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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2001)
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HAMID’S PERSIAN RUGS 901 SW Washington • Portland, OR 97205 ¡PERSIAN RUGS» SINCE I 98 I (503) 248-951 I Hours: Mon.-Sat 10-9, Sunday 12-5 len the Rev. Fred Phelps came to Ann Arbor last month, the gay community decided not to get mad. They decided to get rich. Among the locales the Kansas-based Phelps and his followers elected to pick et Feb. 17 was the gay-owned \a u t\ BAR. With only two days’ notice, co owners Keith Orr and Martin Contreras organized a unique fund-raising scheme in lieu of a counterprotest. They sent out an e-mail message ask ing customers and friends to pledge money to the Washtenaw Rainbow Keith Orr (right) and his partner, Martin Contreras, Action Project for every minute Phelps celebrate with their staff picketed the bar. This way, the longer he the expense of the rest of us,” said Elizabeth stayed to spew hate, the more money he would raise for the gay advocacy group and communi Toledo, NGLTF executive director. “While Bush has yet to address the real needs of gay, les ty center. bian, bisexual and transgendercd people, he has Pledges immediately began to pour in from as prioritized plans to line the pockets of those who far away as New Hampshire, Texas and Califor need it the least and to shift public funds to reli nia. By the day of the demonstration, supporters had promised to contribute a total of $107 for gious schools and churches.” every minute Phelps picketed the bar. CALIFORNIA “Normally, a fund-raising event of this mag ssemblymember Paul Koretz introduced nitude takes months of planning and a lot of up V legislation Feh. 23 en front costs,” Orr said. “In 48 hours, we raised over $6,000 without spending a dime. I was abling gay and lesbian cou ples to enter into a civil astonished.” On the day of the protest, Phelps’ follow union that would provide some of the rights, benefits, ers numbered only four adults and two small children. Meanwhile, more than 100 commu responsibilities and obliga tions afforded by the state to nity members gathered in the bar, celebrating different-sex couples when p aul Koretz while the Westboro Baptist Church stood they get married. outside raising money for Ann Arbor’s gay The California Family Protection Act of community. “Phelps is free to spread his message, howev 2001 principally was drafted by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, working er perverse we find it, wherever he wants; the in consultation with numerous attorneys and First Amendment protects his right to do that,” Orr said. “But we turned what could have been civil rights organizations. Lawmakers who have signed on as co-authors include Assem- a negative into a positive.” blymembers Dion Aroner, Wilma Chan, Marco Firebaugh, Jackie Goldberg, Christine NATIONAL Kehoe, John Longville, Carole Migden, Vir he National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ginia Strom-Martin, Herb Wesson and Sen. and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educa tion Network have joined the emerging Fair Sheila Kuehl. “This bill is about California’s interest in Taxes for All coalition, which warns about the encouraging close and caring families and Bush administration’s tax cut. NGLTF officials cited government predic promoting stable and lasting family relation ships,” said Jean Harris, tions that one in three California Alliance for families will not receive Pride and Equality exec any tax cut whatsoever, utive director. “It will while the most affluent give gay and lesbian 1 percent will receive an couples and the children average windfall of we are raising protection $45,000 a year or $120 a from the economic and day— about three times social consequences of what a minimum-wage major life crises as well worker is paid for an eight-hour day. According as protect the state and third parties from nu to GLSEN, a broad tax merous harms and cut might undermine ade quately funded public costs.” The American Civil schools— an essential part of providing a quality, dis Liberties Union of South crimination-free educa ern California issued a tion for all. statement of strong sup Kevin Jennings port for the legislation. “By devoting the vast majority of the government surplus to a sweep Board member Silvia Argueta said a majority of all California voters— 52 percent— support ing tax cut, the Bush administration’s plan leaves few, if any, resources for investment in the legal unions for same-sex couples. education system,” said Kevin Jennings, GLSEN “A B 1338 would move California much executive director. “Studies have shown that closer to the A C LU s ideal of complete equali Americans prioritize education over tax cuts.” ty for gay and lesbian couples: equal marriage The coalition, started by People for the rights,” she said. “The hill would not complete American Way, brings together more than 500 ly realize that goal, since it would not grant gay organizations that are concerned about the and lesbian couples the rights and responsibili implications of the Bush administration’s tax ties derived from federal laws or recognition of plan. According to its mission statement, mak their legal union in other states.” ing a budget that’s fair and responsible means balancing needs against resources and making an Francisco might become the first public sound choices. employer in the country to provide health “This proposal benefits the most affluent at T S
