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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1997)
ju s t o u t ▼ S e p t e m b e r 5, 1 9 9 7 ▼ 15 Want to Know How to Invest Wisely atul Support Growing Companies that Support Your Lifesty le? Stonewall in Salem? For a free consultation or more information, please call Ann Van Mele, Investment Executive. at (800) 245-0900, ext. 9258 or (503) 225-9258. Members of a gay and lesbian business group want to know what gives with the guv ▼ PaineWEbber by Inga Sorensen Invest With More Intelligence.“ U could appear,” he says, adding PABA specifi .S. Rep. Elizabeth Furse has done it. cally worked to accommodate Kitzhaber’s sched So has U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, not ule by offering times at the breakfast, lunch or to mention U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. And hey, former Gov. Barbara Rob dinner hour, as opposed to the typical luncheon schedule. erts did it twice. So what gives with Oregon’s current chief “We did this for him,” says Elledge. When he heard nothing back, Elledge called executive, John Kitzhaber? That’s what Fred Elledge and some other members of the gay and Greenfield and proceeded to have what he dubs a lesbian community want to know. “very unpleasant” conversation. “For years, we have been asking the governor “She was very short...She said she didn’ t know to come speak to us, “ says Elledge, who co we were a gay and lesbian organization— which founded the Portland Area Business Association wasn’t true,” he recounts. in 1992. Elledge says he told Greenfield the governor With more than 200 members. PABA is an could talk about any issue he wished. He also mentioned the notable lineup of previous PABA association designed to promote gay and les bian—and gay-friendly—businesses and entre speakers. preneurs. Elledge has referred to the group as a “But we weren’t getting anywhere,” he says, “gay and lesbian Chamber of Commerce.” adding that he’s starting to believe the governor’s “It’s important the governor be willing to staff is stonewalling PABA: “I hope it’s not the speak to us,” maintains Elledge. “He should show governor himself.” his support for a huge community that has been Elledge says he was even more upset when he supportive of him.” Since its establishment five years ago, PABA has hosted monthly luncheons featuring an impressive array of speakers in cluding members of Oregon’s con gressional delegation, former Gov. Barbara Roberts (who as gover nor spoke to the group on two occasions). Col. M argarethe Cammermeyer, and leading busi ness people. Despite the prece dent, Kitzhaber has yet to make an appearance—even though PABA has made multiple requests over the years. “I made two requests during the [1994] election season, and again after the election,” says Gov. John Kitzhaber Elledge, adding that he followed the necessary saw a flyer for a Kitzhaber speaking engagement protocol and sent the requests in writing. “I never before the McMinnville City Club back in Febru heard a thing.” ary. Other PABA representatives followed suit, “He can show up for that, but not for us?” he going so far as to make the request in person to asks. gubernatorial staff. PABA member Patti May Greenfield tells Just Out the governor gets was one such person. "hundreds of requests” from groups wanting May says she and PABA member Brian Marki Kitzhaber to appear. “We probably reject 95 personally met with Kitzhaber scheduler Patty percent of those,” she says. Greenfield in October 1995. May and Marki were As for those who make the cut, she says, “We among a large group of lesbians and gay men try to schedule engagements where the governor invited to Salem for a brown-bag chitchat on gay can address a large audience, so we can attract issues with the governor. The duo decided it was media coverage and can get our message out a good opportunity to introduce themselves to more...We also try to schedule events outside of Greenfield. May wound up leaving angry. Portland.” (May says she had previously sent a written Greenfield also tells us she doesn’t remember request to the scheduler and followed up with meeting with May and Marki. “m any” calls to G reenfield which went “I don’t recall that.” Nor, she says, did she unretumed.) know PABA was agay and lesbian-oriented orga “I personally felt [Greenfield] was very un nization. “It wouldn’t matter either way.” comfortable, if not homophobic,” she says. “You When asked whether Kitzhaber personally could sense it by her body language and her tone.” knew of PABA’s requests, Greenfield says, “Prob May says Greenfield was curt, and served up ably, I’m pretty sure I’ve let him know.” “excuses like the governor didn’t get to Portland As for who makes the ultimate decision about very much.” the governor’s schedule, she says “it’s up to the May says when she proposed times the gover whole group,” meaning gubernatorial staff, as nor could possibly speak, she was simply told: well as the chief executive. “No.” We asked Greenfield whether PABA’s most “It was like we were just shut out,” she says. recent request may be granted. PABA made its most recent request, via letter, “1 don’t know...when you sit down and look at on Aug. 1. Unlike previous missives, this one did the governor’s schedule, you see how filled up it not specifically say PABA was a gay-oriented already is,” she says. organization. Elledge says that’s because For his part, Elledge says he’s not giving up, Kitzhaber's staff already knew that. and has asked state Rep. George Eighmey to “We asked whether there was any time be make a pitch to the governor. tween now and May [1998] that the governor “We want this to happen,” Elledge says. i , . , i , ■ ( i m i .7 .i • 1000 S.W. Broadway, Suite 2100 Portland, OR 97205 http ://ww\v. pai ne webbe r. e< >m © l'>*>7 I'.'iiiHiWchhcr liK.-orpor.iti.il Munilx-r SIPC Travel the world, but call us first. Pro Lab N.W. 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