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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1995)
ju s t o u t ▼ J a n u a ry 0 , 1 0 0 9 ▼ 19 TH AILAN D THAI NEW YEAR’S AND WATER FESTIVAL my car window because I’m Jewish or gay or lesbian and gay rights political action committee, whatever. That’s incomprehensible to me, and Right To Privacy. those actions need to be punished,” says Avera, Concerned about the public remarks Leonard adding this was the first time his office has used the has made about the case. Right To Privacy Execu intimidation statute to obtain a conviction as it tive Director Greg Jackson has arranged a meeting relates to sexual orientation. Avera says his office with Leonard in early January. has handled several bias-crime cases involving “This is an important law [the intimidation race, however. statute] to us and we’re very pleased that the judge Yamhill County Sheriff Lee Vasquez, mean in this case took it so seriously. Everyone should while, defends his officers’ decisions saying the realize that this was a serious offense,” says Jack- subsequent investigation by the district attorney’s son. “This wasn’t just someone blowing off steam office was necessary to yield more charges. because he had a hard day at the office.” Harder, who refused to talk with us, agreed to Apparently it is not only gay men and lesbians plead no contest to careless driving, which is a who are concerned about Leonard’s remarks. In a traffic infraction, and intimidation, a Class A mis Dec. 26 letter to The Oregonian, Kirk Hale, an demeanor, if the other charges were dropped. The executive board member with the Washington intimidation charge is a bias crime because it was County Professional Firefighters Association, Lo committed by Harder based on his perception of cal 1660, writes that he finds Harder’s actions “to the women’s sexual orientation. be an embarrassment to the firefighting profes Polk County Circuit Judge Charles E. Luukinen sion” and says Leonard’s contention that Harder sentenced Harder to two years’ probation, 10 days did not attack the women because he thought they were lesbians is “absurd.” in the Polk County jail, 100 hours of community For his part, Leonard says he feels he is being service, and anger-management therapy. He must also pay a $250 fine for the traffic infraction. “pushed around” by the gay and lesbian commu “We’re very happy that Harder got some jail nity. “I do feel like that, but I’ll tell you—I’m just being honest about how I feel and what I think of time,” says Maxfield. “This was a very dangerous this case, and I’m not going to back down from that situation that could have gotten more violent. We had hoped, though, that Harder would be con just because I’m being pressured by a particular group.” victed of two misdemeanors so it would have stayed on his record.” Under Oregon law, a person When Rijken leaves office Jan. 9, she will convicted of one misdemeanor may have that likely be lobbying legislators— including crime expunged from his or her record in three Leonard—this session. Rijken says she’s thought years. If he or she is convicted of two separate about whether this situation will affect her profes misdemeanors not involving a traffic infraction, sional relationship with Leonard and hopes it will the convictions stay on his or her record for at least not. 10 years. isciplinary action—including termination— According to Wilke and Rijken, the incident could be taken against Harder by the Port has forever altered their lives. “We’ve purchased a handgun. We now take a different route to work in land Fire Bureau. Wall did not want to order to lessen our exposure to Harder [who report comment about this case while the internal inves edly has a girlfriend who lives on the coast]. We’ve tigation is underway, but he did say he does not even traded in the van for a new vehicle because it think the problem of homophobia is prevalent among his force. “I haven’t heard anyone say it’s felt so tainted to us,” says Rijken. “Dani and I have a problem,” says Wall. basically lived very pri vate lives, and this kind of “It’s one thing to not like me “There’s been no indi cation that’s the case.” thing makes us want to be because of the color of my skin The Portland Fire even more anonymous.” Bureau has been under Rijken, who describes or my religious beliefs. It’s fire for years for having her skin color as brown, is a predominantly white a naturalized citizen of another thing to drive me off the male firefighting force. D utch-Indonesian de road and smash my car window Wall, who has been chief scent. She says, “Through for about a year, met with out the years, I’ve faced because I ’m Jewish or gay... ” Jackson several months prejudice because of my — Fred Avera ago to discuss ways to skin color, but I can tell create a more diverse and you that it never came gay- and lesbian-positive environment. Jackson close to what Dani and I experienced.... We thought and others say fire officials could learn some this guy could kill us.” valuable lessons from the Portland Police Bureau, which actively recruits officers from the gay and vocal supporter of Harder is Randy Leonard, lesbian community and regularly hosts a sexual who heads up the Portland Firefighters As minority roundtable. Thus far, the Fire Bureau has sociation, the union which represents failed to take any such steps. firefighters. “Certainly Jim’s actions were inap Maxfield says that fact raises serious safety propriate, but I don’t think he did what he did questions. “If my house is burning down and because he thought the women were lesbians,” someone like Jim Harder shows up and sees whom says Leonard, who feels Harder should not lose his I may be in bed with, well, that makes me pretty job. “He’s been with the Fire Bureau for almost 20 nervous. I have to wonder whether my house is years. He volunteers his time for community ser going to be left to bum.” vice. He’s a good guy.” “That is definitely a fair question and a war As to why Harder pleaded “no contest” to the ranted concern,” says Portland City Commissioner intimidation charge, Leonard says: “I think Jim felt Charlie Hales, who oversees the Fire Bureau. “We like he had to. You know, that the cards were certainly don’t want firefighters out there who are stacked against him and he wasn’t going to win.” going to be practicing prejudice and favoritism He adds, “It’s simply too much to believe that while on the job.” here’s this guy driving by himself down the high Essentially, the buck stops with Hales when it way and he observes two women driving along and comes to disciplinary decisions involving Portland decides to go after them without provocation. I firefighters. Though a decision could be appealed think there were probably things going on back and to a civil service board, Hales says he has fired forth between the two cars,” says Leonard, who “four or five” bureau employees for misusing city says Harder told him Rijken and Wilke made an property (like borrowing a city vehicle during obscene hand motion at Harder, a claim the women one’s off-duty hours) and sexual harassment. He adamantly deny. says his decisions have never been overturned. Leonard, who was elected to the state Senate as He says, “When we’ve got a situation that a Democrat from Portland during the November reflects poorly on the entire bureau, we take it very elections (he’ll be sworn into office Jan. 9), had seriously. This is certainly one of those situations.” received an endorsement from Oregon’s largest April 5,1995 Departure — Fully Escorted. All Gay Travelers. 14 days. Includes Air Fare. First Class Hotels. All Single Occupancy with Private Bath. Airport/ Hotel Transfers and Inter Country Air Fare. One Day Private Boat Trip in the Bay of Siam. Over 12 Special Tours, Historical, Cultural Sightseeing and Recreation. Evening Bar Tours. Limited to 15 travelers in a Group. From $2665.00...Call for dates of other Festival times in Thailand. 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