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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2001)
novambflf 16.2001 » Ii'n iü I ;iv i = p i in e w s M ultnomah C ounty OK s C ivil R ights O rdinance Lesbian activist Jeana Frazzini, who serves used in the m ainstream media, implies the as the organization’s political director, has decision is made under duress, according to been involved in the effort since 1998. Frazzini. Before she came on board at Oregon Death he Multnomah County Board of Commis “It’s really disrespectful to the patients with Dignity, she was executive director of who make this choice,” she says. “This is a sioners approved Nov. 8 a Civil Rights Oregon Right to Die; the groups merged in Ordinance extending protection based on sexu very rational, well-thought-out decision.” October. al orientation, gender identity and source of For now, a temporary restraining order is esbian eads ight income in work, housing and public accommo allowing physicians to continue providing end- “I see this choice as part of basic civil ight to ie dations. A second reading will take place during for rights,” she says. “To deter of-life care to patients a meeting Nov. 29, when the measure is expect who seek it. Frazzini is regon Death with Dignity filed a lawsuit mine the time and manner of "The federal government ed to be officially approved. confident that Ore Nov. 8 seeking to enjoin U.S. Attorney your own death is just one of gon Death with Dig The Multnomah County Civil | the most funda- has dearly overstepped their nity ultimately will Rights Task Force has been working § mental civil on the ordinance since February. It 5 rights.” authority in this case. It's up prevail. “T h e federal held two public hearings and heard Frazzini, who to the states to determine governm ent has testimony from 54 people. g also serves as | Basic Rights The wording is very similar to what is and is not legitimate clearly overstepped their authority in S Oregon board a city o f Portland ordinance, medical practice." this case,” she says. according to task force co-chair co-chairwoman, “It’s up to the states woman Kris Burr, who also serves sees a connec — Jeana Frazzini to determine what is as co-chairwoman of the Oregon tion between the and is not legitimate battle surround G ay and Lesbian Law A ssocia ing end-of-life care and the tion. It contains a few exceptions medical practice.” O regon D eath with D ignity’s struggle for gay equality. Both in including churches, owner-occu efforts were stymied last year when U .S. volve “the right to determine the pied duplexes and landlords who Sen. G ordon Sm ith, R-Ore., expressed his course of your own life.” do not accept Section 8 vouchers. In both cases, she says, it support for the Pain R elief Promotion A ct. The only opposition to the The failed effort would have overturned simply “comes down to personal ordinance came from low-income O regon’s law and prosecuted physicians for housing advocates. John Engel, experience.” People who have intentionally hastening death. witnessed a difficult death or a Fair Housing Council vice presi terminal illness are going to be “T h is scares doctors from aggressively dent, testified that the Section 8 treating pain,” she says. “T h at’s going to keep more sympathetic to the cause, exemption could he used as a just as those who know gay, les doctors from taking care of patients the best “smoke screen” for other forms of way they know how.” bian, bi or trans people tend to discrimination. Jeana Frazzini attends the press conference announcing Oregon Death be more fair-minded. “We don’t want to splinter the with Dignity's lawsuit against the federal government For more information call 503-228-6079 or visit Oregon Death with Dignity work that has taken place,” said the Internet site mww.dwd.org. prefers the terms “hastened death ” and General John Ashcrofts decision to prosecute Angel Williamson of the Community Alliance of Tenants. “We want to urge you to continue to physicians and pharmacists who practice under “physician-aided dying” to “assisted sui cide.” T he latter term, although commonly Continued on Oregon’s Death with Dignity law. work on this.” T Commissioner Lisa Naito recommended mov ing forward with the vote but promised to address these concerns in the future. “There are moments in government that are bittersweet,” she said. 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