jus« ou t ▼ m ay 3 . 1 9 0 « ▼ 13
cal news
Turning the tables
Survey in, survey out: Avel Gordly is quizzing potential
endorsers on their commitment to change
▼
by Inga Sorensen
A
vel Gordly thinks it’s important for
people to move outside their circles
of comfort.
“It’s been my observation during
the past 20 years as a community
activist and organizer, that whenever there is a
rally to action, only the affected community shows
up. Time and time again we have to scramble to
see where our allies are. I want to see us really start
walking the talk,” says Gordly, a state representa
tive who is running for the Oregon Senate for
District 10, which covers portions of Multnomah
County.
Gordly, a liberal Democrat, announced her
Senate bid several months ago, due in part to her
concerns that too many
policy-m akers have a
“ lim ited v isio n ” be
cau se— sim ply put—
people representing di
verse backgrounds and ex
periences don ’ t have a seat
at the legislative table.
The 48-year-old law
maker, who lives in North
east Portland,
has
launched her own enter
prising project to find out
if potential endorsers are
walking the human rights
talk themselves.
In essence, Gordly is
turning the tables and put
ting the question to the
questioner by sending
Avel Gordly
questionnaires to nearly
two dozen organizations
that have surveyed Gordly
about her position on various matters.
“Each of the organizations that has requested
me to fill out a survey is getting the same letter,”
says Gordly.
Among the groups Gordly sent questionnaires
to: the Oregon Public Employees Union, the Port
land Association of Teachers, Oregon Right to
Life, the League of Women Voters, the Oregon
League of Conservation Voters, the Oregon Edu
cation Association, Oregon NARAL, the Port
land Rainbow Coalition, and Right to Privacy.
Gordly asked organizations to describe steps
they have taken “to include people of color and
other often underrepresented groups into [their
membership]” and decision-making process.
She asked organizations if they opposed the
anti-gay, anti-immigration, and anti-affirmative
action initiatives being circulated, and whether
they supported an initiative to increase the mini
mum wage in Oregon.
Additionally, Gordly asked environmental
groups “what steps [they] have taken to address
the issue of environmental justice; specifically,
challenging policies that lead to the polluting of
areas where there are high concentrations of people
of color and poor families?”
When Just Out spoke with Gordly, she had
only received a handful
of responses.
“Right to Privacy said
they were glad that I was
doing this,” says Gordly,
who adds that the project
was designed to provoke
thought. “I only received
one response so far that
kind of surprised me.”
That response, she
says, came from Lisa
Horowitz, executive di
rector
of Oregon
NARAL, an organization
that promotes and strives
to protect abortion rights
and women’s reproduc
tive freedom.
“She wrote that she
was disappointed that
there wasn’t a question
about c h o ic e,” says
Gordly. “I was surprised and a little offended
because it seemed to highlight this old tension
between white women with a certain agenda and
women of color who are feminist and doing good
work, but may not necessarily be focused on
[choice],” she says.
“I certainly respect Avel’s decision to turn the
tables, as it’s been characterized,” says Horowitz,
“but frankly, I am disappointed there wasn’t a
question about choice. She asks about the mini
mum wage, immigration, affirmative action and
gay rights, but nothing about choice.”
The Oregon Citizens Alliance is pushing two
initiatives, one which would restrict the rights of
gay men and lesbians, and another that would
limit women’s reproductive freedom. Both are
aimed for the November ballot.
“I looked at the questionnaire and quite hon
estly thought something was missing,” says
Horowitz, adding that Oregon NARAL has not
endorsed Gordly in the May 21 primary because
the candidate, who is unopposed, did not com
plete NARAL’s required questionnaire.
Horowitz says she and Gordly had planned to
get together to further discuss the issue, but the
meeting has been delayed due to the recent death
of state Sen. Bill McCoy.
Last session, Gordly, who is a longtime hu
man rights advocate, promoted the Racial and
Ethnic Justice Act of 1995, which was based on
the recommendations of a state Supreme Court
Task Force report that essentially found there are
two systems of justice in Oregon—one for white
people and a less equitable one for people of
color.
She has represented House District 19 since
1991 and is the chief sponsor of the initiative
designed to increase the minimum wage.
says Davis, “but I’m hopeful they’ll be there.”
Representatives from the American Civil Lib
erties Union of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon and
other organizations are expected to speak at the
rally.
“It will likely be unclear what the ruling means
Human rights advocates in Oregon are plan
to Oregon, and we’ll have people on hand who
ning a response to the pending U.S. Supreme
should be able to offer some clarity,” says Davis.
Court ruling on Amendment 2, the controversial
“Whatever the decision, I think the [Oregon Citi
anti-gay-rights initiative approved by Colorado
zens Alliance] will still be able to circulate its
voters in 1992. Only a handful of potential an
petitions to place an anti-gay-rights initiative on
nouncement days re
the ballot.”
main during the Su
The Washington,
Only a handful o f potential
preme Court’s session.
D.C.-based National
announcement days remain
Those days are: May
Gay and Lesbian Task
13, 20, 28 and June 3,
Force, in conjunction
during
the
Supreme
Court's
10, 17 or 24.
with some Colorado
session. Those days are:
“At this point I
human rights organi
think many people be
zations and others, has
May 13, 20, 28 and
lieve the decision is
launched the “ Su
going to be a muddied
preme Response: A
June 3, 10, 17 or 24.
one,” says Julie Davis,
National Day of Ac
executive director for Basic Rights Oregon, a
tion” in anticipation of the ruling.
statewide organization whose primary goals in
NGLTF is encouraging people nationwide to
clude combating anti-gay-rights initiatives and
turn out for either a celebration or demonstration
securing basic rights for all Oregonians.
in their local communities after the decision is
“We’re planning a rally in response to the
announced.
ruling, whatever it may be,” she says. The group
Some of the communities where actions are
has also set up an Action Alert Hotline, which
planned include Denver and Colorado Springs;
includes updated information about the rally and
San Diego; New York City; Philadelphia; India
other Basic Rights Oregon activities.
napolis; Seattle; Madison, Wis.; and Norfolk, Va.
According to Davis, Basic Rights Oregon is
Amendment 2, which has never taken effect
sponsoring a rally slated for the Sunday following
due to court challenges, would dismantle existing
the high court’s decision. The gathering will be held
laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual
at 1 pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland.
orientation, and bar future measures from taking
She says she has contacted the offices of Gov. John
effect.
Kitzhaber and state Attorney General Ted
In 1992 and 1994 the OCA unsuccessfully
Kulongoski to request their presence at the rally.
pushed two similar measures, and it is promoting
‘The governor has really taken the lead on this
another anti-gay initiative poised for the Novem
in terms of instructing the attorney general to pull
ber ballot.
together the amicus brief,” says Davis.
Inga Sorensen
Several months ago Oregon officials filed an
amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in
opposition to Amendment 2.
The Action Alert Hotline may he reached by
“Because we’re not exactly sure when the
calling 233-3324; to become a Basic Rights
rally will be, we haven’t gotten an answer yet,”
Oregon volunteer, call 222-6151.
Celebrate or demonstrate:
Oregon joins in Supreme
Response activities