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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1995)
just out T fobruary 3. 1095 ▼ 0 local news Floors N o rth w e s t Carpet • Vinyl • Wood • Tile Intimidating firefighter fired The president of the Portland Firefighters Association thinks the decision to oust Harder is “political correctness gone mad” ▼ Attention to detail, customer satisfaction and LOWEST PRICES are our highest priorities. Samples are brought to your home, installations are guaranteed and inspected. Call for an in-home appointment or come see us at 8615 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland Oregon 292-0984 by Inga Sorensen hicle.... Mr. Harder seemed focused on his per regon state Sen. Randy Leonard ception that the victims lived a homosexual (D-Portland), a likely co-sponsor of a statewide gay and lesbian civil lifestyle.” The district attorney’s office brought rights bill, continues to maintain additional charges against Harder including the that a Portland firefighter who was intimidation charge, which is a bias crime be Harder acted on his perception of the convicted of a bias crime was unjustly cause dismissed from his job. Leonard— who is also president of women’s sexual orientation. the Portland Firefighters Association, the union Harder, who declined to comment, ultimately which represents firefighters— says he believes pleaded no contest to the intimidation charge and the dismissal was prompted by a Portland city was sentenced to two years probation, 10 days in commissioner’s concern about the lesbian and the Polk County Jail, 100 hours of community gay community’s supposed political clout. service, and anger-management therapy. “1 do think that [Portland City Commissioner Following Harder’s conviction, the Portland Charlie Hales] was more concerned with politi Fire Bureau launched its own investigation into cal expediency and appeasing the [sexual minor the incident, and, in January, Chief Robert Wall ity] community than he was with justice,” says recommended the firefighter be dismissed. Leonard, a first-term legislator who was en “The fact is, you can’t have firefighters out dorsed by Right To Privacy, an Oregon gay, there whom you can’t trust,” says Charlie Hales, lesbian and bisexual rights organization. “The who oversees the Portland Fire Bureau. “I sup dismissal was totally unwarranted.” port the chief’s decision and I am sure that our Leonard is talking about the Portland Fire firefighters do, as well. This was a very serious situation.” Bureau’s decision last month to dismiss Jim Patrick Harder, a 17-year bureau veteran who Leonard has made several public remarks that reportedly called a state legislator and her female firefighters’ morale has been shattered by Harder’s companion “fucking bitches” and “cunts” and dismissal— a dismissal he claims had little to do was later convicted of intimidating the women with justice and more to do with “political cor because he perceived them to be lesbians. rectness gone mad.” O “I do think that [Port land City Commissioner Charlie Hales] was more concerned with political expediency and appeasing the [sexual minority] community than he was with justice. ” —Randy Leonard Harder, 42, was convicted Dec. 8 of intimidat ing then-state Rep. Hedy Rijken and Danetta Wilke, Rijken’s partner of four years. (See the Jan. 6,1995, issue o f Just Out for a more detailed account.) The incident took place Sept. 6 on Oregon’s Highway 18 in Polk County. Accord ing to the Polk County District Attorney’s office. Harder mistakenly thought the women’s custom license plates referred to a lesbian and gay rights bill, and he began tailgating them. When both vehicles were forced to stop for road construction, Harder got out of his car, began shouting obscenities at the couple, and banged on their vehicle’s window. Police arrived at the scene and charged Harder with disorderly conduct. According to police reports, Harder told law enforcement officials the women were lesbi ans “and that he knew [this because] of their appearance and the special plate on their ve- “What Jim did was wrong, there’s no doubt about it,” says Leonard. “He should not have shouted at the women or hit their window. What I am saying, though, is that Jim ’s behavior had nothing to do with him thinking the women were lesbians. This was a driving incident that esca lated into something more, and I think both parties played a role in that happening.... Jim should not have lost his job.” He adds, “I’m totally in support of gay rights legislation. I think that’s very important. I also support the intimidation statute. It’s a good law, and that’s why I don’t want to see Hedy and Dani abusing it.” Rijken and Wilke were unavailable for com ment. According to Leonard, Harder’s firing will now go to arbitration under the firefighter’s con tract. I % IK S Bridgetown Realty Red Lion Lloyd C enter l()(X) NE M ultnom ah Portland, (JR 97232 503/287-9370 Bolton Pla/.a 2 1570 W illam ette D rive West Linn, OR 97068 503/655-8015 Sen’ing the Progressive Community Since 1979 ! I w Ck A ntiques and C ollectibles 0? HEART TO HEART SPECIAL 0? 10% of all February sales will be donated to Esther’s Pantry. So shop a t E ver Changing Times fo r that special Valentine s gift. Estates purchased-Quality consignments welcome 3719 SE Hawthorne Blvd 234-7230 W E D -S A T 12 noon-6 pm S U N 12 noon-5 pm or by appt. F & B A i n r r n v f t • t e ll Ukl « * t «
