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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2001)
the southern section of the state and the Grant County Civil Liberties Network in Eastern Oregon, ROP does battle wherever the fight happens to appear. That means when racism arises in Bend, a statewide network of groups is ready to do whatever it takes to get the problem solved. That means sexual minorities of all ages and all social brackets, located in every single rural community, have a huge voice to speak up for them. That means when key democracy issues are on the ballot and people need help getting the message out, they call on ROP. That means when economic justice becomes a battle cry in someplace like quiet little Illinois Valley, a statewide organization is ready to step in. The biggest share of the state’s gay and lesbian community does not live in rural Oregon, so ROP comes in handy when the entire community is embroiled in a controversial matter. The gay and lesbian community has defeated Mabon at the poll three times since 1992, and the vast majority tends to think “every gay and lesbian won,’’ according to Westerling. But the fact of the matter is not everyone won. The huge “no” vote in Portland swung the election against Mabon and his cohorts, but in most rural counties the “yes” group came out ahead. That means every single gay and lesbian living in those counties had to face the likelihood that their friends and neigh bors chose to discriminate against them. "It should not be wrong to be gay or lesbian in rural Oregon. Any of us need to be able to go and be who we are wherever we choose, without any kind of fear." —Marcy Westerling As Westerling explains it, when people are sitting in their “gay oasis” in Northwest Portland, they need to remem ber many, many sexual minorities in rural Oregon have no such place to be safe. Instead of facing subtle reminders of discrimination, they are faced with out right hostility. That, Westerling says, should be an outrage to everyone. “It’s not just about queer ZIP codes in the big cities,” she adds. “It should not be wrong to be gay or lesbian in niral Oregon. Any of as emotionally draining as an anti-gay ballot measure on a con stant basis. And, as Westerling says, no single person wants to be us need to be able to go and be who we are wherever we choose, without any kind of fear. That is still not the case.” on the front lines of a fight all the time. ROP encourages its members to ask themselves what they 1992’s No on 9 Campaign brought together people who can do. Do they have an hour or two a week they are willing to believe in equality for all. And having Mabon as the ldentifi- able “bully” made the work easier in some ways, according to dedicate to one of the causes? What one thing can they do that would be meaningful to them yet not exhaust them? How can Westerling. they remain aware of the issues? How can they stay positive? But when she tackles other projects, especially those during To accomplish all this, members staff booths at county fairs nonelection years, the task is more difficult. For instance, ROP is throughout the state, spreading the message of ROP. They attend one of the many sponsors of the Walk for Farmworker Justice in Oregon—an issue that lacks a specific foe. “The OCA was a lovely enemy,” Westerling says. “They were everything you would want the bully to be. When we’re deal ing with issues like those facing farm workers... they don’t have a Lon Mabon. It does make it hard er to get a conversation going.” The fact of the matter, West erling notes, is that one issue tmly does tie in with the other. There indeed are farmworkers who are also queer. There are justice issues that affect people who happen to be gay or lesbian in ways that have nothing to do with their sexual orientation. “If we care about homopho bia, and fighting it, we have to care about the other stuff as well,” Westerling says. “The conversa tion won’t be over until we’ve dealt with all of the issues.” Growth cannot be measured Kelley Weigel serves as co-director of the Rural Organizing Project in gigantic steps, especially when meetings in small towns and share their little victories with dealing with social issues. These folks know that, so they look at those who think like they do. tiny victories in the same way most people look at huge ones. Westerling says she only has to read the national news to get But the biggest common hurdle they face is the misguided “really depressed.” She sees what is happening under the Bush notion that once a victory is won, such as the defeat of an OCA ballot measure, the work is done. "Hfe cannot simply sit back, brush off our hands and say, “We cannot simply sit back, brush off our hands and 'Well, we did all that work and we won; now let's go play baseball.' say, ‘Well, we did all that work We did that. And while we were off celebrating, the radical right has always been and we won; now let’s go play baseball,’ ” Westerling says. there preparing for the next fight. IVe can't forget that we are fighting for our “We did that. And while we rights. We can't simply say, 'I don't want to do politics anymore.' " were off celebrating, the radi cal right has always been there —Morey Westerling preparing for the next fight. We can’t forget that we are fighting for our rights. We can’t simply say, ‘I don’t want to do administration, she sees some gigantic steps being taken back ward, and she has to deal with those thoughts on an ongoing politics anymore.’ basis. When that happens, Westerling warns, the radical right will Yet she is keenly aware of the fact that each and every person be right where they want to be. They will be able to catch their has an "ounce of power.” opponents off-guard. And maybe, just maybe, the next fight will “Now for some, that ounce is really, really heavy, and for oth not be won. That thought is frightening to all who work with ers it is light,” Westerling says. "What is important is that people ROP and should be frightening to anyone who believes in justice use their power to fight for what they think is right.” for all, according to Westerling. No one has the time nor energy to engage in a battle that is Continued on Page 28
