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.
L
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