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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2001)
September 7.2001 * Just •■*113 7m ;* i; ivi m mews Hate in Hillsboro Continued from Page 1 “We suspect it may have been something like that,” O ’Connell said. “Are we absolutely cer tain at this point? No. But 1 think its a pretty good determination based on all that we’ve learned up to this point.” On Sept. 4 the Washington County Sheriff’s Office increased the reward to $2,500 for infor mation leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder. A big missing piece in the investigation is that only a few acquaintances have come forward to give detec tives an idea about Okaruru’s behaviors, habits and hangouts. “We’re not getting the calls that we should be getting from her friends in the community,” O ’Connell said. “We need to talk to those people.” Causing further pain in the trans community is the mainstream media’s insistence on referring to Okaruru as a cross-dressing man because she had not yet undergone sexual reassignment surgery. Lori Buckwalter, It’s Time, Oregon! executive director, and Roey Thorpe, Basic Rights Oregon executive director, have been try ing to sensitize the Oregonian to the issue with little success. “Clearly, they’re doing it intentionally, because we’ve brought it to their attention again and again and again,” Buckwalter said. “Shouldn’t they, as a responsible business owner, give her more respect than that?" O ’Connell admitted that he is not an expert but that investigators are trying their best to be careful. However, he hopes to focus people’s attention on the investigation itself. “It has never been our intention to offend anyone, and our interest is solving this case," he said. “If we’re not perfect in the proper use of various terms, we apologize to the transgender community.” O ’Connell said he has received several calls complaining about the use of incorrect pro nouns. On the other end of the spectrum, he also was contacted by one man who exemplified the kind of hateful attitudes that can lead to such crimes. “Basically he said by the mere fact that we’re investigating this murder we’re legitimizing this perverted lifestyle," O ’Connell said. “He was a crackpot.” In the meantime, Buckwalter hopes an upcoming candlelight vigil will enlighten people who aren’t taking Okaruru’s murder seriously. other,’ we’re sending a message she said. jn Detectives are asking that anyone with information that might assist with this investigation contact the W ashington C ounty S heriff ’ s O ffice at 503-846-2524. promised to remem ber Martinez and to affect others. The vigil ended youth with Native Ameri can prayers by Louise Jackson and Wanda Long. After the for mal event several write messages to the family. participants spoke Speakers included Marcy about their personal Middleton, Eugene Human feelings. Rights Commission chair; About 20 similar George Russell, Eugene School vigils have occurred District superintendent; and in California, Ari Jana Schmeiding, University of zona, Colorado, A r Oregon Multicultural Center kansas, W ashing director. Michael Johnson of ton, Virginia, O kla Lane Community College homa, Pennsylva kicked off the vigil with Native nia, New M exico American drumming. A vigil was held in memory of Fred and Florida. The Elise Self, Eugene PFLAG C . Martinez Jr. on Aug. 28 in Eugene events were held to co-president, challenged the audience to carry forward the event’s message echo the words of Pauline Mitchell, who has into the wider community. She used the analo spoken strongly in her commitment to “walk gy of throwing a stone into water to create a rip together on a path of truth and justice and never again allow our children and loved ones ple affect. Those present took a stone from the to suffer or walk alone.’ ’ jn baskets passed through the audience and R emembering F red Eugene holds vigil for slain Colorado by S u san D etroy t sunset on a clear, breezy evening Aug. 28 at Eugene’s Amazon Community Center Amphithe ater, more than 100 people partic ipated in a vigil in memory of Fred C. Martinez Jr., a Two-Spirit Navajo youth whose body was discovered June 21 in Cortez, Colo. The crowd was filled with adults, children and youth— gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and straight. The Eugene chapter of Parents, Fami lies and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and the Eugene Human Rights Commission also were on hand to provide information about their services. Two memorial tables were set up during the vigil. One had flowers, candles and photographs of Martinez and his mother, Pauline; the other was covered with paper so participants could We help you get ^ from where you are... 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