Just out., June 02, 2000, Image 1

M s , Behavior interview
Pa y e 4 5 ; ailvice column
on Page 4 7
P o r tla n d , O r e g o n
FR EE
BIGGER THAN
STRONGER
T H A F KÛEU"
Ju st Out looks at women’s body image
\
traumas and triumphs
O r ia n a G r e e n
P H O T O BY T A M A R A L I S C H K A
by
Page 21
Red-taped registry
Portland-Multnomah County domestic
partnership registry delayed, m ayor’s
office expects vote soon BY J onathan K ipp
upporters of a domestic partnership registry
in Portland and throughout Multnomah
County, who had expected to unveil the
details of the registry at Portlands annual
pride celebration, recently announced a disap­
pointing delay in the proceedings.
T h e plan to create a registry, announced by
Portland Mayor Vera Katz in January, is said to
have support from both the Multnomah County
Commission and the Portland City Council. A
joint vote on the registry, scheduled for May 24,
was postponed, according to advisory committee
member George Eighmey.
“Its nothing bad. It’s just typical of what we
Sam Adams
have to do,” Eighmey, a former state representa­
tive, says about the sometimes slow pace of bureaucracies.
Sam Adams, Katz’s chief of staff, says it is taking more
time than anticipated to work out some of the legal and
policy issues in the proposed resolution. City and county
attorneys are currently reviewing the final wording. A draft
ordinance, Adams says, will be available for review the first
week o f June.
S
“We had hoped to have this done, com ­
pleted and implemented for Gay Pride
M onth,” Adams adds.
Adams says the delay will be short. After
the draft is complete, citizens will have
approximately two weeks for comment.
Following public com m ent, the draft will
begin to work its way through the county
ordinance-making process, Adams says. If the
ordinance is passed, it will be implemented
after 30 days.
T h e city of Portland and Multnomah
County conducted four focus groups in prepa­
ration for the vote, Adams says. According to
Eighmey, all the focus groups gave positive
feedback about the proposal.
W hile the registry will be available to everyone in
Multnomah County— regardless of sexual orientation—
the sexual minorities community was instrumental in
putting the registry idea on the table, Eighmey says.
Continued on Page 7