j*Mt out T march 1 0 0 2 ▼ 1 3
Fierstein to speak at
fund-raising dinner
Tony award winner Harvey Fierstein, who
wrote and directed ‘Torch Song Trilogy,” will be
appearing in Portland later this month at a major
fund-raiser for the Human Rights Campaign Fund.
The HRCF is the largest national political organi
zation committed to securing full civil rights for
lesbians and gay men.
“Our national headquarters in Washington,
D.C., approached Harvey and told him what was
happening here in Oregon,” explains Ron Meier,
a member of the HRCF’s Portland chapter. “He
said he wants to help our efforts to defeat the OCA
however possible.” Fierstein will be the keynote
speaker for the March 28 fund-raiser titled
“Knockout.” It will mark the Portland chapter’s
first major fund-raising effort. More than 500
guests are expected to attend the dinner and ca-
sino/cabaret at Montgomery Park. Portland en
tertainer Darcelle will be featured. U.S. Rep. Les
AuCoin, state Rep. Gail Shibley and Portland
Police Chief Tom Potter will be acknowledged
for their contributions to Oregon’s gay and les
bian community.
The money raised will be used to fund political
candidates throughout the nation who support
lesbian and gay civil rights. The money will also
be used to help fund the HRCF’s lobbying efforts.
The group has formed an extensive constituent
network that can be mobilized quickly when
lawmakers are considering key legislation per
taining to gay men's and lesbians’ civil rights.
“The money we raise will go to our national
headquarters and will be used for a series of
HRCF activities,” explains Meier. “It won’t
directly go to our fight here against the OCA... but
it’s really important we realize that the HRCF
supports national candidates who, if elected, could
enact legislation granting us civil rights. They
lobby on our behalf. They work on AIDS and
other health issues and have fought to overturn
the military ban against gays. The work they do
may help to deter OCA-type groups in a broader
sense. It’s really important we consider that.”
Meier adds that the organization recently
awarded the Campaign for a Hate Free Oregon a
$1,500 matching gift for its efforts to defeat the
OCA. ‘They don’t typically do such a thing,” he
says. “This proves they’re concerned about the
OCA and are willing to combat them directly.”
For “Knockout” ticket information call (503)
452-5885.
Inga Sorensen
Harvey Fierstein
Union has lots to
be proud of
Domestic partnership issues and gay civil rights
topped the agenda at a recent gathering of the
advisory council representing gay and lesbian
public employees who are members of the Ameri
can Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees. This is the nation’s second-largest
union. Portlander Mark Friedman, a parking
patrol deputy for the city of Portland and member
of AFSCME local 189, was named to the 12-
member committee. He recently traveled to the
nation’s capitol to discuss the concerns of lesbian
and gay union members.
“AFSCME has it written into its International
Constitution that lesbians and gays cannot be
discriminated against and that we must receive
the same representation and treatment as other
members,” says Friedman. “The union has been
very open to hearing the concerns of lesbians and
gays. This committee, which communicates di
rectly with the president of the union, was formed
to ensure our needs were addressed.”
According to Friedman, this is the third time
the committee has met since its formation acouple
of years ago. He says the council is launching a
visibility campaign to let union members know
that the committee exists, better serving the gay
and lesbian union members.
“We discussed things like the union’s role in
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lobbying for federal lesbian and gay civil rights, further information about the Campaign for a
which it supports. We talked about how to nego Hate Free Oregon, contact the state headquarters
tiate for domestic partnership privileges in con at PO Box 3343, Portland, OR 97208.
tracts,” he says. “A main goal now, however, is to
let our members know we’re here for them,” he
Enhancing the lives of
says.
Friedman says he’s very proud of his union.
Local 189 was able to include an antidiscrimination oppressed peoples
clause, including sexual orientation, prior to the
The McKenzie River Gathering Foundation
Portland City Council’s passage of a civil rights has approved $55,000 in grants to a host of grass
ordinance banning such discrimination. He says roots organizations throughout Oregon. The
AFSCME has also contributed to the Victory Lesbian Community Project received $2,200 for
Fund, a political action committee which sup improving the organization’s accessibility to
ports gay and lesbian candidates nationwide.
women of color, older women, younger women,
“We have a lot to be proud of, but I hope we and women with disabilities. The Coalition for
can make it even better for lesbians and gays,” he Human Dignity was granted $2,500 for a project
says.
aimed at exposing gender-based bigotry and vio
Inga Sorensen lence against women. The Oregon Minority AIDS
Coalition, which provides culturally appropriate
AIDS education to Oregon’s ethnic communities,
Salem community unites to received
$2,300 for its outreach project to HIV
positive women.
create a hate-free Oregon
Several organizations received $2,500 grants.
Salem area residents gathered to organize a They include the Oregon Human Rights Coali
local chapter of the Campaign for a Hate Free tion; Sacred Earth Coalition; Sojourner Truth
Oregon, educating fellow citizens against bigotry Theater; and Tateyah Topa. These organizations
and hatred. Over 100 people, representing much are designed to enhance the lives of oppressed
of the Salem community, attended Jan. 26.
people.
The prime motivation for forming the group is
McKenzie River Gathering is a community
to stop the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s (OCA) foundation that receives financial contributions
initiative petition effort. This statewide initiative from donors throughout the state. The donors
would amend the Oregon constitution to prohibit share MRG’s commitment to building a more
any equal protection based on sexual preference. “just, equitable and environmentally sound”
“It is important to note that this is not a group community. The grantmaking decisions are made
of gay or lesbian activists, but a broad-based by a statewide committee of 14 volunteers who
group of many individuals who want to make are active in the issues that MRG funds.
Oregon hate-free,” said Steve Armstrong, who
Inga Sorensen
was encouraged by the fact that support was
strong among heterosexuals as well as homosexu
als. “I was impressed that we had so many people Another defeat for the OCA
at this meeting. We expected 50 to 60 and ended
The Oregon Citizens Alliance has no candi
up with over a hundred,” said Phil Matthews, co- date to oppose Sen. Bob Packwood in the Repub
chair of the Salem group.
lican primary.
•
Supporters of the Campaign for a Hate Free
Perry Atkinson, a Christian broadcaster from
Oregon include a number of religious groups, Medford, was the last hope for the OCA. He
including Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the backed out of the running late in February.
Jewish Federation of Portland, and the Metropoli
"At this particular moment it doesn't look very
tan Community Church. The Oregon Catholic promising" that the OCA will have a candidate it
Bishops have spoken out against the OCA’s peti can back, according to Lon Mabon, executive
tion effort as well.
director of the group. "We had nobody else be
“The primary goal is to defeat the OCA and let sides Perry we were trying to communicate with."
the public know they don’t need to be afraid of
The OCA has beeen looking for another can
homosexuals,” said a concerned Dan Archer.
didate since Joe Lutz dropped out of the race last
The group meets every other Sunday at 7 pm month.
at the Upper Deck Restaurant at 300 Liberty
Street SE in Salem’s Pringle Park Plaza. For
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