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^ »«B U S IN E S S A SSO C IA T IO N »^
The
Portland Area
Business
Association
encourages ail
current and
prospective
members
to attend the
monthly
luncheon
June 14
11:30 am-noon
Mallorv Hotel
(free parking in parking structure)
Election of
Officers
and
Special Guest
Speaker
Kathleen Saadat
Members and
guests $14.50
Reservations must
be made by 6/9/99.
www.paba.com
or
(503)241-2222
H ere W e G o
A gain
Continued from the cover
A
launched asking the public if it supports ban­
ning same-sex marriage in Oregon. The ques­
tion, which was prompted by HJR29, is accom­
panied by a picture of two men shown from the
waist up. They are holding hands, their backs
are to the audience, and they wear no clothing.
When last checked by Just Out staff, the vote
in favor of the ban had snagged 992 votes, while
883 opposed it, and 34 were undecided.
More than 50 people also posted responses.
“Reb” wrote: “I have nothing against gay and
lesbian people, but I believe same-sex marriage
is a joke. This is your choice. The taxpayers
have a heavy enough burden supporting the
people we already have. Depend on yourself.
Same sex is not a family unit.”
But “Geoff” countered: “I think that if gay
people aren’t allowed the benefits of a legal mar­
riage, they should only be required to pay a cer­
tain percent of taxes. They don’t have kids
“Let them bring it on. It gives us a chance to
pick up more supporters,” Harris says, adding
that she believes Mannix’s version of HJR29
will ultimately be deemed in violation of the
state constitution’s provision that ballot mea­
sures may tackle only one issue. (HJR29 deals
with both marriage and benefits.)
Still, she’s urging bill detractors to contact
their representatives and senators to voice their
opposition.
“It’s no time to sit back,” she says.
BRO is clearly the leading organization bat­
tling the measure, but another group may be in
the works.
In an e-mail, former state Rep. George Eigh-
mey writes: “If the majority report passes, mean­
ing Kevin Mannix’s anti-gay version, I intend to
form an organization to fight it. I will need your
support and assistance if we are once again faced
with an anti-gay measure. There will be other
s Just Out went to press, the resolution
was poised for House floor action.
Under the measure, Oregonians would
be asked to vote in a Nov. 2 special election to
define marriage as the union between a man and
a woman and to invalidate Tanner vs. OHSU.
Rep. Randall Edwards, a Portland Democrat,
is pushing an alternative measure (via a minori­
ty report) which eliminates Mannix’s language
that the state “must” define marriage as being
between one man and one woman, and substi­
tutes the word may. The minority report also
nixes Mannix’s provision that
same-sex couples be denied ben­
efits.
GOP Reps. Lane Shetterly of
Dallas and Max Williams of
Tigard announced that they
plan to vote for Edwards’ ver­
sion, not M annix’s, when it
comes to the floor. How the
Senate will act remains to be
seen, but Senate President Brady
Adams has said social issues like
same-sex marriage are not a pri­
ority.
Still, political observers say
there’s a solid chance an anti­
gay measure will make it
through the Republican-con­
trolled Legislature to voters.
And if it does, you can expect
things to heat up— something
many of those who testified said
they hoped wouldn’t happen.
Among them was Christine
Tanner, a plaintiff in the Tanner
case. “You will no doubt recall
the series of measures, since
1988, that Oregon voters had to
decide on,” she told the commit­ Oregon Rep. Kevin Mannix testifies in favor of House Joint Resolution 29 during a May 25 hearing
tee. “For each of those measures,
scores of Oregon citizens spent thousands of going to school, why should they pay, they can’t groups that will be fighting this measure, such as
hours campaigning to prevent legalization of claim each other in tax season, maybe they
Basic Rights Oregon, however, many of you
discrimination. We have so many more impor­ should pay 50 percent of the straight couple’s have informed me that the best way to fight this
tant issues facing us, issues which do not make amount, sort of a ‘gay’ exemption! Perfect idea!"
measure is to hit it head on as discriminatory
enemies of some part of our electorate.”
While “Bo” shouted: “If Joe can marry Bob,
and mean-spirited.”
Jimmy and Norma Walters of Tigard, who then can I marry my dog Blaze? It’s sensational­
He adds: “ In addition, you have said that we
will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
ism, it’s nuts.... I like a male friend better than need to have spokespersons who are mainstream
this year, told lawmakers one of their three chil­ my wife sometimes, but get real, marriage??? instead of from the extreme. I believe we can
dren is a lesbian. Jimmy, a veteran of World War
II, Korea and Vietnam, noted how recent edito­
On the Internet, the debate rages. On a D igital C ity/P o rtlan d Web page,
rials in The Oregonian and Eugene Register'Guard
which features news and entertainm ent tidbits about the City o f Roses, a poll
opposed HJR29, saying the Tanner decision was
a pure application of the constitutional require­
has been launched asking the public i f it supports banning sam e-sex m arriage
ment that all citizens receive equal treatment
under the law.
in Oregon.. . . When last checked by Just Out staff, the vote in favo r o f the bon
“That’s all Norma and I ask for our children,
had snagged 9 9 2 votes, while 8 8 3 opposed it, and 3 4 were undecided.
equal treatment under the law, not for two of
them but all three of our children,” he said,
adding, “[HJR29] would promote conflicts simi­ These are sick people, gives me the heebie jee-
organize such a coalition and be proud we are
lar to those occurring during ballot measures 9 bies.... I (eel sorry for them a little, but I sure part of it. Let us hope we do not have to do so,
and 13.”
wont [sicj legitimize their sickness as an accept­ but please he prepared to stand up for equal
Proponents of the measure cited the Bible to able form of behavior any more than marriage
rights for all.”
make their case. Jerry Probst, a Baptist pastor, between men and boys, or animals, which is the
In a later phone interview with Just Out,
added, “I believe it’s better to be proactive,
next perversion if we turn our heads on this
Eighmey said he’s exploring the idea of starting
building the wall before the assault begins.”
one."
an “educational organization,” perhaps utilizing
But state Rep. Anitra Rasmussen, a Portland
a speakers’ bureau, to handle the volatile issue of
Democrat, testified: “I find no compelling rea­
ere we go again,” says Jean Harris, execu­ gay and lesbian rights.
son to stand between (same-sex couples) and
tive director of Basic Rights Oregon, the
O f BRO’s Harris, he says: “Jean has done a
state-sanctified marriage.... I ask you to turn group heading up the fight against the anti-eav
superb job fund raising and getting employers to
away from this resolution.”
bills.
sign onto their Fair Workplace Project, but
On the Internet, meanwhile, the debate
She estimates her group will have to raise when it comes to being a spokesperson, there
rages. On a Digital City/Portland Web page,
more than $2 million to counter a ballot mea­ may be other people better suited to do that type
which features news and entertainment tidbits sure. Despite that challenge, she’s looking at the of work.”
about the City of Roses, a poll has been brighter side.
H