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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2002)
T he R ace Is O n ! PHOTOS BY MARTY DAVIS Who will be Oregon’s next governor? by Jim Radosta lthough it has generated little interest among most voters, this year’s gubernatorial race promises to be an exciting one. W ith John Kitzhaber leaving Salem after eight years— and Repub licans itching to reclaim the throne for the first time since 1986— six strong candidates have emerged from the pack. On the Democratic side are former Oregon State Treasurer Jim Hill, former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Ted Kulongoski and former Multnomah County Chairwoman Bev Stein; the leading GOP candidates are former state legislator Kevin Mannix, Oregon Labor Commissioner Jack Roberts and former Portland Public Schools board member Ron Saxton. Just O ut invited all six of them to share their views by filling out a short ques tionnaire about important issues that matter to the sexual minorities community. Only two of them responded; the others wouldn’t even grant us an five-minute interview. THE QUESTIONS 1. W hat have you done to further civil rights for the sexual minorities community? 2. W hat will you do as governor in the ongoing quest for equality? 3 . Would you sign legislation permitting Vermont-style civil unions for same-sex couples that would provide comparable rights, protections, benefits and responsibilities afforded to different-sex couples by Oregon’s marriage laws? Why? 4 . Only 12 states have laws outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexu al orientation on the job, in housing and in public accommodations. Oregon is not one of them. Would you sign legislation that would remedy this situa tion? Why? 5. In the 2 0 0 1 legislative session a Safe Schools Bill was floated to add sexual orientation and perceived sexual orientation to a list that includes age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion and sex. This bill never was put to a vote. If it had passed, would you have signed it? W hy? the first time “sexual orientation” had ever been added to Oregon I voted to support 1981’s House Bill 3097, which would allow statutes. As Multnomah County chair I led the effort to create a courts to order legal change of sex in the same manner as that domestic partner registry. provided for change of name; allow courts to order legal change 2. I will actively pursue equality for all Oregonians. of sex and change of name at the same time; and require the state 3. Yes. Because it is the right thing to do. registrar to amend birth certificates of people bom in this state to im ill 4. Yes. Because it is the right thing to do. show change of sex and, if applicable, change of name. 5. Yes. Because it is the right thing to do. fter promising to respond to the question 2. Protecting the rights of all Oregonians goes to the heart of naire, his campaign manager stopped who I am and what I believe. 1 will oppose any effort to limit peo ple’s rights based on their sexual orientation. returning our telephone calls. 3. I would sign legislation permitting same-sex unions if the Legislature has considered and resolved all the issues involved in statutory change. My policy has always been that all citizens be ed ulongoski evin annix treated with fairness and respect by government and by their fel low citizens. As attorney general, I filed an ampaign manager Amy Casterline rejected 4. I said as early as 1980, “No woman or man gives up their a amicus brief with the U.S. civil rights based on sexual orientation.” That still applies, and I repeated requests for an interview, inform- Supreme Court in Evans vs. Romer, ing Just Out: “We had received your question would be proud to sign legislation that bans discrimination on which asserted Colorado’s anti-gay naire...and have determined that your organi the basis of sexual orientation in jobs, in housing and in public ordinance was unconstitutional. zation and Kevin are on a different wavelength. accommodation. T h e Supreme Court found the There is nothing to say.” 5. Yes, I would have signed it because of the key phrase “No statute unconstitutional. 1 wrote in person in Oregon shall be subjected to discrimination in any” my brief: “Amendment II does not branch of education. That statement reflects my values whether mince words. It expressly makes ack oberts that person is of a racial, religious or sexual minority. ‘discrimination’ a part of the state constitution...it elevates discrimi is campaign does not respond to any ques nation based on sexual orientation to the status of positive con tionnaires and ignored repeated requests for ev tein stitutional right, on a par with free expression and other liberties an interview. secured by the Oregon Bill of R ights...it is a blanket endorse I have been a supporter ment of discrimination. It stands as a novel endorsement of « of G LBT civil rights for wholesale discrimination against a single group” (Oregonian, more than 30 years. I spon on axton June 25, 1995). sored and passed the bill that I opposed 1994 s Measure 13, which would prohibit state or local added the term “sexual orien is campaign was too busy to respond to the governments from extending anti-discrimination protections to gays tation" to the Oregon Hate questionnaire and was unable to schedule and lesbians and would ban things “thought to promote” homosex an interview. j n Crimes Law in 1989. Tit is was uality such as diversity workshops ( Oregonian , Oct. 10, 1994). DEMOCRATS J H A REPUBLICANS T K K M I J B I H S R H S R
