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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1994)
ju s t o u t ▼ n o v t m b w 4 , 1 0 0 4 ▼ 11 local news -w o v s **I ; Potter fiasco The Justice Department’s “ problem” with Tom Potter spells big trouble for Clinton ▼ by Inga Sorensen spokesman for a national gay and against. Now I am simply one more example of lesbian rights organization says citi that.” zens will have to “vote their con Greg Jackson, executive director of Right to science” during the next presidential Privacy, an Oregon gay rights political action election, though he admits that may committee, says, ‘T om Potter is known as one of not be so easy in light o f the C the linton foremost experts on community policing, yet, administration’s latest spectacle involving sexual as with so many gays and lesbians, his profes minority rights. sional abilities are being totally overlooked sim “We are absolutely shocked and outraged ply because of his association with gay people. with the Justice Department and the White House. It’s outrageous, and I think Clinton has some What they’ve done seems a bit inconsistent, explaining to do.” nonetheless, it’s incredibly offensive, not to men Adding to the irony is the fact that the Justice tion discriminatory,” says Gregory Fisher of the Department recently implemented an in-house National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. Fisher is referring to the ongoing controversy involving former Portland Police Chief Tom Pot This is not the first time President Clinton has distanced himself from the gay and lesbian com ter and federal officials. Potter, who is an ex tremely strong supporter of civil rights for gay munity. During his campaign for the presidency, men and lesbians, says he withdrew from being Clinton vowed to lift the military ban on openly considered to head a federal community policing gay servicemembers. After a rebuff by some program after a Justice members of Congress, Department official called C lin to n not only his advocacy for gay and backed away from that lesbian rights a “problem” pledge but formulated for the Clinton adminis the “don’t ask, don’t tration. te ll” policy, which some legal scholars say “I knew when he [Jus is as bad as the policy’s tice Department official predecessor. During John Schmidt] said the ad the campaign, gay men ministration had a ‘prob and lesbians donated lem ,’ it wasn’t a little millions of dollars to problem, say, like a bad Clinton. hair day,” says the ami “Clinton is looking able Potter. “I knew it was to the next election day, a big problem.” and he is seeing a shift Justice officials—in in the electorate that cluding Attorney General seems to favor conser- Janet Reno— said conser v a tiv e s ,” says vative police chiefs might NGLTF’s Fisher. “It’s be reluctant to work with not that Clinton isn’t Potter because he publicly aware of the power of backs gay and lesbian the gay community, rights. Potter’s daughter it’s that he fears the right is more organized and Katie, a Portland police officer, is a lesbian. As powerful.” police chief, Potter participated in lesbian and In regard to his family’s response. Potter says, gay pride day events. “I sat all [four] of my kids down and discussed For his part, Potter says he is very disap this situation with them. I said this wasn’t simply pointed with the Clinton administration’s han about being the father of a gay child, but a matter dling of the situation. “I voted for Clinton be of principle. They were totally supportive of my cause I thought he was the better candidate and decision to go public about this.” had some good ideas about where the country He adds, “After this all came down, a reporter should be going,” he says. “But I watched him get asked Katie if she somehow felt responsible for beaten down and make some tactical mistakes. I this, and she said ‘Absolutely not.’ I am glad and mean, look at the military ban situation. He proud that she feels that way because she didn’t started with a horse and ended with a camel. cause this situation, homophobia and fear on the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is worse than the initial part of others did.” policy.” After the story became public, members of Potter says he brought up his support for gay Oregon’s congressional delegation blasted the and lesbian civil rights during his first interview Justice Department for its conduct. A few days with federal officials in August, and was told it later, Reno offered Potter a chance to be recon was not an issue. He went through a number of sidered for the community policing post— a move other interviews, and the subject was not brought that has been widely viewed as “political” and up again until Oct. 5, when Schmidt said Potter’s “backpedaling.” In light of the circumstances, advocacy would be a problem. “I knew this was Potter says he is not interested. “I’ll just go back a big d e ^ by the way he said it,” explains Potter. into retirement. I love it here in Oregon. It’s my “I know I was being pressured to withdraw.” home. It’s where my family is.” Potter did just that and eventually chose to go When asked to reflect if anything positive has to the media with the story. “I was pretty shocked, come from this incident, he says: "The fact is, gay but I didn’t do anything. I waited to see if the people are discriminated against, and so, too, are Justice Department was going to say anything people who support civil rights for gay people. about it. I waited and waited and there was Maybe my situation will highlight that reality. nothing. I felt that this was important enough to bring forward before the [Oregon] election be This scenario just proves we have a long way to go in terms of defeating homophobia, but if cause the public needs to realize that gays and people are moved to action because they felt I was lesbians— and even people who oppose discrimi treated unfairly, then that is positive.” nation against gays—are being discriminated A SAT, NOV. 12 • 8PM NW SERVICE CENTER BRIAN MARKI FRAM ING Advance fix $11 at Fastixx outlets (224-8499), It's My Pleasure, Jellybean & Music Millennium; $13 door A FULL SERVICE C U S TO M FRAME SH O P Tues-Sat 1 0 -6 & b y a p p o in tm e n t 2236 NE Broadway, Portland 503-249-5659 TW ENTY-ONE YEARS EXPERIENCE L et M e E arn Y our B usiness I work to combine professionalism with personal attention in all phases o f real estate. 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