just out ▼ march 21, 1997 ▼ 17
POLITICAL SNAPSHOTS
DOMA DITTO
Oregon Sen. Marylin Shannon, a Salem Re
publican, has introduced a second measure de
signed to prohibit equal marriage rights for same-
gender couples. The legislation, Senate Joint Reso
lution 17, is a proposed state constitutional amend
ment which defines marriage as the union be
tween a man and woman. SJR 17 also says same-
sex marriages performed elsewhere will not be
recognized in Oregon.
It mirrors Senate Bill 577, the so-called De
fense of Marriage Act, which was introduced by
Shannon in February.
While the two bills strive to bar equal marriage
rights, SB 577 would do so via state statute, while
SJR 17 would write the prohibition into the Or
egon Constitution, and hence make it harder to
alter.
In addition, SJR 17 includes a referendum
clause, meaning that if approved by lawmakers it
would circumvent a gubernatorial veto and go
directly to the people for a vote during the No
vember 1998 general election.
SB 577, meanwhile, could be vetoed by Gov.
John Kitzhaber if approved by lawmakers. Though
the state’s chief executive still has not taken a
public position on SB 577, a spokesman previ
ously told Just Out that Kitzhaber “certainly be
lieves that marriage doesn’t need a defense.”
It appears Shannon isn’t taking any chances,
says Barry Pack, executive director of Right to
Pride, a statewide gay, lesbian and bisexual rights
organization.
He further says given the fact that Republicans
control both chambers, chances are extremely
good that both SB 577 and SJR 17 could pass the
Legislature.
“We’re hearing that we’d lose some Demo
crats on the marriage issue, too,” he says. “Both
bills are going to be very hard to beat.”
SB 577 and SJR 17 have been referred to the
Senate Rules and Elections Committee.
According to Pack, all “social issues” bills are
being sent to that committee to sit until propo
nents prove to leadership they have majority
support. If they show they have the necessary
votes, the legislation moves forward.
B asic R ights O regon
GETS NEW LEADER
Jean Harris
Longtime activist Jean Harris has been named
the new executive director of Basic Rights Or
egon, the successor organization to the No on 13
campaign.
Citing a need for more “balance” in her life,
former BRO head Julie Davis officially stepped
down from the post Dec. 31 and has since moved
to San Francisco.
Call it a swap of sorts.
For many years Harris was ensconced in the
politics of the City by the Bay. From 1987 to
1991, she worked closely with Harry Britt, an
openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors, where she successfully advocated
for the recognition of domestic partners and the
establishment of needle exchange programs.
Since moving to Oregon two and a half years
ago, she has lent her political expertise to an array
of electoral projects, including Ron Wyden’s
U.S. Senate campaign, Vera Pool’s bid to become
Multnomah County sheriff, and initiative cam
paigns promoting everything from open spaces to
alternative health care.
“If you look at San Francisco, so much has
already been done there,” says Harris, assessing
the challenges ahead of her. “In Oregon it’s dif
ferent, particularly when you’re talking about
things like domestic partnership coverage. It’s all
still fairly new, and there are lots of opportunities
to make positive changes.”
BRO grew from 1994’s No on 13 campaign.
Its purpose is to, in part, fight discriminatory
measures. However, unlike its earlier incarna
tions, BRO was also created as a long-term,
permanent and more proactive organization.
To that end, BRO has launched the Fair Work
place Project, whose centerpiece is an educa
tional video highlighting the often-unknown truths
about workplace discrimination experienced by
lesbian and gay people, and the lack of legal
protections.
Prior to leaving, Davis spent several months
generating contacts explicitly within the corpo
rate community, and the video has been viewed at
several companies.
Harris plans to continue that effort, as well as
maintain and update BRO’s in-house voter file,
which is essential if the community is confronted
with another anti-gay initiative.
Oregon DOMA may be that first test.
"I think we have to work under the assumption
that there will be some discriminatory measure on
the ballot every two years,” Harris says. ‘The
great thing is, Basic Rights Oregon already has a
tremendous infrastructure in place.”
Nonetheless, Harris says the organization al
ways has plenty of work for volunteers. “We do,
trust me,” she says. Anyone interested in volun
teering should contact BRO at 222-6151.
ENDA ON HOLD
It’s still uncertain when—or if—Oregon House
Bill 2734, which bars discrimination in the work
place on the basis of actual or perceived sexual
orientation—will receive a hearing.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Chuck Carpen
ter, a Portland-area openly gay Republican.
HB 2734 backers had hoped the bill would be
assigned to the House Commerce Committee,
which Carpenter had described as the most sup
portive.
The measure was instead assigned to the House
Judiciary Committee, chaired by the far-from-
gay-rights-friendly John Minnis (R-Wood Vil
lage).
According to RTP’s Pack, Eldon Johnson (R-
Central Point), chair of the House Commerce
Committee, had anticipated the bill’s referral to
Commerce and had already assigned a March 13
hearing date.
“We were kind of scrambling to get the testi
mony lined up,” admits Pack.
That effort, however, turned out to be moot.
“Let’s just say that Oregon ENDA seems to be
on a hiatus right now,” he says.
Perhaps that’s why some more nudging is in
order—which is exactly what RTP and Oregon
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays plan to do come March 25, when PFLAG
members converge upon the Capitol for a day of
lobbying.
“In 1993 we had all of these parents camped
out in front of [then House Speaker Larry
Campbell’s] office. I think we got a hearing a
week later,” Pack laughs. “They love it, and
they’re good at it, too.”
Reported by Inga Sorensen
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