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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1999)
L ively L awmaking The convening Oregon Legislature promises to serve feisty fare on queer issues by Hm Joyce he 1999 Oregon legislative session, which opens for business Jan. 11, has explosive potential regarding gay and lesbian rights. Republicans control both chambers, but fighting over a landmark court ruling could fracture the G rand Old Party. Democrats will likely battle to maintain ground on social issues, while lobbyists will push on both sides. Bottom line?The next six months in Salem could produce quite a fireworks show— one that could spark trouble for sexual minori ties throughout Oregon. “1 think it’s going to be a hard session in a lot of ways, and I hope I’m wrong,” says Rep. Kitty Piercy, a Eugene Democrat and the House minority leader. During the 1997 session, state lawmakers wrangled over gay and lesbian rights. Television cameras captured G O P leaders scrambling around the Capitol after Rep. Chuck Carpenter, a gay Republican, forced his own party to shut down the House for a few days in order to avoid Carpenter's sexual orientation anti-discrimina tion bill. “I was just as surprised as the other people on the floor,” says House Speaker-elect Lynn Snod grass. A Republican who dubs herself the “blonde from Boring,” Snodgrass says defining gay issues is difficult. “W hen you talk about the gay and lesbian community you’re talking about family mem bers, doctors, lawyers, parents, so there’s a lot of issues crossing all kinds of lines. There are lines all over the board,” she says. a date 02 / 13/99 Looks may be deceiving: T he legislative chamber’s orderly appearance belies the turmoil that politicians and pundits are predicting for the next session “It takes two chambers to pass a bill,” notes state Sen. Susan Castillo, a Democrat from Eugene. “Are we going to be a state that stands up for equal rights for all of its people or not.7” she asks. "I think we are. T hat’s what the court decision says, and I’m all for it.” “O n the Republican side, opinion sometimes he Legislature boils down to a numbers varies by 180 degrees,” admits Senate President game. If you have the votes to turn an idea Brady Adams, who describes himself as a fiscal into law, you win. For this session, those num conservative and “middle of the road on just he next six months are extremely impor bers favor Republicans. about everything else.” “I can shout and stand on my speaker’s desk, tant," insists Jean Harris, executive direc He says: “I’d he disappointed if the gay and but if I can’t get 30 others to vote for m e...,” says tor of Basic Rights Oregon, a statewide group lesbian community saw Republicans as an Snodgrass, pausing for emphasis. that advocates for gay and lesbian rights. “The enemy or as a threat, or say we’re trying to work Still, this mother of two has a powerful hand good news is Republicans are becoming as knowledgeable as Democrats are on some [gay] steering the House. She determines what legis against any Oregonian. T hat’s not what I’m lation goes where in a chamber where Republi about, and not what I think my colleagues are issues. We plan on working on both sides of the cans hold 34 of 60 votes. Social issues, like gay about.” aisle.” W hen pressed, the G rants Pass banker equity, rank far behind other concerns for Snod As this Legislature convenes, many gay and admits he hasn’t given much thought to gay grass. lesbian activists say Oregon’s status quo is better issues, and it seems he’d rather not. Indeed, he “I have very strong moral beliefs," she says, than ever. W hile same-sex marriage remains says social issues won’t get attention unless a “[but] that doesn’t mean I’m out to build fires.” illegal, gay people are adopting on a case-hy-case majority wants it. Regardless, the Tanner ruling, which also basis. Portland’s school district still refuses to let Estimating the value of Adams’ moderate requires that state and local governmental enti military recruiters visit high schools (because stance, Castillo says: “If he gets really strong “officials say the “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pur ties provide benefits to the partners of gay and pressure from his caucus, he won’t he able to put lesbian employees, is sparking controversy— sue” policy is discriminatory). The list of com them aside.” panies offering domestic partner benefits is even before the session begins. Back in the House, Mannix says efforts to “I do think [the court] really ran away with growing. Sexual orientation is in Oregon’s hate thwart Tanner aren’t anti-gay, just anti-change. this one,” says Mannix. “There are times where crime statute. He says societal changes shouldn’t come from a particular revolutionary court decision But the looming queer issue this go ’round the state’s judicial branch. requires a reaction.” will no doubt stem from a recent Oregon Court The Dem<x:rat-tumed-Republican is one of a of Appeals ruling, widely known as the Tanner handful of lawmakers crafting three bills to com eanwhile, BRO’s Harris says, “We have to decision. (See Just Out’s Dec. 18 issue for in- bat the decision. pay attention to the store.” depth coverage of the ruling.) O ne gives what Mannix calls “special rights W ith a coalition of gay and human rights Though the ruling focused on employment groups, BRO is expanding from campaigning issues, it appears to prohibit nearly all discrimi status” to married couples, circumventing O re gon’s equal protection clause. The other two into lobbying. nation based on sexual orientation. Tanner may make local government action and/or voter Right to Pride, which has taken the lobbying also give same-sex couples equity with married approval a prerequisite for domestic partner lead for nearly 20 years, is not heading up the couples. effort this time, says RTP’s Katherine Tennyson, “It’s the first time in the country a state con benefits and nondiscrimination policies. All three bills would be referred to voters. who is leaving the group’s board of directors in stitution protects lesbian and gay people in or “It certainly makes you wonder where we’re January. around sexual orientation. T h at’s historical," going to spend our time in the legislative ses "But we do think it’s important there be a says Harris. sion," says Piercy, adding that Snodgrass, as presence in Salem given the Tanner ruling,” she T he question now is whether conservative speaker, could— and should—stop these contro says, adding that RTP is part of the coalition. forces will shred Tanner. Harris adds: “We can’t throw up our hands N ot surprisingly, Lou Beres of O regon’s versial bills. “I think it’ll be another session where we’ll and say, ‘It’s a conservative Legislature, we can’t Christian Coalition is looking at the decision be wrestling to hold on to the kind of Oregon do anything. So we’U just go do other things.’ skeptically. we’re proud to live in,” she assesses. We have to be there, every day. We have to “There’s a difference between job security In the Senate, on the other hand, Republi monitor the bills, because in politics every day is and holding hostage employers and getting extra a new day.” rights, like the minority community and for cans hold 17 of 30 seats. T women,” he says. “If they’re going that direc tion, then th a t’s wrong. 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