12 ▼ d « c « m b « r 2, 1 0 0 4 ▼ ju s t o u t
local news
Jenny’s Florist &
Garden Center
Hot plates
M A R
I
BRIAN MARKI FRAM ING
I
A FULL SERVICE CUSTOM FRAME SHOP
Tues-Sat 10-6 & b y a p po in tm e nt
2236 NE Broadway, Portland
503-249-5659
20% o ff w ith this ad
I
;
•
K a re. n
^
•
» ,.v v ?> •
/
(503) 284-2818
m
|
8605 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy
(503) 297-5021
••
•
:V*\
_
jy \.D .
a e r l>
/ -----!W <
" ...
•*1
/j ;
r
""S
Obstetnisaitd^Gy^iecology
I
.
..
. . . .
Wearing our pride on our.,,motor vehicles?
Complete
selection of
cut flowers
and exotics
1200 NE Broadway
.
. . ....................‘ y i - ••1 r*v>. j VÎ î T s Â
........... '
Unique
gifts from
around
the world
,
¡ - M e trö p41 ita'tiXr I inic
ijäO.N.W/Zphd, Suite 520
Portland'Oregon 97210
▼
by Inga Sorensen
rivers may soon become familiar with
Veterans for Human Rights, a group
that advocates for the full recognition
and equal protection of gay men and
lesbians in the military. According to
its members, the group, which was founded in
1992 to provide grass-roots support for Bill
Clinton’s stated intention to lift the ban on gay men
and lesbians in the military, is getting its own
license plate.
“We’re delighted. We think it is a great way to
raise awareness and support human rights for all
people,” says VFHR co-chair Barbara Eichberger,
a former military intelligence officer with the U.S.
Army who was honorably discharged in 1986 for
being a lesbian. “We’re proud of what our group
stands for, and this is one way of showing that
pride.”
In order to get approval for the plates from the
Oregon D epart
ment of Motor Ve
hicles, the group
had to, among other
things, prove it was
a veterans’ organi
zation “maintained
for the purpose of
supporting or rec
ognizing such vet
erans,” and it was
“not an organiza
tion established or
primarily known
for promoting or
attempting to influ
ence
political
causes or issues
other than those directly related to veterans’ ben
efits.”
“Once we explained to DMV that we are a
patriotic—not political—organization, we received
the approval for the plates,” explains VFHR co
chair Anders Winther. “Basically our group’s by
laws and constitution say that we are opposed to all
types of discrimination.”
Winther says the plates should become avail
able in about 90 days, and the public is welcome to
purchase them for $5 above the price of regular
plates. That $5 will automatically go to VFHR.
In related news, VFHR has been authorized by
the federal Department of Defense to conduct
activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of
World War II. The authorization came despite the
fact the government can still legally remove open
gay men and lesbians from the military simply
because of their sexual orientation.
“When we filled out the paperwork, we in no
way hid the fact that we are a group that supports
gay and lesbian service members and veterans,”
says Eichberger. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but
we received the authorization.”
During Veterans Day weekend, the group held
the Sgt. Johnnie Phelps Dinner honoring gay and
lesbian World War II veterans. The dinner is named
after Phelps, a Women’s Army Corps sergeant and
D
Purple Heart recipient who served on Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower’s staff during the postwar occupa
tion of Europe.
According to VFHR, Phelps is legendary in
gay and lesbian veterans’ circles because of a
particular conversation she had with the general.
The story goes something like this: One day
Eisenhower called Phelps into his office and said
he had heard reports that there were lesbians in his
WAC battalion. He told Phelps he wanted a list of
their names so he could get rid of them. Even
though Phelps estimated 95 percent of the battal
ion o f900 women at that headquarters was lesbian,
she said she would make the list if that was the
general’s order. Then she reminded Eisenhower
that that particular WAC battalion was one of the
most decorated in the Army, and that getting rid of
the lesbians would mean losing competent staff
and key personnel. “I’ll make your list,” she said,
“but you’ve got to
know that when you
get the list back, my
name is going to be
first.” Eisenhower’s
secretary, also in the
room, corrected the
sergeant. “Sir,” said
the secretary, “if the
general pleases, Ser
geant Phelps will
have to be second
on the list. I’m go
ing to type it. My
name will be first.”
Eisenhower looked
at Phelps, looked at
the secretary, shook
his head, and said, “Forget that order. Forget about
it.”
Phelps, who lives in California, was one of
those honored at the dinner, which was held at the
Northwest Service Center in Northwest Portland.
Gov. Barbara Roberts, a longtime champion of gay
and lesbian rights, was also honored for her work
on behalf of human rights. Roberts is co-chair—
with former Sen. Barry Goldwater—of Americans
Against Discrimination, which promotes toler
ance and seeks to end discriminatory policies.
“I believe this was the first time that a governor
of any state was on hand for an event sponsored by
a group that advocates on behalf of gay and lesbian
service members and veterans. We are very proud,”
says Eichberger.
Also honored were Tom Norton, a highly deco
rated Vietnam veteran who was very active in the
No on 13 campaign; Dr. Mary Ann Humphrey,
author of My Country, My Right to Serve, a book
about gay men and lesbians in the military; and
Wayne Fifield, who a few years back began the
tradition of providing dinner and gifts at
Christmastime for people living with HIV and
AIDS. In 1993, Fifield asked VFHR to sponsor the
event, now known as the “Dinner with a Heart.”
For more inform ation about VFHR, call
(503)223-1373.
“We're proud of what our
group stands for , and this is one
way of showing that pride. ”
GRAND OPENING!
f
Antiques & Collectibles }
American Art Pottery, Cookie Jars, Furniture, f
Prints, and a wide variety of fine collectibles. T
Ever Changing Times is honored to showcase the
artistry of
*
A
(fafOtaC @neatto*t&
j
Austrian Crystal prisms transformed into earrings,
crystal tree ornaments, suncatchers, and other fine art.
a
▼
V
Holiday shopping hours, Mon.- Sat., 10:30am-9:00pm, Sun. 12n-8:00pm.
Gift Certificates & layaway.
NEW! la tlM H M H of MawdMflM'* at 3719 SE NawdMfTM M fC PMUMd. M 97214 (503) 234-7230
So stop In and do your holiday sbopplno at Ivor Changing Tlnrasl
*
▲
PINKLINK IS NOW ONLINE!
Call 241-9769 (Portland)
Resource Line • Events Calendar • Personal Ads
I t M I M M I M M K M I