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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1999)
lebruary là. 1999 * J u s t ITìTTÌTlnetus ortland police say there has been an ongoing slide in reported bias crimes based on sexual orientation during the past several months, and they’re not sure what’s behind that drop. “Are the crimes not occurring or do we no longer have the trust of the communityF pon dered Mark Paresi, an assistant chief with the Portland Police Bureau, during a Feb. 9 meeting of the Sexual Minorities Roundtable. The roundtable, which was established in the early 1990s as a monthly gathering of sexual minorities and bureau personnel, is designed to give participants the chance to exchange infor mation and share concerns about law enforce ment interaction with sexual minorities. Bureau roundtables also exist for other constituencies, such as Asians and Hispanics. In 1994, the Sexual Minorities Roundtable crafted a partnership agreement, signed on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, which urged the members of the bureau and community to con tinue meeting on a regular basis, and asked them to “work to increase personal safety.” The agree ment also included a commitment by police to recruit and retain sexual minorities. Often times, the queer roundtable has served as a debriefing site, a place where police repre sentatives would give community members updates on hate crimes or a particular bias case. As with reported bias incidents, roundtable attendance has plummeted over time, prompt ing some to question whether the entity should disband. Others, however, disagree, arguing it is an important communication channel to law enforcement. With anti-gay ballot initiative campaigns always a distinct possibility in Ore gon, they say that such a networking device is vital to the community’s well-being. Participation in the Crisis Response Team for sexual minorities is also sputtering. The bureau has four teams covering the North/Northeast, Asian, Hispanic and sexual minorities communities. The former, estab lished in 1994, was so successful it led to the cre ation of the others teams. The sexual minorities Crisis Response Team was founded in 1996. The team is comprised of screened and trained volunteers who provide support to vie- P the sexual minorities group is “hurting” for vol unteers. She says a training is planned for the near future “probably just for the sexual minorities team because the numbers are so low.” As for the decline in reported bias crimes, Paresi asked roundtable attendees to informally survey the community to try and get a sense of what’s happening. Bias crimes are criminal acts against people and property who are targeted because of, among other categories, sexual orientation. In 1996, 42 sexual orientation-related bias crimes were reported. That number dropped to 31 in 1997, and declined to 20 last year. Allanya Guenther, executive director of Phoenix Rising Foundation, an agency provid ing mental health services to sexual minorities, attended the Feb. 9 roundtable meeting. She suggested “more violence is occurring than you’re seeing,” and she cited instances of domestic violence between same-sex couples. “A gay man involved in a domestic assault may feel he won’t be taken seriously by police,” she told Paresi. “We don’t address domestic vio lence in this community.” She also said queer youth, who may not want— or know how to— turn to police are often the targets of harassment and violence. Transsexual activist Lori Buckwalter added many transsexual and transgendered people may “feel reluctant to partake” in a system they sim ply don’t trust. Meanwhile, Norm Costa, vice chair of Pride Northwest Inc., which orchestrates Portland’s annual pride parade, said he expects reports will jump “if we have another mean-spirited cam paign.” Warren later told Just Out: "I’m befuddled as to what is happening. Maybe it’s the calm before the storm, or maybe we’re in a better place.” C ritic a l N eed Sexual minority participation in community policing programs is in a slump by Inga Sorensen or holidays, and to dispel rumors tims of traumatic events, their families and tension surrounding a particu fort*»«» and loved ones follow lar incident. William Warren, an architect ing a crisis. C r is is of the partnership agreement and Team members may Response originator of the sexual minori be called by police or ties Crisis Response Team, has medical personnel to assist Team also served as a team member. with serious assaults, “Sometimes a victim or the homicides, accidental victim’s partner may just want deaths, and hate- or bias-1 motivated crimes, among to sit quietly with you,” he other situations. explains. “Other times they According to police, in may ask a lot of questions, many situations the first like ‘Was it a hate crime? responders to an emergency What do we do next? Will don’t have the resources to our names be in the papier?’ If the victim wants to press provide the services needed by charges, you can assist the victims. As a result, the vic rtl»"4 tims or survivors may feel con with that process.... It ,<*•»**■ Wl"«“ varies from situation to fused or isolated, which can situation.” increase their trauma during an already stressful period. Whatever the cir cumstance, Warren The team may help minimize the effects of the trauma by provid says, it feels good to as** ing services frequently not available know the support you through other means. It also may be provide may make a more comfortable, for example, for a trying time a bit easier for victim of a gay bashing to receive someone. support from another gay person. “Your team is the only If necessary, team members one losing members,” Paresi provide immediate on-site sup told the Sexual Minorities Roundtable. “We need your port to those affected by the inci R* 0 --------------- Í.J.J participation for this to dent; accompany an injured per son to the hospital; assist with work...the officers rely upon follow-up referrals to appropri you. a d s * ...- s » ate agencies, including victim As of Jan. 31, the North/ assistance programs; help with Northeast team had 27 members, ... M «-0 followed by the Asian team with funeral arrangements; and fol low up with the victim or 13 participants, Hispanic team I * ' * * f c ? »C-u, r P,,ef; * Æ * 89 Lo» att-dW o family for at least two weeks. with 11, and sexual minorities In addition, the team can with 3 members. ^•oorj be utilized as a preventive Officer Victoria Wade, program measure during protests, social events coordinator for all the teams, says P o r t l a n d ' s O N LY I ndependent • N oncommercial L istener -S ponsored C ommunity R adio S tation . vllxti ■ The S exual M inorities R oundtable meets on the second Tuesday o f each month from noon to l p.m. in the chiefs office at the Portland Police Bureau, 111 l S.W. Second Ave. in Portlartd. The meetings are open to the entire community. To learn more about becoming a CRISIS R esponse T eam volunteer, call Victoria Wade at 823-2095. 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