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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1995)
14 ▼ o c to b a r 2 0, I M S ▼ just out Travel the world, but call us first... C O M Proposal stirs emotions R /V. M Y 232-5944 1 800 232-5944 - local news - 1939 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland Bend groups9proposal to have Gay and Lesbian History Month observed is rescinded in the spirit of community harmony T by Inga Sorensen ft!ora fsacson Portland's A dtersatire Realtor I have chosen to take a more human approach as a Realtor. I build my business on a referral basis and firmly believe that the satisfaction of my client is far more important than my financial gain. I communicate clearly and openly, and I’m always honest with my clients. I’ll gladly climb a nearby tree to check on a roof or get a bit dirty investigating a crawl space or an attic. I work mainly in Portland’s close-in Southeast and Northeast neighborhoods and specialize in older homes with character. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling, please do give me a call. 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But And not surprisingly, all the media attention gay and lesbian rights advocates in Central generated a response from the public. Oregon say they were able to wiggle out of “The mayor’s office and city councilors were a tight spot while leaving positive senti deluged with calls. The mayor got so many calls ments—and generating a little public education. that his answering machine broke,” says Amsbary. “It was never our intention for this to create “Callers were saying things like why don’t we controversy,” says Bruce Amsbary, president of have a heterosexual history month or a special Beyond the Closet Inc., a Bend-based organization month for murderers. It was pretty ugly.” working toward lesbian and gay visibility and civil Concerned about the dissension, Beyond the rights. Closet and P-FLAG held a brainstorming session Beyond the Closet and the Bend chapter of the morning of the vote to ponder how to best Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and handle the situation. Gays led a drive last month to get the Bend City “We didn’t want to put the city councilors in an Council to affirm Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s uncomfortable spot, but proclamation declaring Oc tober Lesbian and Gay His we also did not want to be seen as backing down,” tory Month. Several groups, says Amsbary. “About including the D eschutes half of us wanted to with County Hispanic Advocacy draw the request and the Council and Central Oregon other half wanted to forge Battering and Rape Alliance, ahead.” issued letters in support of Amsbary polled his the proclamation, while the o rg an izatio n ’s board Bend Ministerial Association members. “A very good opposed the proposal. suggestion that we got “We thought it was a good from [board member] way to make the public aware LaVeme Lewis was that that this was Lesbian and Gay we not blame the City H istory M onth,” says Council for any action it Amsbary. “ I approached « may take. She felt it was [Bend city Councilor] Bryan important that we shift the Chitwood and asked him if emphasis to the commu he would sponsor the [proc nity as a whole,” he says, lamation request]. He said “and to remember that the sure, that it would be no big Bruce Amsbary entire community needed to be educated.” deal. We thought it would make it through the City “I felt it was important to remember that any Council without any problem.” action city councilors would take would reflect the However, two days before the vote the city’s will of their constituents,” says Lewis, who is daily newspaper. The Bulletin, ran a story on the executive director of the Portland-based Lesbian front page of its Metro section headlined “Council Community Project. “That’s their job. At the same faces gay-rights dilemma.” time, I said it was our obligation to help educate the In that article, Chitwood and Bend Mayor Steve public.” Stenkamp signal their support for the proclama Proclamation backers ultimately decided to tion, but four councilors— a majority of the seven- pull their request to the City Council. Instead, they member City Council—expressed discomfort with issued a statement which was read at the meeting the request. where the vote was to have occurred. Chitwood, (According to The Bulletin, the Bend City Council has pulled back from issuing proclama who had agreed to sponsor the measure, read the statement. tions since a “Great America MeatOut” endorse ment sparked the wrath of beef producers two “We look forward to the day when the history years ago.) and accomplishments of all minority groups are so well known and recognized that the proclamation Councilor Deborah Hogan is quoted as saying of a special month to highlight their history and “to make a proclamation as a representative of the contributions will no longer be necessary,” procla City of Bend [might] be interpreted as [an] en mation supporters said in the statement. They also dorsement of one particular lifestyle.... I don’t stressed that they withdrew their request in order to think that’s an appropriate role for us.” “enhance community harmony.” Councilor Jim Young added that he was edgy “We achieved what we had originally set out to about having the city take a formal stand on a do, which was to get some public attention about controversial issue, while Councilor Suzanne Lesbian and Gay History Month. This wasn’t the Johannsen reportedly suggested that Beyond the way we had initially intended things to go, but Closet and P-FLAG change the declaration’s word that’s the way it is,” says Amsbary. ing to emphasize diversity and teaching tolerance rather than focusing specifically of gay and lesbian issues. (The change was rejected.) According to Amsbary, the Bulletin story For more information about Beyond the Closet, spawned a local media feeding frenzy, which write to PO Box 9174, Bend, OR 97708; or call prompted extensive television and radio coverage. 317-8966. To find out more about P-FLAG o f In fact, the day of the scheduled vote (Sept. 20), Bend, call 317-2334. I