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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1994)
jus« ou* ▼ «optom bor 2. 1094 ▼ 3 Vancouver, MM letters You’re welcom e, Vera To the Editor: Thanks to your support of human and civil rights, the City of Portland has included a domes tic partnership provision in all new labor con tracts. For the First time, nonmarried city employ ees or domestic partners will be eligible for full spousal benefits, including: medical, dental, and vision health care insurance; life insurance; pa rental leave benefits; and health care insurance coverage for dependent children. You may also be pleased to know that the City of Portland has recently defeated in court two legal challenges to our Civil Rights Ordinance. While I am pleased with these two steps for ward, I don’t need to tell you there is still much work to be done. You have my assurance that my work on behalf of gay and lesbian Oregonians will continue. I am fortunate to have, as part of my office staff, Kim Roth as a volunteer liaison to the sexual minority community. As always, please feel free to call me, my chief of staff Sam Adams, or Kim, regarding any issue of concern. You may reach any one of us at 823-4120. Vera Katz, Mayor of Portland Rough spots acknowledged To the Editor: The board of directors of Pride Northwest, Inc., extends its thanks to the many members of our community who contributed to the wonderful success of the 1994 Lesbian and Gay Pride cel ebration. The board of directors of Pride Northwest, Inc., also wishes to acknowledge to the commu nity that there were a few rough spots in the many months of planning and countless hours of volun teer effort leading up to the pride celebration. In particular, Pride Northwest, Inc., wishes to ac knowledge some miscommunications between it and Janna MacAuslan [of] Alternative Sound relating to sound production services for the cel ebration. Pride Northwest, Inc., regrets any such miscommunications. Eric D. Brown Chairman, Pride Northwest, Inc. Count your blessings To the Editor: In her recent letter [Just Out, Aug. 5, 1994] Janna MacAuslan complained about not getting hired to assist Pride Northwest, Inc., with this year’s Lesbian and Gay Pride festivities. Instead, MacAuslan should be counting her blessings. I was hired to help with the pride activities this (Not BC) year, and I’m the one who should be complaining. I agreed to design the logo for the event for the $250 budgeted by the board of directors. (This is half the amount I usually charge smaller nonprofit organizations for such a service.) In return, I agreed to volunteer my graphic design services in the design and production of pins, T-shirts, post ers, ads, the program and other promotional ma terials, as my contribution to the community. I created over 25 individual pieces of marketing, advertising and promotional material. In the pro cess, I incurred expenses of nearly $140. Today I was told I cannot be paid or reim bursed for my expenses, because Pride North west, Inc., has no money. Brenda Jacobs, who was hired to produce this year’s event and who did a commendable job of promotion, coordination and getting sponsors, has told me she will reimburse me for expenses out of her own pocket. This is something she should not have to do. 1 would assume the Pride Northwest, Inc., board of direc tors should be the responsible party. In addition, Jacobs is the only person associated with the activities who has ever thanked me for my efforts. At least once or twice a week I am approached by organizations asking for the donation or partial contribution of my services. These organizations are not all from the gay community, but, for some reason, those groups from within the community are the ones most likely to have a lack of apprecia tion for the effort of volunteers— and the ones most likely to not live up to financial obligations. I base my statement on over 10 years of experi ence dealing with gay and lesbian groups through out the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully there are the wonderful exceptions such as Triangle Productions, the National Les bian and Gay Law Association, Seattle Men’s Chorus, Advocates for Gay and Lesbian Equality, and others. These organizations treat their volun teers with professional respect and a great deal of appreciation. I strongly disagree with those who feel I owe something to the gay and lesbian community because I am a gay man. I am not a gay graphic designer. I am a graphic designer who happens to be gay. Being gay is not the focus of my profes sional career. Why does Portland’s gay and lesbian commu nity have to reinvent the wheel each year in planning a celebration of our “pride”? Is a week end celebration leaving financial obligation and a number of community members disenfranchised for a variety of reasons (including not being hired and being hired but not paid) a worthwhile use of our time, energy and money? Is it something in which we can be “proud,” and how does it look to the community at large? In order to be truly proud of ourselves, it is time to take a good look at those we entrust and charge with presenting a positive image of our community. Michael Gabrielson CONFIDENTIAL Lifo & D isability Incorna Im urane# j Planning (503)228-1393 Call Tam Faster S rM ( 2061573-8780 T ravel A gents W I nternational 917 S.W. Washington St. Portland, OR 503 223-1100 800-357-3194 ...ANDREA PR0UT has j o i n e d t he s t a f f o f T r a v e l Ag e n t s I n t e r n a t i o n a l , in t he p o s i t i o n o f C o r p o r a t e T r a v e l Manager. Andrea has over 8 years e x pe r i e nc e in the t r a v e l i n d u s t r y , w i t h a s t r o n g background in both Corporat e and I n t e r n a t i o n a l Travel . She has a l s o been an a c t i v e s upport er w i t h i n our community, most r e c e n t l y wi t h the Cascade AIDS Pr o j e c t . Andrea w i l l head our Corporate Travel Department. From a l l o f us a t T A I * "Welcome, Andrea!" Rip, Jessica, Jim, and Michael DOES YOUR OFFICE HAVE BUSINESS / CORPORATE TRAVEL? We combine the benefits and power of the large corporate agency, with the service and attention to detail provided by a local agency. TRANSITIONS Raymond Lee Stein, a longtime Portland resi dent, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, in San Diego, Calif., from AIDS-related complications. Ray, 38, moved to San Diego several months ago to enjoy the weather. In years past he was a regular vendor at Saturday Market. Most recently he was a machin ist for the Freightliner Corp. Ray enjoyed the outdoors, bicycling, country music, square danc ing and two-stepping. He is survived by several friends, as well as his estranged parents and twin sister of Portland. At his request, Ray’s remains will be scattered by friends in several outdoor Northwest locations. It is not a big expensive place It is a great place to live & invest Just Ask Tom Foster Home & Investment Specialist SELLERS: “ I’ll use my 30 Day Modern Marketing Action Plan for a fast sale.” BUYERS: C all me for a home list / ' » * . • O Q Jeff Fisher Portland Saturday m arket vendor passes (Not DC) Allow us to introduce our services to your Travel Arranged r fficial Agenc for the T 994 Lavendt-r iw Convent« "Se r v i ng our Commun i t y by Meet i ng Your Needs" LV\ —— ■ , . r o i T i m . 11. .-.V. ñ lA , ■ - I in tc a m a tio m a i * oav ■ taav u i AMOCttftOM P&BA ('* v i< n n » ^ M E M B E R