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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 1995)
IB. 1 ▼ 15 POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT School district bars recruiters Portland becomes the second city in the country to reject military recruiters on grounds o f discrimination T by Inga Sorensen HIV UNIVERSITY Si'jitt m ber 2 1 Clinical Trials Update About the studies. A Course o f Classes designed to train, inform and support people living with and affected by HIV. Free classes start at 6:30 pm. Reservations: Se'fUcniber 2b Insurance Needs cA knowledge HIV U Infoline ( h tu b e r l u M edical Basics at 503-223-6339,ext. 111. All about IUV <V U. (K tu b e r 12 C a se M a n a g e r Access HIV University is funded by the Ryan White Care Act (Title 1) M fact that the military is an employer who discrimi arc Abrams, a Portland civil liber nates,” she says. ties attorney and member of the Turner adds: “I came into this debate neutrally. Portland School District Board of I wasn’t sure how I was going to vote until I did Education, makes no bones about some research and learned that people were being the fact that he wants to send a kicked out of the military—regardless of their job message to the U.S. government. performance—simply because of their sexual ori “Discrimination is wrong. Plain and simple. entation. That’s wrong. While this may tempo Through our actions we have made an important rarily disadvantage some kids, I think there was a • statement that the Portland Public Schools have a higher principle that needed to be addressed.” higher standard when it comes to standing up for “I feel really good about this,” says Joseph equal rights and protections for all citizens, regard Tam, who, like Abrams, is new to the school board. less of their sexual orientation.” “I don’t view our actions as risky because I know With barely a moment to get his feet wet (he we have support from many different communi began his first school board term on July l ), Abrams ties.” took on a potentially explosive issue: removing Tam, who is an investigator with the civil rights military recruiters from school grounds due to the division of the state Bureau of Labor and Indus federal government’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, tries, adds: “I hope other school boards follow suit, which discriminates against openly gay, lesbian and I hope the Department of Defense hears what and bisexual servicemembers. we’re saying.” “I’m exhausted and exhilarated,” Abrams told The Portland school board isn’t the first to bar Just Out the morning after the board voted to bar military recruiters. In 1991, a Rochester, N.Y., recruiters from all Portland Public Schools. An school district adopted a policy estimated 150 people—most that did just that. In May 1994, of whom backed Abram’s “The Portland Public the New York Court of Ap effort—turned out for the Aug. 31 meeting in which Schools have a higher peals upheld the policy, ruling that the school board could the school board passed two standard when it comes to nondiscrim ination m ea prohibit any employers who standing up for equal discriminate based on sexual sures. One resolution, which rights and protections for orientation. Efforts have also been made— though with little was adopted by a 6 -1 vote, all citizens, regardless of success—to remove military says any employer that dis criminates on the basis of their sexual orientation. ” recruiters from college cam puses across the country. ethnicity, gender, race, — M arc Abrams Portland resident Barb sexual orientation and other Eichberger, 33, served in the factors should be prohibited U.S. military for seven years before being honor from recruiting in Portland schools. The second ably discharged in 1986 for being a lesbian. Today resolution, which passed 5-2, proclaims the mili she is involved with Veterans for Human Rights, tary to be one such employer and bans it from an Oregon war veterans’ organization that pro schools. vides service and support to veterans—particu Board member Marty Howard voted against larly to gay and lesbian veterans and both resolutions; Lucious Hicks joined Howard in servicemembers. voting against the proposal specifically naming the “The energy in the room [during the board military as an employer that discriminates. vote] was incredible,” she says. “I am just amazed “I don’t agree with the ban on gays and lesbi at the amount of support we had from human rights ans, but I think the military should have access to groups and other veterans’ organizations. It was students,” says Howard, who is serving his second incredible. I think the next thing we need to do is term on the school board. “I wish the meeting had show the school board how we feel about its action. been used to weigh the evidence instead of pander They need to be thanked.” ing so obviously to a special interest group. I don’t Michelle Benecke is the co-director of the mean gays and lesbians, but rather all of the anti Washington, D.C.-based Servicemembers Legal military people who showed up.” Defense Network. The group, which was formed Many of those who spoke against military recruiting in schools were members of peace and in October 1993, provides legal assistance to those adversely affected by the military ban. Benecke justice groups, human rights and veterans’ organi claims it is the only national organization specifi zations, as well as gay and lesbian rights support cally dedicated to this issue. ers. Some opponents claimed that recruiters harass students, while others voiced specific opposition “The military’s policy is premised on the ri to the federal government’s “don’t ask, don’t tell diculous notion that all straight people are terrified of gays and lesbians and won’t be able to function policy.” effectively with someone if they’re openly gay,” “You hear the argument that by removing the says the former Army captain. “This type of action military from schools we’re limiting important proves that all straight people don’t hate gays and career opportunities for young people, particularly lesbians and many think that it’s wrong to dis those who are at risk,” says Abrams. “Well I say to them, ‘What about gay and lesbian young people. criminate.” Are they not also at risk?’ ” Benecke says she knows of no other school Serving her third term on the board, Carol district, outside of Rochester and now Portland, Turner is the Portland Board of Education’s senior that has barred military recruiters. “I think it’s very member. “During the meeting I said very clearly important that the school board has gone on record that the real issue was not about being pro- or anti formally opposing the military ban. That’s not military, but rather discrimination. There were easy to do given that it is a sensitive issue, particu many people who showed up who were obviously larly when you’re dealing with schools. I’m thrilled anti-military, but I was more concerned with the and proud of Portland for doing this.” “ T h e ” Corner On Stark y j .yforry m - h s * J 't 7 ‘> Gay Portland’s Finest Pub Featuring: • N.W. Micro-Brews! • Non-Alcoholic Beverages! • Espresso! • Great Sandwiches! L ottery Service C enter, Pool, Darts. C onversational, Friendly, Fun & Real! All proceeds from Dart & Pool tournaments are donated to The HIV Day Center. 103X S.W. Stark Portland, Oregon 227-5XX7