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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2000)
lune 2, 2000 » ¡m at a m ,g nTìTìUTWnTJnews S oft S ell S olution Bigot Busters hit the streets— and shopping centers— on a nonconfrontational voter education mission by Jonathan K i PP hile many Portlanders were spread implications and that all Oregonians just starting their Memorial would be negatively impacted. Day weekend with a favorite “This will effect all youth,” says Bigot Buster esPresso drink, nearly a Jordana Sardo. dozen decided to do some This is a touchy subject, Laverdure adds, thing different— spread the word. referring to the issue of homosexuality and chil Bigotry is back in Oregon and, as usual, sex dren. ual minorities are the target. As summer “People are concerned about their kids. approaches, a small army of anti-gay petitioners They’re playing on the myth that pedophilia is are working on weekends to keep Oregon’s chil perpetrated by gays,” she says. dren safe. That is what the Oregon Citizens Adrienne Weller, a veteran activist, says she Alliance is telling voters, anyway. heard anti-gay pundits on National Public The Bigot Busters want to maker sure voters Radio talking about classes on lesbianism hear the other side before they sign the O C A ’s offered by public schools. petition. Children aren’t in danger, the Busters “They want to stop something that isn’t hap say, all Oregonians are in danger. pening,” Weller says. “The legalization of discrimination against Bigot Busters is not so much an organization W Your Vancouver Realtor! DO YOU THINK YOU OH SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS Knowledgeable Enthusiastic Dedicated Negotiator Buyers & Sellers The Mediation Pilot Prorata would Ilka to help. BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF BEING GAY/LESBIAN/RISEXUAE OR TRANSGENDERED? We're available to help resolve conflicts or problems at work, in housing, or public CKCommoaation. Confidential consultation and mediation services are KEN SPURLOCK, GRI Multi-Million Dollar Producer WWW.JOHNLSCOTT.COM/KENNlTHS Call 360-901-4944 free of charge. The City of Portland wants to help resolve discrimination problems. For more info, call Mediation Pilot Program, 274-9886 or TTY 1-800-735-2900 Put Your Get the representation you deserve. PHOTO BY JONATHAN KIPP • Web Programmers • Clean room/Fab Operators • High Tech Sales/Management Professionals • Entry-level Production, Gerical, and Customer Service Executive A ssista n ts 503 223.0585 Phone / Fax 503/478.1981 Justwork@cdrstaffing.com PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL STAFFING • KEY PLAYER Bigot Busters taking a break to confer with one another at Eastport Plaza anyone is the first step,” a veteran Bigot Buster says. A combination of neophytes and veterans from the days of measures 9 and 13 gathered at Portland’s Northwest Neighborhood Cultural Center to learn the ins and outs of being a Bigot Buster. The training session lasted an hour; it focused on the rules of bigot busting and cover ing the tactics used by the other side— namely, the O C A and the Oregon chapter of the Chris tian Coalition. The goal? To educate voters and defuse the misinformation campaign being waged by the O C A and the Christian Coalition, according to organizer Jennifer Laverdure. Bigot Busters, who go out into the commu nities where voters are likely to sign initiative petitions, are intent on reaching the people who are interested in what they have to say. The vol unteers provide information to potential voters about anti-gay initiatives and legislation. The group has no interest in debating with the O C A , organizers say. “They will try to goad you into debate and push your buttons with their bigoted statements and remarks,” the Bigot Busters’ policy warns. The group members work in pairs and are instructed to remain calm and orderly in the event tempers flare or the police arrive. The policy states: “W e are not to he arrest ed.” The O C A is busy collecting signatures to put its “Student Protection A c t” on November’s ballot. The initiative, if passed, would prevent schools (including community colleges) from presenting any information about homosexuali ty or bisexuality “in a manner which encour ages, promotes or sanctions such behaviors.” The state chapter of the Christian Coalition has joined the O C A in the effort to gather the 66,786 signatures needed by the July 7 deadline. Critics say the initiative would have wide- or movement as much as bigot busting is a tech nique, Weller explains. The approach started in Oregon during an anti-gay campaign in 1992, when several members o f the Portland-based organization Radical Women went to the streets to convince voters they were being duped by the O C A . W hile the Bigot Busters came out of the No on 9 campaign, it since has become a main stream strategy, Weller explains. Group organizers say the call for Bigot Busters goes out when needed. There is no office or organization. Many Oregonians are waiting until July to see if the O C A submits the needed signatures before taking the Student Protection A ct seri ously, the Busters say. But those at the Bigot Busters training believe they need to be as proactive as possible before the proposed initia tive makes it to the ballot. Following the training session, the partici pants made their way to Eastport Plaza, located along congested Southeast 82nd Avenue. O C A signature gatherers have recently been spotted at major shopping centers in the area, but they were not present when the Bigot Busters arrived. It was not clear whether the volunteers were disappointed or relieved. Despite the O C A ’s absence, the Bigot Busters approached shoppers, handed out their pamphlets and tried to engage voters in a short hut poignant conversation. “We got a gcxxl response,” Laverdure says of the overall feedback from voters. But some were surprised that the O C A is hack, she says. Many voters said, “Oh, no!” ■ The next BlGOT BUSTERS meeting is planned for II a.m. June 3 in Room 201, Northwest Neigh - borhood C ultural Center, 1819 N .W . Everett St. (Donations may be sent to the same address, in care of Radical W om en.) For more information, call (5 0 3 ) 228-3090. I f Y ou ’ re L ooking F or S omeone W ho U nderstands , L ook N o F urther . You’re an individual with unique financial needs and goals. As hard as banks and other institutions try, traditional products simply are not right for you. Talk with Floreid Walker instead. As a Senior Financial Advisor, she’s earned the trust of individuals by treating them like individuals. 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