12 ▼ fe b ru a ry 2 1 , 1 0 9 7 ▼ ju s t o u t
local news
Can't-m arry-m e b ill
02663157
The Washington Legislature votes to define marriage as
explicitly heterosexual, but Gov . Locke vows to veto
T
b y In g a S o r e n se n
W
NAHCOTTA SANCTUARY
A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY
Join Oihex Gay Men in a Weekend Woxkshop
DiscoveK How and Why You Axe UniQuely You
Maud) 14rh to 16rb
C o s t $150 smtjle/$235 couple
Call (503) 292-7620 poK ItiponajaTion
OWN YOUR OWN HOME
For As Little As
$500 DOWN O.A.C.
(Some down payments slightly higher)
3-BDRM
3-BDRM, ig A T H 2-BDRM, 2 BATH 3-BDRM, 2 BATH 3-BDRM, 2 BATH
Appro¿
biand Küchen, Approx. 920 sq. It.
sa
O.A.C
r
o .A .c.
Approx. 1100 sq. ft.
Approx. 1280 sq. ft.
$500 DOWN $500 DOWN $80 7 DOWN
$408 oTc. $427 83? «599 83?
dadrarnasAreaGW Clackamas Area 312
New Castle#!
w /IW a e olhore, no ^aoe
w/IW icse at home, no fooe rent
rent lor 6 manta Moser Area
far6m as.NeaBljeye$p.71
3-BDRM, 2 BATH 3-BDRM, 2 BATH Interested in 4-BDRM, 2 BATH 3-BDRM, 2 BATH
Attached garage, 1400 sq. ft. Attached garage, 1400 sq ft.
Hood River? Approx. 2000 sq. ft. Approx. 1400 sq. ft.
«1100 DOWN $ 1098 DOWN
1 Only Special «1126 DOWN
«657 S3? $652 S c , Call Central Homes «65,900 «658 S3?.
W e have land and
Models on land.
Canby#509
Canby #511
503 ) 659-7241
(
i
Cai Today
w/TWiase d home, no spaoe
rrtfa ró m a TraAÜeSp.87
13233 S.E. McLoughlin,
Milwaukie, OR • 659-7241
ashington is on the verge of of
ficially jumping on the anti-
same-sex marriage bandwagon.
During a vote on Feb. 12, the
Republican-controlled Wash
ington state Senate approved Senate Bill 5398,
which defines marriage as the union between a
man and a woman and says same-sex marriages
performed elsewhere will not be recognized in the
Evergreen State. A few days later the GOP-
dominated House followed suit, approving the
ban by a 63-35 vote. State Rep. Don Carlson of
Vancouver was the only Republican House mem
ber to oppose the bill, while
eight Democrats voted in fa
vor.
Democratic Gov. Gary
Locke called the legislation
unnecessary, citing an exist
ing state court ruling against
equal marriage rights for
same-gender couples.
The governor says he’ll
veto the bill, but ban support
ers vow to attempt an over
ride, which requires a two-
thirds vote of both chambers.
(Political observers say pro
ponents do not have the nec
essary votes for an override.)
If that effort falters, Senate Majority Leader
Dan McDonald (R-Bellevue) said legislators will
bypass Locke by putting the proposal on the
November ballot.
Another anti-same-sex marriage measure, SB
5400, is waiting in the wings. It resembles SB
5398 except that it includes a referendum clause,
meaning if approved by lawmakers it circum
vents a gubernatorial veto and goes directly to the
people for a vote.
Despite SB 5398’s overwhelming passage,
several legislators voiced their distaste for the
bill.
Sen. Pat Thibaudeau (D-Seattle) who repre
sents a Capitol Hill district that encompasses a
substantial lesbian and gay population, dubbed
the legislation “unfair” and "discriminatory.”
BTC is growing strong
Beyond the Closet, a Bend-based lesbian and
gay organization, has received grants totaling
$23,350 thus far for 1997. That figure is more
than the group’s entire budget for last year.
BTC, which is less than three years old, has
been hailed as a model organization for advanc
ing better understanding of gay men and lesbians
in rural communities.
“Speaking positively about lesbian and gay
people in rural communities is a controversial act.
Because of that we make efforts to conduct our
efforts with respect to the sensibilities of the
community at large,” says Bruce Amsbary, BTC’s
founder and president.
Amsbary says BTC’s ability to attract grant
support is clearly bolstered by such an approach.
BTC was asked to be a local sponsor for the
upcoming performance of the Native Alaskan
theater troupe Naa Kahidi Theater. The organiza
tion received a $2,250 grant from the Western
States Arts Federation of New Mexico to assist in
bringing the troupe to Central Oregon in March.
It also received a $6,500 grant from the Terri
tory Resource of Seattle to help with that effort,
and to operate its newly opened office located in
the Oregon Street Mall in downtown Bend.
Mike Heavy, another Seattle Democrat, blasted
the bill for “picking on a minority group.”
The Senate and House votes came a week after
both chambers held hearings on anti-same-sex
marriage bills.
During those hearings, ban proponents called
upon lawmakers to “protect marriage” and civili
zation from gay men and lesbians, who were
tagged as “child molesters” and “abominations
unto the Lord,” among other things. Those who
testified in favor of the ban included a self-
described former lesbian who said she had been
“delivered” from homosexuality by her faith in
Jesus Christ.
On the flip side, lesbian
and gay families and their
allies appealed for under
standing and tolerance.
During testimony, an 11-
year-old daughter of les
bian parents asked: “Why
are people so afraid of our
family?”
W ashington Rep. Ed
Murray (D-Seattle) and his
partner, Michael Schiosaki,
both testified against the
bills, and the League of
Women Voters released a
statement which read, in
part: “Citizens have already refused to sign ini
tiatives that would legalize discrimination against
gay and lesbian people. These bills single out
gay and lesbian couples unfairly and equate
them with criminal bigamists and those commit
ting incest.”
In response to the anti-same-sex marriage
bills, Murray has introduced House Bill 1203,
which would extend equal marriage rights to
same-sex couples. It is not expected to receive a
hearing.
The same day that Washi ngton senators moved
to prohibit same-sex marriages, Mississippi Gov.
Kirk Fordice signed legislation making his state
the 17th to ban such unions, which he called
“perverse.”
Amsbary hopes the office will eventually grow
into a resource center involving a number of gay
and lesbian organizations.
BTC has also received a $10,000 grant from
the Gill Foundation of Colorado to establish a
major membership development program.
The most recent grant award of $4,600 comes
from the Seattle-based Pride Foundation. That
money will be used to organize two statewide
tours of rural communities. Previous BTC tours
have featured onetime neo-Nazi Aryan Nations
leader Floyd Cochran, and Bill Crews, one of the
nation’s nine openly gay mayors.
Other programs in the works for 1997 include
a spring caucus of rural sexual minority activists
from throughout the state, the second annual
membership meeting and board elections in June,
and a fall conference on homosexuality and Chris
tianity. Funding is also being sought for a pilot
project to identify and serve the needs of rural
sexual minority youth.
For more information about Beyond the Closet,
call (541) 317-8966, or write PO Box 1521, Bend,
OR 97709. B TC ’s e-m ail address is
btc@empnet.com
Compiled by Inga Sorensen