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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1997)
ju st out ▼ fo b ru ary 2 1 . 100 7 T i l D eterm ined to w in Chuck Carpenter has told his fellow House Republicans that heyll do what it takes to pass Oregon END A Sitting down with an estate planner shouldn't scare you. (Not planning. Now that's scary.) ▼ <?< c U - ß ie d by Inga Sorensen regon Rep. Chuck Carpenter says he’s ready to play hardball if need be. O “That’s what I told the speaker— I said 1 would withhold my support on legislation that Republicans want unless we get some action on this bill,” says Carpenter, a Portland-area Republican who re cently introduced legislation barring discrimina tion in the workplace on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation. House Bill 2734 has become the measure being promoted by Right to Pride, a statewide gay, lesbian and bisexual rights organization which initially intended to push its own version of an employment nondiscrimination measure. That bill, which we first reported on in the Jan. 3 issue, was fashioned after the federal Employ ment Non-Discrimination Act, which came within just one vote of passing the U.S. Senate in 1996. ENDA would have, in part, barred discrimi nation in employment on the basis of one’s actual or perceived sexual orientation. Ad ditionally, it disallowed “the use of numerical goals, quotas or other forms of ‘affirmative ac tion’ based on sexual orientation,” and ex em pted “bona fide churches and sectarian religious institutions such as church-spon sored schools, hospitals or camps on the basis that an in d ividual’s sexual orientation vio lates the religious tenets Chuck Carpenter or teachings of that church or institution.” H B 2734 mirrors that proposal, but includes two other provisions: em ployers with six or fewer employees are exempt, and a claimant of sexual orientation employment discrimination must obtain a positive finding of discrimination from the state Bureau of Labor and Industries before taking his or her case into a court of law. (BOLI is the agency that investigates possible violations of state civil rights law.) That particular mandate does not apply to other groups currently protected under state civil rights law. It is also a provision that doesn’t sit well with everyone. The Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Associa tion, whose membership primarily comprises gay men and lesbians in the legal profession, issued a statement in response to Carpenter’s bill. It says OGALLA “applauds extending equal employment opportunity to all Oregonians and barring discrimination in the workplace. We op pose, however, imposing a procedural require ment on the basis of sex orientation that is not imposed on other protected classes.” It further states such a requirement “undermines the integ rity of ENDA, as it would effectively discrimi nate on the basis on sexual orientation.” “We don’t support that provision either,” says Right to Pride’s Executive Director Barry Pack, who nonetheless says his organization is now fully backing Carpenter’s version of an employ ment bill. “Sure, we would have preferred a cleaner bill, but if we are able to pass HB 2734, that’s a major achievement,” he adds. “If this is the only way to do it, then we’ll do it.” While he, too, is not pleased with the addi tional provisions, Carpenter says they are de signed to appease some GOP colleagues’ con cerns that the passage of a nondiscrimination bill may unleash a torrent of frivolous lawsuits. And since Republicans control both the Or egon House and Senate, their concerns have to be addressed. (In the House, Republicans dominate 31-29, in the Senate, 20-10.) Yet because the margin is so slim in Carpenter’s . chamber, he may have room to maneuver, given the fact that his vote on other legislation becomes all the more vital to GOP leadership. “I will vote against legislation that Republi cans like if I have to,” says Carpenter, the only openly gay Republican in the state Legislature. “1 made it clear to the speaker that this is very important to me, and I’ll do what it takes.” Carpenter wants to see HB 2734 assigned to the House Commerce Committee, which he believes will provide the most support for his bill. “If we can get it to Com merce, then we will pass this in the House.” State Rep. George Eighmey (D-Portland) says he has spoken with Rep. Eldon Johnson (R-Central Point), who is chair of that commit tee. “He said the speaker § indicated to him that the m bill would indeed be go- o ing th ere ,” says 5 Eighmey, who also met with Labor Commis sioner Jack Roberts, who oversees BOLI. “Jack Roberts said if asked he would say that he felt BOLI should not be forced to make the final determination and instead should do what it currently does, which is make recommendations,” he says. Eighmey also says he’ll work to have the BOLI provision removed in committee. Eighmey, along with Republicans Jeff Kruse of Roseburg and Lane Shetterly of Dallas, are among several legislators who have signed on as supporters of HB 2734. “We have Democrats and Republicans, which is important,” says Carpenter, adding that while he’s comfortable speculating on the proposal’s passing in the House, the Senate remains a ques tion mark. “If we can convince two or three more sena tors to vote for this, then things look good. But that’s not going to be so easy,” he says, adding he may solicit assistance from former state senator and current U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who has said he supports the federal ENDA. "If he spoke to a couple of senators it could make a difference,” says Carpenter. “I don’t know if he would do that.... We’ll just have to see.” People who believe they have experienced employment discrimination based on sexual orientation—particularly those residing outside o f Portland—are asked to contact RTP at 228-5825. (GAY PEE-A) For The Gay Man In Your Life Wills. Trusts. Guardianships. Powers of attorney. Frightening thoughts? WE WANT YOUR USED GAY BOOKS & MAGAZINES 2544 NE Broadway (at NE Broadway & 26th) 331-112 5 What's worse is the thought of where your hard-earned assets will go if you don't plan. Let's sit down. My experience and "team of professionals" approach will give you a solid estate plan—and one less thing to worry about. Emphasizing the asset distribution of unmarried couples. 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