Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1998)
aprii 3. 1998 * J u s t o u t fTTJìTlnews ome queer activists are trying to jump-start the Sexual Minorities Roundtable, which once was treated like a shiny new Christmas toy but has, like the gift, lost its ability to cap P ump I t U p Buckwalter, who helped draft the changes, membership will be determined by one’s atten dance record or an invitation from existing membership. Members of the Portland Police Advocates and law enforcement w ork together Bureau who are designated or appointed to the tivate. roundtable are accorded status equivalent to to breathe new life into Sexual Minorities Roundtable by Inga Sorensen “For the past year or so, we have been trying community members. to figure out what we’re all about,” says the Rev. Butzer says the Sexual Minorities Roundtable says, adding, “I think it has since been demon Members may vote on roundtable resolu Roy Cole, pastor of the Metropolitan isn’t the only bureau-community entity grap strated that the community feels like this is an tions or recommendations, serve on subcommit Community Church of Portland and one of the pling with apathy. important conduit which should remain up and tees or be appointed to representative positions. few roundtable regulars. “We had been spinning “A number of our committees have been running.” Nonvoting attendees may be heard in meet our wheels for quite some time. There wasn’t struggling with attendance and interest,” says Up and running, but with procedural differ ings in times of general discussion but “are not much substantive dialogue occurring and com Butzer, adding that Sexual Minorities ences approved in March that are designed to qualified to vote on resolutions or serve in lead munity interest was really waning.” Roundtable participants were already pondering spawn greater efficiency and interest. ership positions.” The Sexual Minorities Roundtable, estab the “Who are we?” and “What next?” questions Previously, participants were expected to fol The changes also call for “parity of responsi lished in the early 1990s, is a monthly gathering when he came on board as the official commu low a loosely-knit list of ground rules that bility and representation” between the bureau of sexual minorities and members of the nity liaison in September. included dictates like “communicating with and queer community “so that actions and reso Portland Police Bureau. However, Butzer nudged the discussion along each other respectfully” and “listening to each lutions of [the roundtable] will be seen as repre Its purpose is to allow participants the with a January memo sent to participants which sentative of a consensus of chance to exchange information and share con said, in part: “There has been a suggestion from official and community inter cerns about law enforcement interaction with the chief’s office to merge all the existing groups ests. Leadership roles, such as sexual minorities. chairpersons, should be held Similar bureau roundta in parity as well.” bles exist for other con Several committees are stituencies, such as Asians being established, including a and Hispanics. Grievance Committee, In 1994, the queer round which aims to process com table crafted a partnership plaints in an orderly manner. agreement that was signed on “This is an advisory com Oct. 11, National Coming mittee. We want advice,” says Out Day. Though dozens of Butzer, speaking for the similar agreements between bureau. the police and citizen groups Often times, he says, the existed, this particular docu roundtable has served as a ment was hailed as landmark debriefing site, a place where because so few law enforce police representatives would ment agencies nationwide give community members had taken such a queer- updates on hate crimes or a affirming action. particular bias case. The agreement called “That needs to continue,” upon bureau and community he says, “but I would like to members to continue meeting see us go beyond incidents on a regular basis and asked and begin to address policy them to “work to increase issues.” personal safety.” In addition, Issues like whether the the agreement included a bureau should transition to commitment by police to stronger firepower. Officers and civilians signed a partnership agreement in 1994 recruit and retain sexual Butzer says, “I would like minorities. other with an open mind.” There was no formal to be able to go to the roundtable and say, ‘Hey, “There was a lot of energy membership and the roundtable essentially what do you think about this?’ ” Assistant Chief David Butzer and enthusiasm at that time, ’ operated on a drop-in basis. Cole, meanwhile, says the roundtable is says Cole, who speculates involvement has been into one. The meetings would be with all the “In the past, the roundtable was a totally planning to hold a “reaffirmation of the partner tepid of late because all appears relatively calm chiefs and representatives from all existing fluid group. You never knew who was going to ship agreement” sometime in June. on the queer front. groups. If this occurs, the Sexual Minorities show up. There wasn’t a lot of continuity,” says “With this new structure in place, it seemed “For many months, there just hasn’t been a Roundtable would no longer be autonomous but Bonnie Tinker of Love Makes a Family Inc., a like a good time to do it," he says. hot-button issue like a ballot measure that would be a part of a merged advisory council.” group which advocates for lesbian and gay fam might bring people out,” he says. “In one way Butzer then asked roundtable participants for ilies. “Sometimes you felt like not much was get ■ The S exual M inorities R oundtable meets that’s good because it means there isn’t a crisis. their input on whether they wished to keep the ting accomplished.” on the second Tuesday of the month from noon to However, we have to remember that things Sexual Minorities Roundtable intact, or dissolve Rather than working on a drop-in basis, the 1:30 pm in the chief s office conference room at the change and we shouldn’t assume the climate is it into a merged advisory group. roundtable has now become more membership- Portland Police Bureau, 1111 SW Second Ave. in going to remain quiet.” “The letter sparked enough interest to oriented. Portland. The meetings are open to the public. Portland Police Assistant Chief David attract more people to the next meeting,” he According to community activist Lori “Completing the Course” Book reading and signing with local author Tom Nussbaum A compelling first novel, set in Portland, that describes the unusual friendship that develops between a gay teacher and his student as they discover the similarities of Jheir past. Saturday, April 18th 1-2:30 pm tf a i- 'P ie d 2544 NE Broadway 331-1125 wine and cheese will be Let Me Earn Your Business When buying or selling real estate, I represent y o u r interests! E x p e rie n c e d , In n o v a tiv e , U p -to -D a te Steve Buchert, Realtor Office: 228-9801 • Mobile: 970-3801 e-mail: bucherts@ hasson.com 25 NW 23rd Place, Portland, OR 97210 ,5