just out V octobor 20, 1009 ▼ 13
"A Month in the LIFE, 1996"
A Calendar of Men. by Men, for Men.
Evening things up
Multnomah County commissioners amend and repeal sexual
orientation measures
V
by Inga Sorensen
by employees to places where antigay measures
he Multnomah County Board of
have been approved.
Commissioners— which in 1992
“Back when the board initially passed the
became Oregon’s first public em­
resolution [in 1992], only Springfield, [Ore.], and
ployer to approve domestic partner­
Colorado had approved antigay measures,” says
ship coverage for its employees— is
de Steffey. “We felt it was important to do
set to amend a county personnel policy Rojo
to include
sexual orientation.
that [boycott those communities] back then.”
But she says the dramatic increase in commu­
The amendment, which is expected gain easy
approval Oct. 26, will allow unclassified employ­
nities that have approved antigay measures has
posed a difficulty for “the three or
ees who believe they’ve been
four county employees each year”
discriminated against in person­
The increase in
nel matters due to their sexual
may need to travel to a con­
communities that who
orientation the right to air their
ference.
And, says Rojo de Steffey, if
grievances before the county’s
have approved
there
were a more “global effort”
merit council. (Unclassified
antigay
measures
underway supporting the prohibi­
employees are those not repre­
tion, it would be different. “But
sented by a bargaining unit.)
has posed a
right now. county employees feel
According to Maria Rojo de
difficulty for county like they are the only ones being
S teffey, s ta ff assistan t to
affected by the ban,” she says.
Multnomah County Commis­
employees who may “They
felt like they just were not
sion Chair Beverly Stein, the
having
much impact on those com­
merit council is composed of
need to travel to a
munities.”
citizens who hear discrimina­
conference
Rojo de Steffey says an em­
tion claims made by unclassi­
ployee task force that was created
fied employees. The council in
in 1994 to “develop a strategy on how Multnomah
turn makes recommendations to commissioners
County can best protect and advance the civil
regarding further personnel actions (such as rein­
rights of all individuals” received input about the
statement for someone who may have lost his or
two actions from lesbian and gay rights advo­
her job).
cates, including representatives from the North­
Currently the merit council hears claims
west Speak Out Project and the Rural Organizing
brought by employees who feel a personnel ac­
Project; gay and lesbian county employees; the
tion has been taken against them due to their
Metropolitan Human Rights Commission; and
“race, religion, sex, age, marital status, national
the East Metro Human Rights Coalition.
origin, physical or mental handicap or political
While they repealed the travel resolution, com­
affiliation.” The amendment will also change
missioners also affirmed their commitment to
“handicap” to “disability.”
providing equal rights for all county employees.
Meanwhile, in a4-0 vote, commissioners have
repealed a resolution that bars conference travel
T
Roberts continues human
rights work
Former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts contin­
ues to actively work for gay and lesbian civil
rights.
Last month she joined the board of directors of
the Human Rights Campaign Fund, a national gay
and lesbian rights organization based in Washing­
ton, D.C.
“I am looking forward to participating in the
leadership of HRCF,” says Roberts, who is cur­
rently the director of the Program for Senior
Executives in State and Local Government at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University. “We must enlist the support of more
and more nongay citizens to join this effort to
ensure that all Americans without exception may
live free from discrimination.”
“We are honored that Governor Roberts will
be serving on our board,” says HRCF Executive
Director Elizabeth Birch. “She brings her wealth
of experience and stature to a gifted and talented
group of volunteers that guide the policies and
financial health of HRCF.”
Roberts served as Oregon’s chief executive
from 1991 to January 1995. During her tenure,
she was an outspoken opponent of the Oregon
Citizens Alliance and its numerous antigay-rights
initiatives. She joined with retired U.S. Sen. Barry
Goldwater(R-Ariz.) as co-chair of HRCF’s Ameri­
cans Against Discrimination project in 1994,
which helped defeat antigay campaigns in 10
states.
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