4uty2t. 2000
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13
A ct O ne
Basic Rights Oregon launches a campaign against
the Oregon Citizens Alliance's latest initiative by Jo n a th a n
mm,
Kipp
S A
. »e B*okrr
A sso ci
fter a six-year abscence from the
ballot, the Oregon Citizens A l
liance has returned with another
anti-gay initiative for Oregoni
ans to ponder. Although state
election officials haven’t yet confirmed the
“Student Protection A ct” will appear on the
Nov. 7 ballot, gay activists insist it will be there.
Many thought the O C A was defunct after
losing two efforts to codify its anti-homosexual
beliefs in the early ’90s and failing even to get on
the ballot in 1996 and ’98. But the alliance is
not only back, it is said to be more sophisticated
and better funded— and this time, it has brought
along some serious help.
Although Balboa and Sullivan say the initia
tive’s passage would have severe consequences
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for sexual minorities, their biggest concern at
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this point is for children. The Student Protec
M
t
e
tion A ct would put kids in danger, they say.
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Mabon and the O C A want to rid schools of
HIV and AIDS education, and the Student Pro
tection Act would accomplish that. Voter ap
proval of the act, Sullivan says, would censor criti
cal information kids need to keep themselves safe.
Voters with whom her team has talked also
are concerned about schoolchildren learning
the values of respect and fairness. Opponents of
the Student Protection Act say it selects one
group of Oregonians and singles them out for
harassment, discrimina-
| tion and hatred. Sulli-
> van thinks voters want
I their schools to reinforce
o values, all right— values
§ of respect and compas-
* sion, not harassment and
fear.
Oregonians like their
autonomy, she says. But
the O C A ’s initiative
calls for a statewide
mandate that essentially
Martial Arts Institute
takes control away from
SE 43rd & Hawthorne
local parents, teachers
and school boards. If the
act becomes law, special
interests will have the
right to tell voters what
should and should not
be taught to their chil
dren. Sullivan says al
lowing one special inter
est to impose its values
on Oregon’s kids will
open the door for any
special interest group to
• Fast 15 to 20 day
• Instant approval at
do the same.
closings
your home or office
According to BRO, what voters are worried
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about in schools is not the promotion of homo
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sexuality but lack of funding, overcrowding, lack
of parental involvement and violence. Schools
need stable financing, and parents know that,
Sullivan says. The O C A ’s measure threatens
Phone: (503) 294-0044
to cut state funding for schools that violate its
Fax: (503) 294-7115
prohibitions.
Cell: (503) 577-1981
T h e secretary of state’s office should be
5125 S.W. MACADAM • SUITE 145
EQUAL HOUSING PORTLAND, OR 97219
making an announcement about the initia
LENDER
tive’s future any day now, Sullivan says. BRO
Email: Cgraunitz@CH-Mortgage.cor
Loan Officer
has budgeted $1.1 million to defeat the mea
sure, but it might take more.
" I’m not convinced $1.1 (million] will win
this campaign," Sullivan says. “There are so
many initiatives to compete with.”
Organizers plan to raise most of the money
in the coming weeks. “W e’re going to raise the
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lion’s share right here in Oregon," Balboa says.
Although Balboa and Sullivan say they
have an excellent staff already in line and vol
unteers regularly calling to help, they fear the
average Oregonian isn’t yet aware of the
O C A ’s intent. “For the most part, people are
unaware that this is happening,” Sullivan says.
Happy Texas, Boys Don't Cry A More
W hether by door-to-door canvassers or via
media blitz, it is only a matter of time until
Oregon’s residents, straight and gay, learn
about what is ahead. But for those who are a
part of the pending political battle, the race
2544 NE Broadway Ph 331.1125
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already has started.
“W e’re going to fight this tooth and nail
until November," Balboa says.
One With Heart
. 231-1999
CH M ORTGAGE
Jaime Balboa (left) and Kathleen Sullivan
The Student Protection A ct received more
than enough signatures— 83,281 were submit
ted, according to the O C A — by the July 7 dead
line to procure a spot on November’s ballot.
Jaime Balboa, executive director of Basic
Rights Oregon, the state’s largest gay political or
ganization, isn’t waiting around for the secretary
of state’s office to authenticate the signatures.
“He got it,” Balboa says of O C A leader Lon
Mabon. Balboa says Mabon turns in the clean
est petitions of any group in Oregon and expects
less than 10 percent of the signatures to be dis
qualified. The alliance’s petitions exceeded the
required 66,786 signatures by about 24 percent.
The O C A has joined forces with the Oregon
Christian Coalition and is receiving support
from the Family Research Council, a Washing
ton, D.C.-based Christian organization, to pass
the Student Protection A ct in November.
The council believes “homosexuality is un
healthy, immoral and destructive to individuals,
families and societies.” The group calls for com
passion, rather than bigotry, to support healthy
healing for homosexuals who want to change
their sexual orientation, according to its litera
ture. The council is said to have extraordinary
financial resources, although figures are not
available on its Internet site.
‘ Balboa and campaign manager Kathleen
Sullivan spoke to Just Out about the seriousness
of the O C A ’s latest effort. Their somber de
meanor revealed as much about their concern as
did their articulate presentation.
Gai-Pied
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