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
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