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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2000)
tune 16. 2000 * Ju s t out 17 fruì m; ivi *.i mews Clearly, the OCA and its allies do not want to suffer a third loss in their attempt to bring anti-gay wording to Oregon law books. As in any campaign in these times, the battle will like ly play out in the media. The June 4 edition of The Oregonian printed a guest column written by the Rev. Kelly Boggs, pastor of Valley Baptist Church in McMin nville, and Lou Beres, executive director of the state Christian Coalition. The men’s commen tary, reaching out to Christians for support of the proposed ballot measure, continues an 8- year-old effort to convince Oregon voters that public agencies should not he allowed to he “gay-friendly.” This time, proponents of the Student Pro tection Act will attempt to convince Oregoni ans that their children are unsafe at school as a result of the promotion of homosexuality by staff, administrators and students. “It is inappropriate for a public school to pro mote sexual exploration, especially homosexual experimentation,” the men wrote. Boggs and Beres suggested the church and its leaders should fervently support this initiative effort and declared that “the church has a moral responsibility to remind society of that which is proper.” “When a public school conducts a workshop or distributes literature encouraging students to experiment with homosexuality, it is endorsing a less than healthful practice,” according to Boggs and Beres. alboa announced to his lunch guests that he recently received an e-mail from an em- B L ployer in Douglas County who is interested in signing BRO’s Fair Workplace Pledge. Douglas County, Balboa pointed out, is “OCA country”—a largely rural county that is home to many conservative citizens who tend to support the OCA and anti-gay initiatives. If the Douglas County company signs the pledge soon, it will be the 401st company to do so. The Fair Workplace Pledge protects some 100,000 workers from discriminatory practices not covered by state or local laws. Friedenwald-Fishman’s company, Metropoli tan Group, signed BRO’s first Fair Workplace Pledge four years ago. The afternoon’s keynote speaker, Julie Jensen, a human resources manager and diversi ty specialist for Hewlett Packard, made an emo tional plea for continuing the fight against dis crimination. “When we see a teachable moment, a chance to make a difference, we must seize that,” Jensen said. If that chance is missed, Jensen continued, any individual could remain the one missing voice that might have made a difference. “The one voice lacking for an individual, a group—or the whole world—to change,” she said. ^ •• Second Nature HOME &> GARDEN CENTER 'Bring in this cid untl receive 10% OFF nil perennials through May 312000 We fe a tu re ■Annuals -Perennials ■ Shrubs & Trees • Hanging Baskets Garden Accessories • Statuary ■ If you are interested in hosting an informational house party, volunteering your time to BASIC RIGHTS O regon to fight discrimination and the OCA’s ballot measure, or would like to make a donation, contact BRO at (503) 222-6151; P.O. Box 40625, Portland, OR 97240; or www.basi- crights.org. European Baskets • Vases and Lamps Cut Flowers • Pottery Keepsake Gifts • Free Gift Wrap 8601 SWTerwilliger Blvd. (next to the Chevron station) M c M innville P astor S peaks hen Just Out asked the Rev. Kelly Boggs, pastor of McMinnville’s Valley Baptist Church, about the literature distrib uted in public schools that encourages stu dents to “experiment with homosexuality”— which he cited in “Christians Should Support OCA Initiative,” printed June 4 in The Ore- gonian—he could neither recall his source nor find the documents in his office. “I can’t tell you exactly,” Boggs said, claim ing that he had them filed away. But the pastor reiterated his assertion that he has reviewed literature used in Oregon schools that encourages homosexual experi mentation. With the Oregon Christian Coalition’s Lou Beres, Boggs co-wrote the guest commentary calling for Christians to support the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s Student Protection Act. He believes that sexual orientation is a choice. The Texas transplant, in Oregon for just one year, wasn’t aware that the OCA was the petition’s sponsor— “The Oregonian edited that in,” he said—and he maintains that he doesn’t know OCA honcho Lon Mabon and wouldn’t recognize him on the street. Boggs also denies that his church has any affiliation with the Christian Coalition. “The Bible has to be our guide,” Boggs told Just Out. The pastor said he Isn’t aware of any gay men or lesbians in his congregation but admit ted it is “definitely possible." Boggs said he would sit down and meet with a congregant who was identified as gay or lesbian. If the person foiled to move toward redemption, the congregation would eventual ly be notified and the individual would loose ■ Reported by J onathan KlPP his or her church membership. W One With Heart Martial Arts Institute SE 43rd & Hawthorne 231-1999 503 . 977.6545 “When stepping into a church, we have to have standards,” he explained. Boggs said he came to the church in his early 20s, after struggling with alcohol and drugs. While he has no known contact with sexual minorities in his church, Boggs has been close to at least two gay men, one his old est and best childhood friend. Both died of AIDS-related illnesses, he said. Despite his softened rhetoric, relative to that of the OCA, Boggs is clear about where he stands on the issue ot homosexuality—par ticularly in schools. Boggs is concerned that homosexuality is being promoted to students. Surprisingly, Boggs isn’t upset if homosexu als teach in schools, “as long as they don’t pro mote that lifestyle,” he said. Boggs added that tolerance, in his mind, doesn’t mean “accept it and you can’t say it is wrong.” “Don't ask, don’t tell—that’s the tolerance that I go by,” he said. Sexuality shouldn’t ever be an issue at schools, Boggs insisted. “I’d be just as alarmed, and I am, if it were heterosexual sex being promoted,” he explained, serving up condom distribution in schools as an example. “It’s just as wrong.” Pastor Boggs may have entered into territo ry that he didn’t expect, backing an initiative without knowing more about its sponsor. Still, his congregation in McMinnville asked that he write the article and that he use the church’s name. The congregation wants to take a stand, he said. “We have extremists on both sides,” Boggs added. “I don’t see myself as that.” Boggs explained that he is just an average Southern Baptist pastor trying to make a dif ference and stand up for his beliefs. He stressed that everyone has the right to do so. Rates Movin’ throuah this Millennium with 1 Millvnn & Marcee. 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