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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1997)
ju s t o u t ▼ aprii 4 . 1 9 9 7 ▼ 15 Support, Prevention, and Outreach for G a y and Bisexual M en. Be prepared Join Us. Ride for a Reason An inexpensive one-day seminar on estate planning can help you be true to the Boy Scout motto cycling group for aav/bi men by Inga Sorensen M “You do hear the stories of a [gay] partner dying and the same day of the funeral the deceased’s family shows up with a moving van to take away the belongings,” says Williams, a Portland attor ney and member of the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association’s board of directors. Without the proper legal documents in place, that family may have every legal right to do just that—despite the verbal wishes of the couple or the surviving partner, says Williams, who has been practicing law for 16 years. The couple could have been together 50 years, building a life and a home. Yet it could all be taken away in a snap without the necessary legal protec tions. Unlike heterosexual couples, who automati cally receive many of those protections upon marrying, same-sex couples are left fending for themselves. And it’s not only couples—gay and lesbian singles, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS, also need to be particularly prudent about protect Williams says. Too often people find themselves tackling the former. For gay men and lesbians, that coulc oe costly. Luckily, there are those who are working to ensure that the community has the tools to protect itself. ‘Taking Care of Business,” a daylong seminar to be held April 19, will deal with many life- and estate-planning issues facing gay men and lesbi ans, and especially those living with HIV/AIDS. The event is sponsored by the Care Team, the HIV/AIDS support services arm of the Metro politan Community Church of Portland. The seminar will cover issues such as prepara tion of wills, advance directive and power of attorney documents, Medicaid, and financial and estate planning. Professionals representing both private firms and government agencies are scheduled to speak and act as seminar leaders. Participants will be provided with a packet of fact sheets and docu ments that can be completed at the seminar. Notary publics will be on hand to notarize any document prepared that day. ...... jj-i.i.'.'! '. ! ? ? * * ? ! ! i i I.V .. I f.O. I ! j i j j i i Linda Kliewer 503-287-3256 Neighborhood MenTalk Out and Out Productions ^Rjd V ark M. Williams has heard the horror tales before. Join other gay/bi men ten ^ __ — for bi-weekly bike rides, in Portland area. Co-sponsored w ith1 Ride for a Reason, August 14-17. First and third Saturdays, 10 AM. For rendevous location & info: ext. 182. o o Find support & friendship with other gay and bisexual men. Groups meet monthly throughout Portland. All start at 7 PM. New- East Multnomah County For info: Alan at Ext. 107. Drop-In HIV Testing & Counseling: Gay & Bi Men ft ”’223-5907 ^ L T E C group in Gresham starts April 24. Confidential or anonymous. Results in one week. $20 Donation. Tuesdays, 6pm - 8 pm, at CAP office. For info: HIV Testing Infoline at Ext. 172. EMM Photography with a Bias 670 SW 5th Ave., Ste. 300 f Portland, OR 97204 /k Fax 223-7087 V/TDD 223-0238 CAP is accessible Speak to Your Brothers is a program of Cascade AIDS Project r in it y p is c o p a l a th e d r a l Presents V espers & H ealing S ervice with S pecial I ntentions for those living w ith H I V /A I D S ... S pecial G uest HOMILIST: WILLIAM C. CRANE S u nd ay , A pril 1 3 th , 1 9 9 7 5»* m H ealing a n d V espers S ervice 6 pm R eception ft» f o llo w ... ( h o r s - d ’*>euvres & b e v e ra g e s .served) CORNER OF NW 19 m AVENUE A pril - M ay D enise K ester • M onoprints M ichael ing themselves legally, whether it be planning their estates or drafting wills, medical proxies or living-together agreements. “You can get nearly all the protections avail able to [married] heterosexuals now,” says Will iams. “The difference is that they get them auto matically, while we have to actively seek out those protections.” It may not be fair, but at this point that’s the way it is. Fortunately, however, increasing numbers of attorneys are becoming aware of the legal needs of gay men and lesbians, and are willing to work with them as they plan for both life and death. In fact, W illiams says last Septem ber OGALLA sponsored an Oregon State Bar semi nar specifically addressing these issues. He says the event, which was offered as a continuing legal education seminar for lawyers, attracted an esti mated 300 attorneys. “There are two ways of viewing estate plan ning—as crisis management or estate planning,” “The mission of the Care Team is quite simple,” says Tim Kehoe, a Care Team executive commit tee member. “Our sole purpose is to assist those living with AIDS to maintain the same level of personal dignity and independence they enjoyed when they were healthier. We all need to take care of business, most especially those living with AIDS. This seminar is an important part of fulfill ing our group’s mission.” Williams, meanwhile, acknowledges it is easy to procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. He admits he was years into his practice before he secured his own legal documents. “But when you see what can happen when someone hasn’t planned, trust me, it motivates you,” he says. and M ichele G w inup • R aku Artists' Reception 1 st Thursday, April 3, 5 : 3 0 - 8 3 0 pm T he R eal M other G oose G allery Ameri can Fi ne Croft and 901 S.W. Yamhill • (503) 223-9510 Reservations are required to attend the seminar, which will be held from 10 am to 3 pm April 19 at MCC Portland, 2400 NE Broadway. Lunch will be provided with the admission price o f $5. Call 281-8868 to make reservations. Ar t & EVERETT