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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1994)
pppp* ju st o u t ▼ Jan u ary 2 1 , 1 0 9 4 ▼ 11 f local news Effective, quality healthcare. W ashington faces two discrim inatory m easures Lawmakers and activists speak out against two anti-civil- rights measures filed in Washington this month one sponsored by an offshoot of the OCA , ÿ r /s /t À / / / Y A f s '/y ts '// r //r YJrst/ts' 815 SW Second, Suite 410 • Portland T by Pamela Lyons he Oregon Citizens Alliance has The act sponsored by CAW denies custodial spread its message across the Colum and adoption rights for sexual minority parents. bia River. Many Washington State Gay and lesbian parents who have children in a lawmakers and activists have been heterosexual marriage automatically lose their taking a strong stand against the custodial rights upon divorce. If a straight parent OCA’s sister organization, the Citizens Alliance is an unquali fied parent, children would be placed of Washington, and two anti-gay-rights measures with the next closest relative or in a foster parent situation instead of living with the gay or lesbian that are slated for next November’s ballot. “None of us can sit on the sidelines and be biological parent. The act also would establish that gender is silent. For me there is one simple truth — gay and determined at conception. Medical sex changes lesbian Americans have tolerated discrimination for too long,” said Sen. Patty Murry (D-Wash.) in would not be recognized. a written statement read at a Wednesday, Jan. 12, Same-gender marriages and domestic part press conference held in Vancouver by Washing nerships, even if recognized in another state, would not be legal in Washington. ton Citizens for Fairness. The “Equal Rights, Not Special Rights” act The press conference was one of eight held around the state the day after CAW Filed its doesn’t cover custody issues. Like the CAW act, measure, titled the “Minority Status and Child it prohibits schools from “promoting” same-sex orientation and denies spousal benefits for do Protection Act,” with the state. Another discriminatory measure, tilled the mestic partners in same-sex relationships. Out of concern that voters will perceive the “Equal Rights, not Special Rights Act,” was also filed with the state on Jan. 11. That measure is “Equal Rights, Not Special Rights” act as being sponsored by a Tacoma group, the Washington less harsh and therefore vote for it as a compro Committee for Equal Rights, Not Special Rights. mise, the Washington civil-rights group will em Charlie Brydon, president of Washington Citi phasize that both measures will have the same net zens for Fairness, said in a written statement that effect of discrimination, McDadc said. Sponsors of both measures have until July 8 to the campaign against these measures is already gather at least 181,667 signatures to qualify for organized and going forward. “Those who will be fighting this radical effort the November ballot. Eight Washington State legislators signed a will be one of the largest and broadest political coalitions ever formed in Washington,” he said. statement denouncing the measures, saying that they arc unconsti “We will keep our tutional and jeop state a place where Washington Citizens for Fairness ardize the civil Washingtonians of rights of all citi diverse back zens. grounds can live “Let us be and work together spared a bitter, di with mutual re visive and expen spect.” sive initiative The statewide campaign which board of Washing will accomplish ton Citizens for Washington nothing,’’said the Fairness met in Tlie Hand? Of! tt.i.-' i i, D * statement, which Vancouver on Sat was read at the urday, Jan. 15, to press conference. continue campaign The Washing planning and ton offshoot of the strategizing. OCA filed its Christina Dodds, a co-chair of the Vancouver branch of measure after a leadership change earlier this Washington Citizens for Fairness, said the cam month. Former CAW head Robert Larimer of paign against the measures will focus on educa Vancouvcr resigned on Jan. 6 over tactical differ ences with Lon Mabon, director of the OCA and tion and tolerance. “There will be occasions in which mud will be head of the United States Citizens Alliance, an slung, and we don’t want to participate in this, umbrella organization for state anti-gay groups. Mabon said he asked Larimer to resign be she said. “We intend to run a proactive cam cause he was unwilling to take on the confronta paign.” “It is essential that we stand together against tional tactics that the OCA favors. "We are the 82nd Airborne; we arc the Ma discrimination and guarantee that everyone has rines,” Mabon told The Oregonian about the equal opportunities and rights in the state, said Washington Gov. Mike Lowry in his “State of the leadership change. "We arc always looking for the boundary and then pushing it. The people who State” address on Tuesday, Jan. 11. While each measure is worded differently, hit the beaches always suffer the most casualties, each would have the effect of denying sexual but we accept that’s our role in the culture war.” Nationwide, similar measures arc expected to minority populations protection from discrimina tion. said Diane McDadc, a member of Washing be on ballots in at least eight slates in November, including Idaho, Oregon and possibly Nevada. ton Citizens for Fairness. T Just In Different T) rummer 19 9 4 Tours - SCANDINAVIA SLOVENIA C O STA R IC A & GUATEMALA W EST AFRICA SO UTH AFRICA AUSTRIA, BUDAPEST &. PRAGUE ZIMBABWE & BOTSW ANA ITALY NEW GUINEA TURKEY ASIA ISRAEL EGYPT ECUADOR &. GALAPAGOS KENYA NEPAL KOREA & H O NG KONG FEB 10-17 FEB 18-27 MAR 11-20 MAR 11-20 MAR 19-26 APR 2-MAY 9 MAY 20-29 JUN 10-23 JUN 24-JUL 4 JUN 26-JUL 9 JUL 22-31 AUG 5-21 SEP 30- O C T 9 O C T 7-16 O C T 21-30 NO V 6-20 NO V 17-27 DEC 2-11 CALL FOR INFORMATION - ITINERARY AND SPECIAL FEATURES. 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