fO J ttS t
sepiem D ei 21. 2001
li’iu a i : ivj
EASTSIDE
Vacation Travel Planners |
(Formerly Downtown Travel Services)
MOVING & STORAGE Co.
We Took You to New York
for G ay Games IV -1 99 4
H o u seh o ld G oods
In tern a tio n a l
T ra d e Show s
We Took You to Amsterdam
for Gay Games V -1998
Now: Let Us Take You
to Sydney - Nov. 2002
GAY GAM ES V I
Toni. C. Morales
Director of Corporate Relocation
4
Call Rip For All Your Travel Needs:
(503) 223-1100 • (800) 357-3194
email: gavtraveKoiplanvacationtravel.com
www.iPIanVacationTravel.com
E-mail toni@move-northwest.com
MAYFLOWER.
TRANSIT
(503) 777-4181
<800) ^47-4600
Fax (503) 775-8443
•
New purchase
•
100% equity loans
•
Pre-qualification
by phone or fax
•
Refinance/cash out
•
Pre-approved loans
•
Residential, comm ercial
& investm ent property
•
Appointm ents at
your convenience
Office
503 . 297.9900
Evenings/Weekends
503 . 780.1561
Toll Free
1 . 877 . 826.9900
Email
colleenwCaintgadvocates.com
www.mtgadvocates.com
mews
C olleen Weed
"I'm available
when you are! "
9900 S.W . Wilshire Street
J J J MORTGAGE
Æ f i r é Advocates
Portland, Oregon 97225
•
Restore Your Confidence!
FINANCING AVAILABLE
Prices starting at
HASSON & W O N G
H A IR R E S T O R A T IO N S U R G E R Y
Call today for a FREE consultation!!
503
292-9097
www.hassonandwong.net
-
www.laserattractions.com^^|P
NEWEST INNOVATIVE LASER
TECHNOLOGY TREATING ALL SKIN TYPES
AND ALL BODY PARTS
•Laser Hair Removal
•Micro Dermabrasion Peels
• Vein Removal
Free Consultations • Walk-ins Welcome
Tuesday Thru Saturday 9AM-8PM
10588 S.E W ASHINGTON (2 0 5 Plaza)
( 503 ) 255-3588
A M easure of R ights
Vancouver/Clark County Human Rights Commission
(aces November referendum b y T im o th y K ra u s e
f we don’t he- 5
gin to devel- “
op respectful
relationships
J L with minori
ty communities living in
Vancouver and Clark
County, the only thing
we have to look forward
to is more conflict,” Jim
Moeller says.
Yet, conflict is what
this openly gay second-
term City Council
member is facing in his
effort to create an
agency addressing is
sues of harassment and
discrimination.
After a year of
study and several pub
lic hearings, Moellers
City Councilor Jim Moeller says conservative critics’ concerns are groundless
community
coordi
Employment Opportunity Commission or t*e
nating committee this summer recommended
Housing and Urban Development Department.
the establishment of the Vancouver/Clark
“We believe this is a very moderate ap
Ciiunty Human Rights Commission. T he City
proach,” comments Moeller, noting that inves
Council gave its nod in a 5-1 vote July 16, and
tigation and enforcement measures still would
county commissioners passed the measure
he
handled by the state office.
unanimously July 24-
He says the commission has the support of
Almust immediately, critics of the ordinance
petitioned the City Council to reconsider. By
the police guild, the chamber of commerce,
collecting the minimum 2,948 signatures from
social services agencies and others. Still, he
doesn’t underestimate his conservative oppo
registered Vancouver voters, the opposition
nents who perceive an “agenda.”
forced the council either to rescind its vote or
In a letter to the editor of the Sprmghill
place the decision on the Nov. 6 ballot as a ref
Review, for example, referendum supporter
erendum. The council voted 6-1 during its
Jeanne Schaefer asserts that the ordinance was
Sept. 4 meeting to send the matter to the public.
formed to provide legal protections for gay men
Moeller remains firm about the need for the
and lesbians. “This ordinance is not about equal
commission. The committee proposing the ordi
rights hut is another incremental step toward
nance documented more than 450 local inci
special rights for a specific group using other
dents of discrimination or harassment in 2000,
minorities as a thinly veiled shield,” she writes.
with more likely unreported.
Moeller responds: “The implication is that
Race is a substantial issue, hut supporters also
there is also some ‘gay agenda.’ Sexual orienta
indicate a need to challenge discrimination and
tion currently is not protected in Washington
harassment based on other factors, such as gen
state from discrimination in housing, employ
der, age and disability. “We’re now seeing not just
ment or public accommodation, and since the
an issue of race hut an issue of culture,” says
Moeller, a 46-year-old chemical dependency
local HRC will be based on state and federal
laws, their concerns in this area arc groundless
counselor for Kaiser Permancnte.
and appear overtly bigoted.”
The basic goal of the commission would he
Reports from council meetings suggest some
to eliminate and prevent discrimination in
work, housing, public accomrruxlation, credit
Vancouver residents also fear that their right to
free speech will he restricted and that education
and insurance.
materials will he ¿imply propaganda.
The proposal provides for a full-time staff
person and nine commissioners appointed
In response to the referendum, a “Yes on
Human Rights” campaign has been established.
through a public process. The city and county
each would provide $50,000 in annual funding,
Supported by public donations, volunteers will
and the commission would he subject to an
disseminate information about how the commis
annual public review.
sion would function and the scope of its activity.
“Regardless of the outcome in November,
The primary objection to the agency is that
the community has begun the discussion of
it is seen as a duplication of services provided by
the Washington State Human Rights Commis-
harassment and discrimination,” Moeller says.
“It needs to happen, and it will continue to hap
sion. But the local entity’s mission centers on
pen. If it doesn’t go forward with this commis
education, information, mediation and refer
sion, it will go forward in another way.” JH
ral— services its state counterpart does not pro
vide, according to Moeller.
The Y es on H uman R ights camfxiijrn can he
For example, upon request, the commission
contacted at 4human'iightd0)home.com or
could provide diversity education and training
11500 N.E. 76th St., A-3//5, Vancouver. WA
programs targeted to the community. It could
98662. The W ashington S tate H uman R ights
become a clearinghouse of reliable data specifi
C ommission can he reached at 360-753-6770 or
cally about Vancouver and Clark County. Medi
800-233-3247. To reach refererulum leaders, call
ation would he a focal point, addressing issues
Joannie Schrader at 360-896-6075 or Karen Schaffer
before pursuing formal litigation, potentially
saving taxpayers from costly lawsuits. The office
at 360-885-7700.
could refer cases not only to the state hut also to
TIMOTHY K rause is a water and editor in Portland.
appropriate federal agencies, such as the Equal
^ ^