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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2001)
16 apfM2Q.20Ql 2001: A R ace O dyssey e ail-in ballots for the election to fill two positions on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners must be returned by May 15. Just Out asked the candidates about issues specific to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. The questions were: 1. What do you see as the most significant role Multnomah County can take in maintaining and continuing civil rights protections for members of the sexual minorities community? 2. What specifically have you done to support civil rights for our readership? 3. What do you see as the major issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered citizens of NT» County? «I* «•**»«» Multnomah iM Ü S M fis a aspects of life. Despite how far the community has come, 2000 demon strated that the assault on the rights o f the GLBT community— from the U .S. Supreme Court to the Oregon Citizens Alliance— is not subsid ing. I will play a leader ship role at every op portunity to ad vance the basic, t civil rights of every member of our community, specifically our G LB T members. M ultnomah C ounty C ommissioner , D istrict 1 M ultnomah C ounty C hair JO ANN and laws that will allow gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals to live and work freely without fear of discrimination. 2. As a county commissioner I proudly sup ported and voted for Multnomah County’s domestic partnership registry as well as the county’s resolution adopting a strategic plan for increasing supports for sexual minority youth in all parts of Multnomah County. I also supported and voted for a resolution that cre ated a workshop that is charged with creating a countywide ordinance that will eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status and source of income in employment, housing and public accommodations. We are expecting their results in June. I have been honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with leaders and activists in the gay and lesbian community to fight for basic rights for all members of our community. 1 was actively involved in raising money and actively campaigning to defeat both Mea sures 9s and Measure 13. 3. There are many issues facing the G LBT 1. Multnomah County must set the exam ple in equal opportunity and protection under the law. And the example must start from the top, on the desk of the chair. A person’s sexual orientation will have no bearing on their opportunity to work for and advance in Mult nomah County offices. Attention must be paid to hate-induced crimes against members of our community. 2. In the state Legislature, I testified and voted against every idiotic, homophobic bill that came across my desk including so-called marriage protection, easing of hate crime penalties and restrictions on adoption based on sexual orientation. In 1993, I co-chaired Stand Up-Portland Diversity Celebration after the No on 9 and No on 13 campaigns. I active ly campaign against any Oregon Citizens Alliance-sponsored initia tive. We’re all affected P U **# * vw»*' when civil rights are fty M hv Mito denied to victims of hate crimes. When homopho bic fanatics seek to repress civil rights for some, they’re repressing civil rights for everybody. 3. The biggest single issue is equal protection under the law. This is manifested specifi cally in domestic «MMM partnership agree ments for county community such as domestic violence serv employees. Sexual ori ices for G LB T individuals, counseling to help entation should have no G L B T youth as they navigate a very chal more bearing on a per lenging time in their lives, the AID S crisis, son’s freedom than their making sure states don’t pass marriage laws race, gender or political affiliation. We all benefit from what Mult that restrict marriage to just a man and a nomah County offers, regardless of sexual ori woman as a way to prevent same-sex unions and honoring domestic partnerships with the entation. We must all share the burdens, too. full benefits that married people receive. I believe the major issue facing G LB T citizens DIANE LINN surround discrimination relating to sexual 1. If elected chair of Multnomah County, orientation and gender identity in employ I will aggressively pursue (and set the exam ment, housing, public education and all other ple for other jurisdictions to follow) policies I «MS I SAGER Candidates vie for county positions M ELECT CHARLOTTE COMITO 1. We can continue to advo- ___ cate for civil rights, as we have in the past. We recently passed the domestic partnership reg istry, which more than 200 cou ples have participated in. I served on the work group that created the registry. In addi tion, I serve on the county wide Civil Rights Task Force. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners cre ated the task force to make recommendations for extend ing civil rights on the basis of gender identity, sexual orien tation and source of income in employment, housing and AatOorntO >» Cfti* public accommodations. 2. In addition to the work I have listed above, I served on the Right to Privacy board and politi cal action committee, where I worked to help elect les bian- and gay-friendly can didates to the state Legisla ture. We also introduced a statewide omnibus civil rights bill every year. That effort has unfortunately been unsuccessful thus far. I also worked as a fund raiser on the first * No on 9 Campaign, which fortunately for everyone in the GLBT com munity was success fully defeated. 3. In addition to gen eral civil rights issues, including the right to work and live where you want, issues for the GLBT community are the same as for the rest of the community: stable and secure employment, caring for children, affording a home, the environment, caring for aging parents and a sense of feeling safe in our community. WSTWCT i 2. Like most of your readership, I work for equality from conviction, not profession. From my time registering voters in Mississippi and Alabama to now as an advocate for senior citi zens and affordable housing, I take my opportu nities as they come. When my firm sponsored the Amazon Dragons boat team, it was done because a group of women needed a sponsor and I could help. Not because they were lesbians. Not because other firms didn’t want their names on the team shirts. It has been, is and will be a matter of equality with me. 3. Equality. Separate is not equal. Only by united action can these groups achieve that measure of equality that is enjoyed by the straight society. B&an For Multnoniai, County Chair ROJO DE STEFFEY 1. First: Be an example. Multnomah Coun ty should take the lead and serve as an educa tor in supporting the rights of all people includ ing sexual minorities. Second: Be courageous. Dispelling myths and moving ahead isn’t always easy. If there are members of our com munity who are uncomfortable with the issues involving sexual minorities, we should not ignore them but engage them positively. 2. As a board member of the United Way I found it unconscionable that they continue to fund the Boy Scouts while they pursue an aggressive anti-gay policy. I raised this as a pub lic issue. Unfortunately, the United Way board did not agree, and I resigned in protest. I was, however, able to bring media and public atten tion to this issue, and other funders responded. Overall, a strong victory for civil rights. 3. Prejudice, discrimination and misinforma tion, which lead to nonacceptance of sexual minorities as productive members of our society. These realities are not just imbedded in parts of our culture but are being used in a cynical and dangerous way by some political elements to forward their own broader agenda. JA M ES SAGER JAM ES DAVIS 1. An independent citizens review board to investigate complaints of police misconduct. 1. The county, through the commissioners, Continued on Page 17
