ju st out ▼ fe b ru a ry 2 1 . 1997 ▼ 3
just out
sin ce 1 9 83
steppin* out
PUBLISHER AND EDITOR
contents
VOL 14 NO. 8 FEBRUARY 21,1997
Renée LaChance
COPY EDITOR
FEATURE
Kelly M. Bryan
REPORTERS
Sentenced to life
Inga Sorensen
Bob Roehr
Rex Wockner
Protease inhibitors hold
the promise o f a way out o f
the AIDS nightmare, but they also
represent a puzzle with
all-new pieces
CALENDAR EDITOR
Kristine Chatwood
PHOTOGRAPHER
Linda Kliewer
(p. 17)
OFFICE MANAGER
DEPARTMENTS
Cory Murphy
World news
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Costa Rica's national health care
won 7 pay for anti-HIV drugs
Meg Grace
ADVERTISING REPS
(P 6 )
C. Jay Wilson Jr.
Marty Davis
National news
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
E. Ann Hinds
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Rupert Kinnard
FORMATTER
Christopher D. Cuttone
TYPESETTER
Christopher D. Cuttone
DISTRIBUTION
Kathy Bethel
Rachel Ebora
Darla Moyer-Sims
Donald Rogers
Megan Weber
CONTRIBUTORS
The Boston AIDS Writers Group
Christopher D. Cuttone
Michael Thomas Ford
William J. Mann
Richard Shumate
C. Jay Wilson Jr.
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Sara Duffus, as Dental Dame, and Dustin Simpson, as Condom Caper, both members o f Outside In ’s Gorilla Theatre, were
part o f a Valentine’s Day event at Pioneer Courthouse Square held to raise funds fo r the troupe. Claudia Webster (center),
HIV education manager fo r the Oregon Health Division, was one o f those paying a small fee to have her picture taken with
the dynamic duo. Purchasers received their instant photos in condom-decorated Valentines made by troupe members. The
young woman wielding the Polaroid camera is Korey James.
ditorial
Wed alert
Sen. Marylin Shannon has introduced legislation
that would ban same-sex marriages in Oregon
by Renée LaChance
s we went to press, Oregon state Sen. Marylin
Shannon, a Salem Republican, introduced Senate
Bill 577, which would prohibit equal marriage
rights for same-gender couples.
Like its federal predecessor, the measure, intro
duced Feb. 18, is dubbed the Defense of Marriage Act, and
defines marriage as the union between a man and woman. It
also says same-sex marriages performed elsewhere would not
be recognized in Oregon.
Sen. Shannon is chief sponsor of the bill; its cosponsors are
Sen. Bob Kintigh (R-Springfield) and Reps. Charles Starr (R-
Hillsboro) and Ron Sunseri (R-Gresham).
Given the composition of the Senate—Republicans domi
nate 20 to 10—it can be expected SB 577 will sale through that
chamber with little difficulty.
Republicans also control the House, albeit by a much tighter
margin, 31 to 29. There is a solid chance the measure will gain
that chamber’s approval as well.
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s chief spokesman. Bob
Applegate, says the governor has not seen the bill nor has he
taken a position on the issue. Applegate says he does not know
whether Kitzhaber supports extending equal marriage rights to
same-sex couples.
Kitzhaber’s col league to the north, Washington Democratic
Gov. Gary Locke, meanwhile, has vowed to veto a similar bill
passed by the state Legislature there a few days prior to
Shannon’s action. (See story on page 12.)
Thirty-seven states have considered similar legislation: It
has passed in 17.
Applying the same strategy used by Washington lawmak
ers, Shannon, sources say, has a second anti-same-sex marriage
bill waiting in the wings which resembles SB 577 except that
it includes a referendum clause, meaning that if passed it
circumvents a gubernatorial veto and goes directly to the
people for a vote.
Sen. Shannon’s bill is divisive legislation that is a waste of
time and energy since it serves no real purpose. Lesbians and
gay men are already denied the right to marry in every state in
the nation. Although recent court decisions have moved Hawaii
closer to allowing same-sex marriages, its Legislature is work
ing to change state law to keep that from happening.
It doesn’t matter whether you support or oppose getting
married. It doesn’t matter whether you would take advantage of
the right to marry if it were offered you. This fight isn’t about
marriage. Lesbian and gay couples marry now, by honoring
their relationships and their commitments to one another with
ceremonies attended by friends and family.
This fight is for the nearly 700 civil rights that are immediately
available to a man and woman who enter into a state-sanctioned
marriage. Some of these rights pertain to inheritance, hospital
visitation, domestic violence protections, bereavement leave,
burial determination, child custody, insurance discounts, joint
adoption and foster care, joint parenting, sick leave to care for a
spouse, tax benefits, and survivor benefits. It is plain discrimina
tion that lesbians and gay men who choose to marry and make a
public commitment to one another are denied these rights.
That’s what we are fighting for. This is the message we need
to send loud and clear to Oregon’s senators, representati ves and
governor.
Act now. Call your senator and representative and urge
them to vote against this legislation and ask them to do
everything in their power to keep it from getting out of
committee. (At press time SB 577 had not received a
committee assignment.) Call Gov. Kitzhaber and
urge him to veto the bill should it cross his desk. The
Oregon Legislative Hot line number is 1-800-332-2313. The
number fo r Gov. Kitzhaber’s office is (503) 378-3111.
If you want to get involved with an
organization working to fight this legislation,
contact the Oregon Freedom to Marry Coalition at
228-3892 or Right to Pride at 228-5825.
ACT UP celebrates its 10th
anniversary with a protest;
San Francisco’s domestic
partners benefits ordinance meets
with resistance from employers
(PP 7-9)
Local news
Portland Public Schools forms
a committee to make schools
safer and more inclusive fo r
queer families; Chuck Carpenter
is going to the mat fo r
Oregon ENDA
(PP- 10-13)
COLUMNS
Reasons for hope
O f trials and refrigeration:
HIV/AIDS news you can use
(p- 15)
My queer life
As you climb the Amex ladder
you may develop a fear
o f high prices
(P- 33)
ARTS
Music
John Corigliano is a hot item on
the classical charts;
Cris and Tret spread the love
around with a second duet CD
(PP- 28-29)
Theater
At triangle productions!
the monologue stands
alone and proud
(p. 30)
Entertainment
Debra Beers paintings o f
Portland-area homeless youth
are powerful and disturbing
’
(p 31)
Books
Author Kenny Fries digs beneath
the skin to remember
his life in a body
(p- 32)