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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2002)
aprii 5.2002 • Ju s t o u * 7 rnTTTTTTnrineivs M abon R eleased from J ail mprisoned anti-gay leader Lon Mabon was released April 3 on a five-day pass to gather evidence in preparation for an April 5 deposi tion. An April 8 hearing will determine whether he must return to jail. More than 50 people held a rally March 29 outside the Justice Center to protest Mahon’s incarceration. They held signs demanding the release of the Oregon Citizens Alliance chair man and the imprisonment of Ronald Cinniger, the Multnomah County Circuit Court judge who had him thrown in jail Feb. 20. T he case dates hack to 1991, when lesbian photojournalist C ath erine Stauffer was assaulted at a Measure 9 event. Mahon owes her more than $40,000 but maintains he can ’t get a fair trial until judges take an oath that matches the state constitution word for wo His wife, Bonnie, is collect ing attorney fees through the Committee for Constitutional Courts, which is soliciting money hy linking this lawsuit to the fight for gay rights. “The radical homosexuals want nothing less than the complete destruction of Lon and me,” she recently wrote to supporters. W hen asked what she <s meant by this accusation, Bon a nie Mabon told Just Out: “I believe that the homosexuals have an agenda in our state, and 1 believe that the media has pretty much covered them and has ignored-our side of the question.... They not only want us to shut our mouths, but they want Protesters rally for Lon Mabon on March 2 9 outside the Justice Center to have control of our schools, and they want our children to be taught that homosexuality is gixxl and right and normal.” Other signs on display during the rally: “Churches Wake Up You Are Next," “This Is America! We Want Justice!” and the ever-popu- lar “Protect Children from Homosexuality!” One that caught the attention of Just Out: "Lon Mabon for U.S. Senate.” — f Does this mean he plans on playing the role of spoiler in this year’s election.7 “You’ll have to ask him that,” Bonnie Mabon said. G ay P arents P leased W ith N ews C overage teve Lofton, the Portland father whose fam ily was interviewed by Diane Sawyer about Florida’s gay adoption ban, praised A B C ’s cover age of the topic. “1 was very happy with it,” he told Just Out. “I thought it was very informative for a lot of peo ple who were kind of unfamiliar with what’s S Special Financing Domestic Partners \W You just gotta know where to go! ¿ e p fiy r 16 Tannino' THE POWER THE TANNING • 16 amps • Single phase, 110 volt, 20 amp • Structural and electrical warranties • 110v surge protector • Special built-in safety timer • Canopy and lounge formed to provide maximum tanning area • Top quality, durable acrylics • FDA compliant 20 minute tanning • Multiple cooling fans for a comfortable experience H om e & C astle . poors • st* \s • i* a t io • SHIV i:sv Tigard 11960 SW Pacific Hwy 99 W at Greenburg Rd (503) 620-4534 See The Boys At Dick's Mackenzie Ford Bill Huff Haris Akhtar Roger Johnson going on, and I was personally flattered with how much time she devoted to myself and my family.” Lofton and his partner, Roger Croteau, are raising five foster children, three from Florida and two from Oregon. The Sunshine State wants 10-year-old Bert hack because he no longer tests positive for HIV and therefore is considered “adoptable.” The couple and their children watched the March 14 edition of Primetime Thursday— dur ing which Rosie O ’Donnell came out of the closet in support of them— on a 27-inch Sony television provided by the talk show host. “Prior to that they didn’t have a TV, so it was a novel ty for the kids,” Lofton says. He admits he wasn’t surprised to leam Flori da Gov. Jeb Bush rejected O ’Donnell’s recent request for a meeting. “I think it’s a reflection of our current government." The Web site LetHimStay.com, which explains the American Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit against the gay adoption ban, has received millions of hits since it was launched in mid-March. More than 200,000 e-mail responses have been sent to Horida officials in support of Lofton’s family. “It is clearly evident that a large number of people know about us and the plight,” he says. “We’ve had a ton of supportive and positive response, and not one negative response." ROP P lans S trategy S ession he 10th annual Rural Caucus and Strategy Session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 at United Methodist Church, 1450 Fern Ridge Road S.E. in Stayton. T Continued on Page 8 Thinking of Buying or Selling a Home? Dick's Mackenzie Ford • No Credit • Bad Credit • Good Credit 4151 SE T V Hwy Hillsboro, O R 97123 503 693-1133 - Not good with any other offer Brian Olson realtor 503 341-8212 - brianolson@cbseal.com Working non-stop to save you time and money C O L D U Je U . B A N K E R □ B a rb a ra S u e S e a l P ro p e rtie s
