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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1999)
rmTiTIneivs R e s o l u t io n fo r a N ew Y ea r Continued from the cover 133 SE Madison Portland, OR 97214 503 231-1599 - FULL SERVICE CUSTOM PHOTO LAB communication - it ’s essential to every real estate transaction. D onald is an effective communicator with skills refined through years o f successful representation, assistance and negotiation. When you ’re in the market fo r something better, simply give him a call ■ ■ K jM H H f and you will benefit from the commitment of an experienced real estate professional. T 1 | his isn’t the first time Portland city officials have pondered recognition of trans rights. In October 1996, the now defunct Metro politan Human Rights Commission voted unanimously to recommend the inclusion of “transsexuals and other sexual minorities” in Portland’s human rights ordinance. The recom mendation came on the heels of fact-finding hearings designed to assess the level of discrimi nation against trans folk in Portland. “I burst into tears when they voted unani mously,” trans rights activist Margaret Deirdre O ’Hartigan told Just Out the morning after the vote. “I cried because I’m always stunned when people actually hear us. The commission heard us, and it moved me.” In early 1996, O ’Hartigan requested the Portland City Council extend civil rights pro tections to trans people by amending the city’s [stripped M H R C ].... Some suggested we did that over this issue, which is not true,” he said. Addressing trans rights in present day, he added, was like addressing unfinished businesses. It was a sentiment embraced by Kafoury, as well as Katz, who thanked the trans community for being patient with the council. P ortland is not the first governmental entity oing the right thing on this particular day in Oregon to promote protections based on manifests itself via the unanimous approval gender identity. of a resolution, sponsored by Katz and Kafoury, This past summer, by a 2-1 vote the Benton that directs city bureaus to implement nondis County Board of Commissioners approved the crimination protections on the basis of gender state’s first nondiscrimination ordinance to identity. include transsexual and transgendered people as The definition of gender identity in this case a protected class. includes “the status of being transsexual or T he measure, which took effect Aug. 14, transgender,” and refers to “a person’s actual or covers the unincorporated areas of Benton perceived sex, and includes a person’s identity, County— rural spots like Kings Valley, North appearance, or behavior, whether or not that Albany, Alpine, Blodgett and Adair. It does not identity, appearance or behavior is different cover the county’s incorporated areas— its more from that traditionally associated with the per populated sites like the cities of Corvallis, Philo son’s sex at birth.” math and Monroe— because the county does According to Lori Buckwalter, director of It’s not have jurisdiction over incorporated cities. Time, Oregon!, a group that promotes civil T he Benton County ordinance prohibits dis rights initiatives concerning gender identity, the crimination in employment, housing and public resolution “will start a process of expanded involvement by the city in creating pro tections in the public and private sectors.” The resolution states the city “is in a position to demonstrate, through its own internal policies and procedures, the via bility of a workplace which respects the rights of transgendered and transsexual people.” The measure gives city agencies until spring to include gender identity in nondiscrimination guidelines for employ ees as well as appropriate guidelines for use of city facilities. The guidelines are to be incorporated into the city’s 1999-2001 affirmative action plan. It also requests the city’s pilot civil rights mediation program be expanded to include mediation services to “resolve dis crimination claims based on gender iden- tity. (In July, the council approved a one- year, $50,000 mediation pilot program to help settle disputes involving those who feel they may have been discriminated against due to sexual orientation. The program was spawned by ongoing legal wrangling involving a city ordinance that Portland City Council members (from left) Charlie Hales, Jim Francesconi, Mayor Vera Katz, bars discrimination based on sexual orien Gretchen Miller Kafoury and Eric Sten at an earlier meeting tation.) The resolution also calls for city officials to Civil Rights Code. The MHRC hearings were accommodations. T he protected classes covered explore the feasibility of offering a health insur the immediate result of that request. by the measure are race, religion, color, sex, ance policy through the city’s benefits program Nearly 30 people submitted oral or written national origin, marital status, mental or physi “which could cover necessary medical treatment testimony during those hearings. O ’Hartigan cal disability, familial status, sexual orientation, for transgendered and transsexual people,” and, talked about discrimination she faced, while source of income, and gender identity. by June, evaluate whether the city’s equal other supporters shared tales of harassment and The Portland resolution, meanwhile, is much employment opportunity certification program voiced frustration with the insurance industry narrower in scope, prompting some criticism. In “can be expanded to include nondiscrimination for denying coverage for sex-reassignment a letter to Just Out appearing in this issue, O ’Har on the basis of gender identity.” surgery. A female-to-male transsexual testified tigan writes, in part: “Had the council’s resolu Immediately prior to the vote, nearly a dozen he had been fired from a job in Portland after his tion actually required the city to end its discrim people representing an array of community orga employer learned he is a transsexual. Others inatory exclusion of transsexual health care from nizations— including Lesbian Community Pro talked about being the victims of anti-transsex employee insurance benefits— rather than mere ject, Basic Rights Oregon, Human Rights Cam ual violence. ly promise yet another study of transsexuals’ paign, Metropolitan Community Church of The commission’s report and recommenda needs— I might be impressed. As it is, I recog Portland, and Phoenix Rising Foundation— tes tion were forwarded to Kafoury, who was to nized the council’s action for what it is: a lump of tified in favor of the proposal. No one spoke decide whether to take the proposal to the City coal masquerading as a Christmas gift.” against the measure. Council. Buckwalter concedes, “There is still much to Buckwalter, who worked closely with offi She chose not to, saying the timing wasn’t be done, to develop constructive trust relation cials in crafting the resolution, testified how she right due to anti-gay campaigns and potential ships between those who have experienced gen was proud to live in a city whose leaders active legal obstacles involving the city’s inclusion of der identity discrimination, and public and pri ly demonstrated a concern for the “basic dignity sexual orientation in the human rights code. vate officials.” of all citizens.” A few months later, Kafoury and Commis But she adds: “Issues of employment and Kristin Teigen, executive director of Equity sioner Jim Francesconi advanced a plan that health care are primary, and this resolution cre Foundation, told commissioners: “You have slashed the commission’s budget and scope of ates a tangible prospect that we can cooperate to responded to an expressed need by your work responsibilities. dispel decades of misunderstanding, and make a place.” She added she was pleased council mem More than two years later, as he was about to real difference in people's lives. Portland is now bers recognized that discrimination in any form cast his vote on the gender identity resolution, a place of unique opportunity to start this impor is neither right nor profitable. Francesconi recalled that trying period. tant work." Elaine Lemer, president of the Northwest “It was painful when Gretchen and I Katz chimes, “It’s a beginning.” D Pro Lab N.W. Inc. Gender Alliance, talked about the need for respecting others, despite differences. “I don’t understand why people skydive, but I don’t make fun of them,” she said, later observ ing, “Being transgendered in the ’90s is like being gay in the ’60s.”