fehruary 15, 2002 »
7
L’h lib riv i 4-1 m e w s
council Feb. 12 requesting that it comply
with the law.
“Initially, the city and the fund were told
that the problem could not be corrected with-
out a citywide vote or a lawsuit,” he said.
C it y C o u n c i l O K s
B e n e f it E x t e n s i o n
he Portland City Council unanimously
approved an ordinance Feb. 13 extending
Portland Fire and Police
Disability and Retire
ment Fund benefits to
members’
same-sex
domestic partners.
Katie Potter, the les
bian cop who spearhead
ed the effort, said after
ward that she was feeling
“very emotional but very
happy.” She told the
council that if she or her
partner, a fellow police
officer, was killed in the
line of duty, the survivor
would be emotionally and
financially devastated.
“Money isn’t the only
issue at hand, nor is it the
most important,” Potter
said tearfully. “We know
that we are all created
equal, but we are not
treated equally.... Please
tell our daughter that her
parents are as deserving as Lesbian cop Katie Potter has triumphed in her effort for equality
other parents.”
The city’s action was based on 1998’s Tan “Once they were shown how to do the right
ner vs. Oregon Health Sciences University thing, they willingly embraced it.”
Kiss told Just Out he especially was impressed
decision, which said government is constitu
tionally required to recognize domestic part with Mayor Vera Katz’s support. “I think it’s
nerships. Carl Kiss, the attorney who handled wonderful to live in a city that doesn’t hide
the case, presented this option to the fund’s problems but seeks to correct them,” he said.
Commissioner Charlie Hales noted the fact
trustees board, which sent a memo to the
T
that the vote occurred without controversy,
protest or finger-pointing. “I think that’s a cause
for even greater celebration,” he said.
Katz, who has been pushing gay-positive leg
islation since 1973, said she always is taken
aback when people praise her brav-
ery in supporting basic equality. “1
® can’t understand it—it’s the right
thing to do.”
1 P ortland
W ill P l a y H o s t
to C o nference
c
reating C hange— the pre
em inent grassroots, skills-
building conference of the sexual
minorities m ovem ent— will be
coming to Portland in November.
Almost 2,500 people— activists,
organizers, students, elected and
appointed officials, community
leaders and allies— are expected
to attend.
Sponsored by the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force Founda
tion, Creating Change consists of
eight daylong preconference insti
tutes, four plenary sessions, more
than 150 workshops, seminars,
caucuses and networking sessions.
Last year’s gathering was held Nov. 7 to 11 in
Milwaukee.
People who are interested in volunteering
or serving on the host committee are invited to
learn more about the Creating Change confer
ence from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 27. The informa
tional community meeting will take place at
First Unitarian Church, 10U S.W. 12th Ave.
For more information contact Sue Hyde at
617-492-6393 or shyde@ngltf.org.
G ood G overnm ent
I n it ia t iv e G oes B ad
ay businessman Robert Ball’s Good Gov
ernment Initiative, which garnered
enough signatures to qualify for the May ballot,
has hit a snag that threatens to derail the Port
land City Charter amendment.
Under the measure, the majority7 of council
members would be elected by district. Ball says
this would shift departmental responsibility to
experienced managers hired by the mayor and
create a system of checks and balances.
But 40,000 people didn’t realize they were
signing a flawed petition: It contains a date error
that would shut down the council for 2004- As
a courtesy to these voters, Mayor Vera Katz has
submitted a corrected version for consideration.
Dozens of people—including Basic Rights
Oregon board member Frank Dixon and gay
Portland Police Bureau Capt. Mike Garvey,
both initiative supporters—testified before the
council Feb. 13. Opinions overall were mixed
on whether the revision would be fair or would
set a dangerous precedent.
According to Ball, the council consistently
corrects its own ballot measures before they are
presented to voters. A final decision will be
made during the week of Feb. 18 to 22.
G
For more information visit the Internet site
www.portlandgoodgov.org.
Continued on Page 9
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