds of
people that automatically won’t vote for me, but
they might not have voted for me anyway. You
attacks that people get here, which is mostly
name-calling, and bottle throwing,” says Miles.
just take your chances, and it won’t be the end of
These things don’t come under the state definition
the world if I don’t get re-elected. I ’ll be able to
handle i t ”
of intimidation or harassment, but they are none­
theless “not acceptable in our community,” she
Miles was 13 when she worked on her first
continues. “Corvallis has a reputation for being
political campaign. It was 1968, and she rode her
very conservative, and yet people here definitely
bike to the Eugene McCarthy headquarters in
Seattle to address envelopes. Later, after serving
stand up for each other’s rights.”
two years in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, Miles
Last July, not long after the OCA filed their
worked two sessions as an administrative aid in
statewide initiative, the Corvallis City Council
the W ashing ton legislature. Her current two year
passed a resolution opposing the initiative and
term on the Corvallis city council is a volunteer
encouraging citizens not to sign i t At the press
conference called to announce the resolution, the
job, and trying to work full time while helping run
the city is often stressful.
City Council was joined by the mayor, some local
law enforcement officials, and representatives of
“I ’m always rushing from committee meetings
to work, and from work to committee meetings.
about twelve mainstream churches. Miles be­
There are some days I leave at 7:30 in the morning;
lieves in this kind o f coalition-building.
I’m at work for eight hours, then I ’m at Council
“There’s an African-American man on the
for six or seven hours, and it gets very tiresome.”
City Council and he and I are spearheading the
Luckily, her partner, Nan Dudek, whom Miles
campaign for an anti-hate and anti-discrimination
describes as “one o f the most outspoken lesbians
ordinance,” she says. “It’s important that we form
in Corvallis,” is supportive of her political work,
these alliances, especially in a town like Corvallis
and thinks that the City Council job is important.
where all o f us are isolated because the non­
That makes it easier to work things out when
mainstream populations are so small.”
conflicts arise at home. “Last year the garden
Miles describes Corvallis as “cozy, a small
went to hell,” says Miles, “but maybe this year
town.” Bom and raised in Washington state, she
we’ll get something done.”
moved to Corvallis five years ago. “I fell in love
Miles believes her family’s Quaker background
with i t I made friends, felt accepted, found a
makes a difference in the way they have been able
community, and decided to stay.” She has always
to support her as a lesbian. “There’s an acceptance
had an interest in politics, and running for city
of people and an open-mindedness. My grand­
council seemed like a good place to start “I
mother, and my grandfather, who died a few years
wanted to get elected to something. I see a lot of
ago, have always been accepting people. They sit
people in decision-making roles, who are running
down with you and they want to know what’s
the country, whose judgement I don’t trust. I
happening with you, right now.”
thought, ok, let’s see if I can do a better job.”
This kindofsupport is cmcial to Miles. “Ilove
During her campaign she tried to visit every house
my family a lo t Having my family be supportive
in her district and “came pretty darned close” to
and understanding makes so many other things
succeeding. “I tried to get out and talk to every­
easier.” She believes that family support is an
one, and I think it made a difference.” She ran
especially difficult issue for lesbians and gay
against four men, and won with 40 percent of the
men.
“If your family doesn’t support you, you
vote.
have to find another family, but if your family
Miles' sexual orientation w asn't an issue dur­
does support you, it gives you that solid base to go
ing her campaign. “It didn’t seem like the kind of
from. I think that’s why our friends are so impor­
thing you’d put on your campaign literature.” But
tant to us, and our social groups, because we don’t
now that the OCA has made homosexuality a
always have families to fall back on the way other
political issue, she realizes that eventually she’ll
people
do.”
meed to announce publicly that she is a lesbian.
I M I T 10
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The Rose City Gay Freedom Band
9-iotiday Concert 1991
A n evening o f cCassicaC and fwCiday music
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ROSE CITY
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GAY FREEDOM BAND
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Ten years ago the
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Five years ago the
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debuted there.
N ow it’s our turn.
Also featuring Swing Band and Sing-Along Carols
Sunday, December 15, 5:00 pm
At the Metropolitan Community Church, 1644 NE 24th
No adrMnce ticket sales • Donations accepted at the door
^
Interpreted for the hearing impaired • Building wheelchair accessible (restrooms not)