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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 19, 1998)
(une 19. 1998 • Just o w l j j ay and Fred had been staying in the Cottage at the See Vue Motel south o f Yachats for years. On this particular visit, Jay was very ill. His T-cells were low and he w as too weak to walk. All indications were that this would be his last stay at their favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. It was the hardest thing Fred and Jay had ever had to do— say good-bye to their time spent together at the ocean. Two years later, after miracle-working drugs and Fred's love and support, Jay's T-cells are normal and all signs o f his previous illness are gone. They return to the Cottage to celebrate Jay's renewed health and the promise o f a long life lived together. They stroll on the beach, play with their new puppy and spend the evenings snuggled in bed. Oh, and Fred beams. J P artnership P ropaganda or L andmark E ffort ? S ee V ue Experience the unusual 6 . 2 m i l e s s o u t h o f Y a c h a ts , o n th e O r e g o n c o a s t ( 5 4 1 ) 5 4 7 -3 2 2 7 • ig u a n a g r a p h ic s .c o m / s e e v u e t seemed uncharacteristically quiet, given the 50 or so folks on hand. For a moment, you’d swear you could hear the proverbial pin drop. Maybe it was a mellow lot. Maybe it was the relative formality of the occasion. Or maybe the humidity had simply sucked the piz zazz out of people. Whatever it was, it didn’t stop the attendees from slapping their signa tures on a document purported to signify the Portland Police Bureau and queer communi ty’s commitment to make their relationship a stronger, healthier one. The event, held June 9 at Portland City Hall, marked the re-signing of a partnership agreement that was first established in 1994. The agreement asks the parties to “work to increase the personal safety” of queers and includes a commitment by police to recruit and retain sexual minorities. In 1994, it was hailed as a landmark because so few law enforcement agencies nationwide had taken such action. Police Chief Charles Moose and Mayor Vera Katz—both named defendants in a feder al lawsuit recently filed by openly gay Portland Police Capt. Mike Garvey, who charges he was discriminated against due to his sexual orien tation—were the lead signatories at the re signing. Representatives from a slew of organiza tions serving the sexual minorities community, such as Basic Rights Oregon, Right to Pride, Love Makes a Family and Phoenix Rising Foundation, followed suit. I V Bi D ay *98 A round the C orner he second annual Bi Day, a rally for bisex uals and their friends that features an all bisexual program of speakers, booths and music, is slated for June 26. The event is sponsored by the Portland Bisexual Alliance. Last year an estimated 175 participants turned out, making it the largest bisexual rally in Oregon history. Organizers anticipate at least as many to attend this year. Representatives from many groups will speak, including bi leather folk, bi youth, bi fem inist activists, bi people living with HIV, bisexu als from the African American community and leaders from specifically bisexual organizations. Bi Day ’98 will feature openly bisexual state Sen. Kate Brown, a Portland Democrat and member of the Portland Bisexual Alliance. “The idea behind Bi Day is to hold a huge public event annually where every single person on stage—speakers, musicians, even the ASL interpreter— is a bisexual,” says Sven Bonnichsen, president of the Portland Bisexual Alliance. He adds that Bi Day offers a tremendous T A t one point, a reporter asked, in light of the Garvey lawsuit, whether queer folk were being used by city officials for public relations purposes. Trans activist Lori Buckwalter, who sits on the Chief’s Forum, and Love Makes a Family’s Bonnie Tinker both noted the work between the bureau and community—manifested pri marily via a police advisory group known as the Sexual Minorities Roundtable—has been ongoing for years and began long before the Garvey brouhaha. Not all on hand were there to serve up praise, though. Transsexual activist Margaret O ’Hartigan distributed leaflets that raised questions about the police’s professed commit ment to queers. She quoted sources question ing the bureau’s surveillance techniques, as well as the city’s successful push to close the City Nightclub. Of the re-signing, the pam phlet blurted in big, bold letters: “Signing is collaboration." Following the ceremony, Katie Potter, an out lesbian officer and daughter of former Portland Police Chief Tom Potter, told Just Out she personally had a good relationship with Moose but noted homophobia still exists among some of her colleagues. Male officers, she explained, sometimes say that, while they accept her, they couldn't shower next to a gay male officer. “1 wouldn’t say [the bureau] is full of homo phobia,” she said, “but there’s still a ways to go.” ■ Reported by I n g a Get the Help You've Been Wishing For! • • • • • • • Self Image Depression/Anxiety Social Functioning Anger Abuse Sexuallty/Gender Relationships Melissa Fern, MSW Counseling • • • Reasonable Fees 2325 E Burnside • Portland OR 97214 5 0 3 -2 3 9 -9 9 2 9 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS ANO (503) 232-3600 2454 E. BURNSIDE PORTLAND, OR 97214 Family Owned & Operated Since 1952 Proudly CELEBRATING 9 years 8erving Our Community's real estate needs & so very proud of my 2 8 year commitment to lesbian Sr gay rights! ▼ Fam ily M atters! Let O ur Family Help Yo ur Fam ily... find the Home of Your Dreams/ V Best Home Buys for Pride l SORENSEN boost in self-esteem to bisexuals, who have a chance to see many bi leaders in one place. 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