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To the Editor:
The terrible and exciting election in this state
is over, and we can take a breath of air and a sigh
of relief. After all, for now at least, we are not
officially perverse or legally barred from public
employment if we decide to be honest with people.
Makes us feel kinda secure, doesn’t it?
If our answer is “yes” then we deserve Mea
sure 9-or what is certainly coming in just two
short years. Now the real work begins! Though
my sexual orientation is hardly a secret (or
shouldn’t be) to those who know me, as my
beloved partner and I celebrated 15 years together
in October, this is the first time I have “gone
public” since we moved to Oregon three years
ago. This is taking some risk, as I work with
young people, and the OCA isn’t going to go
away. The results of this last election supports a
little faith that we can meet the challenge ahead.
Having a woman I used to work with approach me
to say, “Edward, if I had never met you and your
lover I would have voted ‘yes’ on Measure 9,”
further buttresses my store of pride and confi
dence. It also tells me, clearly, what we need to
do.
We must, without delay, call a congress of
ourselves together-the lesbians and gays, and the
parents, politicians and community leaders who
know, love and support us. This “congress of
hope and justice” should have the following
“agenda” (funny-I, for one, had no “agenda”
whatsoever before this Measure 9 travesty was
shoved in my face):
1. Establish and disseminate a clear and per
suasive theological foundation to counter the ob
vious misbeliefs of the Christian right.
2. Establish a core group of moderate speakers
for-and supported by-our community to go out to
those southern and eastern counties, visit church
group», distribute positive literature, purchase air
time, show documentaries such as The Times of
Harvey Milk, and otherwise provide positive role
models for citizens who really don’t know we are
good pieople.
3. Establish a research bureau to accumulate
documentary and scientific evidence showing the
true nature of “core” homosexuals as a disposi
tion of birth, not choice.
4. Formulate a counter-ballot initiative to
establish the rights of all people as unassailable
constitutionally-well beyond the reach of any
simple election majority.
5. Establish a standard of public behavior and
ethics that will self-regulate events.
6. Set up and supjport a dedicated group of
“vigilantes” to watch and expose in the pjress the
Jk
machinations of the OCA and the militant Chris
tian right.
7. Establish a terminal for a nationwide fund
raising network to support this effort, and to
counter the funds that come from national organi
zations of the militant Christian right, a la Pat
Robertson and his ilk.
My fellow lesbian and gay Oregonians: We
have had the dubious honor of living in [one of]
the first “test case states” that will determine if the
inexorable wheel of equal rights for all pieople that
has been rolling in this blessed land since 1789 is
to be stopped and turned back. We have also had
the cutting edge of the American Civil Rights
Movement pressed to our collective necks. The
whole world watches to see if we will lose our
heads or hold them high!
Edward De Vito
Portland
The world is watching
To the Editor:
Quite simply, I write to tell you that though I
am 5,000 miles away, I think of your struggle each
day, and I am with you in my heart. Trite but true-
you are on the front lines, already heroes in a
battle not yet won. As gays and lesbians, we
remember all too well the debilitating effect of
isolation in the face of adversity, be it AIDS or
ignorance. Know that you are not alone. The
world is watching. As the first of many rounds
draws to a close, have pride in the fact that you
inspire us, an entire Queer Nation, with your
courage and strength.
Joseph Best
New York, NY
What’s driving Colorado
To the Editor:
As you are aware, the state of Colorado re
cently pjassed the most homophobic and horren
dous legislation to be enacted in recent times.
What you might not be aware of is the fact that
one of the pnime financial supporters of this
amendment and one of the strongest opponents of
gay and lesbian civil rights is a man named Wil
Perkins, who is the owner of Perkins Chrysler
Plymouth Dealership in Colorado Springs. This
amendment has basically been underwritten by
funds from the sale of Chrysler cars.
Ian C. Gibson-Smith
Thomas G. Martin
Washington, D.C.
tr a n s itio n s
Sweeney Michael Ellis died in his home Oct.
31 from causes related to AIDS. He was 33 years
old.
Ellis was bom in Milwuakee, Wis., and grew
up in Indiana, where he attended high school. As
a hearing-impuired youth he participated in the
Spiecial Olympics swimming and ice skating
teams.
When he moved to Portland in his early 20s, he
trained to become a Certified Nurse’s Aide and
worked in that field for several years. During that
time, he and a friend worked with street youth
giving them temporary shelter, feeding them and
counseling them about drugs and other issues.
During July of this year. Ellis achieved a
lifelong dream when he traveled to London and
visited various historic sights in the area.
He is survived by his parents, Oakie and John
Ellis of Portland; his brothes, John, Terry and Neil
of Portland, Dan of Hillsboro, and Kevin of Rich
mond, Ind.; his sisters Mary Midkiff of Mollala,
Mcda Hicks of Portland and Nancy Enloe of
Hcspierian, Calif.; and several nieces and neph
ews.
His is also survived by his other “family,” Meg
MacBean, Opal Yansky, Jeff Case, Jim Coffey,
William Bialk, Brian Smith, Gary Whitehad and
Mary Jadwisiak.
His family and friends would be pleased if
donations in his name were made to Kaiser Hos
pice Program, Cascade AIDS Project, the HIV
Day Center, or any other organization that helps
people with AIDS.
Ron Schmidt
Ron Schmidt barely got his last wish. This fad
the prominent public relations expiert announced
that he hoped he would live to see Ballot Measure
9 defeated; he did. Schmidt died Nov. 7 after a
seven-year battle with cancer. He was 56.
Schmidt’s career in public relations spann
more than 25 years and included clients such as
Sen. Mark Hatfield. His advertising firm, the
Schmidt/Westerdahl Group Ltd.. lost only two or
the 21 ballot measure campaigns it took on in
years. When Schmidt heard that Ballot Measure
9 lost, he wrote, “It will bring Oregon toge cr
again.”
Schmidt is survived by his wife, Ede.