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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2000)
ti rTTìTìTTWiPìlnews H odgepodge T ime What's going down in community goings-on? We've got a few tidbits by Inga Sorensen R e g is t r y P l a n o, how do people feel about a domestic part nership registry? During her Jan. 28 State of the City address, Portland Mayor Vera Katz revealed the city’s intentions to move forward with such a plan. The registry, which would be Oregon’s sec ond, would give same-sex couples an opportuni ty to register their relationships at the municipal level. It will likely be a joint registry with Mult nomah County. Since the announcement, the mayor’s office has received an estimated two dozen calls, let ters and e-mails on the topic, says Sam Adams, Katz’s chief of staff. “There’s more negative than positive feed back,” Adams tells Just Out. He says some of the negative criticism stems from people’s religious viewpoints regarding homosexuality, as well as concerns about the use of taxpayers’ dollars to fund such a program. According to Adams, new initiatives often generate responses from the public, and, gener ally speaking, the feedback comes from naysay ers. “It’s not uncommon. It isn’t just the registry,” he says. In other words, perhaps it’s human nature, 1 - speaking out when you’re opposed to something and staying silent when you’re content. Some Pride Northwest board members circa August 1999 (clockwise from top left) “I think the response has been typical of Kristan Aspen (who is no longer on the board), Norm Costa, retiring chairman most things like this,” assesses Maura Roche of Christopher Webster, Carmella Fttinger and Jes Nelson Basic Rights Oregon, a statewide gay and lesbian political organization. “What we likely have here is a small minority of people who have mid-January, 16 gay and lesbian couples had reg Webster, who has served as board chairman strongly held anti-gay views and are letting istered with no public brouhaha in sight. for the past several months, resigned Feb. 12. those views be known.” “I’m leaving for personal reasons,” Webster For her part, Roche would like to see registry ■ Want to let Portland officials know how you feel says. “I need to deal with some other issues in my supporters contact public officials and express about a domestic partnership registry? If so, give life right now.” M ayor V era K a t z a buzz at (503) 823-4120. their sentiments. This year’s pride event, to be held in mid- “Our people should be reminded to be vocal You can also check in with Portland City Commis June, would have been Webster’s fourth with the too,” she says. “It’s a nice thing to say thanks to sioners Dan Saltzman at 823-4151, Erik Sten at organization. In the past he served as treasurer. 823-3589, Jim Francesconi at 823-3008 and “I became involved in Pride Northwest the mayor.” because I enjoy production, and that’s what our According to Adams, Katz has no intentions Charlie Hales at 823-4682 work should be about—producing a great com of backing away from pursuing a domestic part munity-wide event.” nership registry. “We’re moving ahead on this," he says, B o a r d S h u f f l e This past August, Just Out reported on some of the challenges facing Pride Northwest— adding that a more detailed plan should be ready fter nearly four years on the board of Pride namely, how the board was struggling to attract for viewing in early April. “We’re excited about Northwest Inc., the group that produces a broader cross section of the queer community this.” Ashland approved a registry for same-sex Portland’s annual pride parade and festival, to get involved in the group and the orchestra tion of pride weekend. couples that took effect in November. As of Christopher Webster is saying goodbye. S Çôjtf •••••••• " " T I A The new hot spot for Pan Asian Cuisine We Cater All Occasions Reservations Recommended Lunch M-F Dinner every night Meanwhile, over the past few months, board makeup has changed a bit, with some folks leav ing and others signing on, and there has been some shifting in committee assignments. Throughout, the board has also pondered visions and ideas for this years event. The float ed concepts include Pride Northwest securing a headliner to perform at Pride 2000. “This is a very big community,” says Pride Northwest hoard member Norm Costa. “There are a lot of different tastes, and I’ve heard a lot of people in the community say they’d like to see different types of entertainment on stage.” Costa acknowledges that not every idea will resonate with everybody. But, he says, it’s important for Pride Northwest to be a responsi ble and responsive organization. Still, he notes, growth and change can sometimes cause dis comfort. “Out of chaos comes change—which is usu ally good,” he says. “We’re going to prevail.” D o n e D ea l orthwest Christian College’s new master’s degree program in school counseling has been accredited by the Oregon Teacher Stan dards and Practices Commission —despite the fact that the Eugene-based school asks its stu dents to support a code of conduct that deems homosexual behavior as unacceptable. Some critics had expressed concerns about the college’s code of conduct, saying students who abide by it may have difficulty being sensi tive to the concerns of the sexual minority youths they may someday counsel. Basic Right Oregon, a gay and lesbian rights group, called upon its supporters to contact David Myton, executive director of the state Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. The commission, whose purpose is “to ensure that every student is provided with a competent and ethical educator,” establishes rules for licensing, issues teaching licenses and takes appropriate disciplinary action against teachers in violation of Oregon statutes or per formance standards. Despite BRO’s call to action, the commis sion accredited Northwest Christian College’s two-year master’s program in school counseling on Jan. 14- Just Out made several calls to Myton. He did not respond to our inquiries. N ■ For questions or comments about Just O ut’s Northwest, national or world news coverage, please send an e-mail to News Editor I n g a SORENSEN at inga@justout. com. For 9 5 years w e've tran sform ed co m m o n in g red ien ts in to u n co m m o n ly g o o d fo o d . Join us for our uncommonly good dinners, (your ingredients may vary). WE DELIVER 288-3960 1411 NE Broadway Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Tu e s . Sa t . 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