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Lon Mabon protégé Jeremy Bowen defends his imprisoned hero during a downtown rally March 29
C ommittee D iscontinued
G ay B ash
T
everal dozen queers and allies attended a
party July 8 at 3 Friends Coffeehouse to cel
ebrate the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s failure to
qualify the Student Protection Act II for the
fall ballot. Basic Rights Oregon, which was pre
pared to mount a campaign against the anti-gay
measure, now will be able to focus on proactive
efforts.
Executive director Roey Thorpe briefly dis
cussed the organization’s legislative agenda,
which might include a measure to prohibit dis
crimination statewide on the basis of sexual ori
entation and gender identity in employment,
housing and public accommodations. She also
said several attorneys have been looking at Ore
gon statutes to find discriminatory language that
should be corrected.
until judges take an oath that matches the state
constitution word for word.
he Committee for Constitutional Courts,
The com m ittee’s alleged purpose was to
“to oppose corruption in the Oregon courts,”
which was formed to raise money for Lon
but it soon was revealed to be nothing more
Mabon s legal defense, has been discontinued by
than a front for collecting attorney fees at
the Oregon Elections Division.
taxpayer expense. Director Jeremy Bowen
Coincidentally, the decision was handed
promised donors they
down July 5— the same
would be eligible for a
day signatures were due
$50
state tax credit—
for the Student Protec
a statute that only
tion Act 11. The Oregon
applies to political
Citizens Alliance fell
action
com m ittees
“considerably” short of
supporting or oppos
its goal and decided
ing a candidate, mea
against submitting peti
sure or party.
tions for the measure,
A formal complaint
which would have pro
was filed June 21 by
hibited public school
Basic Rights Oregon
instruction that ap
board member Ellen
proves, promotes or
Lowe. Most of the
endorses homosexual or
research was conduct
bisexual behaviors.
ed
by M. Dennis
The committee was
Moore, whose Special
created Feb. 21, the day
Righteousness C om
after Mabon was jailed
mittee uses satire to
for refusing to partici
fight the O CA .
pate in lesbian photog
Bowen lashed out
rapher Catherine Stauf
at the Elections Divi
fer’s lawsuit seeking
sion in an irate state
money owed to her for a
ment July 9. He
1991 assault. He claims Basic Rights Oregon board member Ellen
accused
Secretary of
he can’t get a fair trial Lowe congratulates supporters July 8
m
E ugene P ublic H earing
P lanned
T
he Eugene Human Rights Commission is
seeking review from the community on
updates to the city code, including the exten
sion of gender identity protections, the creation
of a municipal domestic partnership registry and
the clarification of confusing language. It will
hold a hearing about the proposed changes
7 p.m. July 30 in the Council Chamber at City
Hall, 777 Pearl St.
Written public comments will be accepted in
person, by mail or by e-mail until 5 p.m. Aug. 6.
The commission will decide on its council rec
ommendation Aug. 29.
Questions should be directed to Greg Rikhoff and
Holly LeMasurier at 541-682-5177 or hrc@
ci.eugene.or.us. For more information visit the Inter
net site wwiu.ci. eugene. or. us/hrc-erac/hrcsite/code.
S
S ave
the
D ate
B
asic Rights Oregon already is planning its
Annual Dinner, which will be held Sept. 13
at the Hilton Portland. Cocktail hour will begin
at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7.
The fund-raiser gives donors a chance to
dine alongside candidates, elected officials and
fair-minded friends and allies. “Festive attire” is
encouraged.
For more information call 503-222-6151.
*[7
PHOTO BY
%
_
State Bill Bradbury— a Democrat who will face
Mabon, the Oregon Constitution Party nomi
nee, in this fall’s U.S. Senate race— of playing
partisan politics.
“Oregon’s secretary of state has decreed
that no organization representing Christian
principles will be allowed to operate un
m olested,” Bowen said. “We are being
attacked because we stood side by side with a
man of principle. The secretary of state’s office
has shown it is a partisan operation run by a
man with political aspirations. Bill Bradbury is
rolling over for his liberal constituency in
hopes of locking up the left-wing vote for his
Senate run. But we will not be intimidated.
For too long, conservative Christians have
been quiet in the face of bigoted attacks, but
we answer to a higher power.”
Not surprisingly, Bowen refuses to go away.
He vowed to continue his fight against the
“charlatans” who don’t obey the constitution—
with or without the tax credit.
“This complaint was brought by a longtime
left-wing activist with ties to militant homo
sexuals,” Bowen said. “We will not be silenced
by a straw man for the pervert lobby. Our Sav
ior died a horrible death on the cross. He gave
his life with no complaints. He is our role
model; do you really think 50 bucks makes a
difference to us?”
|—t
Jordana Sardo
C ourt H ands F reedom
S ocialists a V ictory
T
he Oregon Court of Appeals unanimously
struck down June 12 a state law that pre
vents political parties from appearing on the bal
lot if they share a single word in their names
with an already recognized party. The suit was
brought by Jordana Sardo, a lesbian who tried to
run as a Freedom Socialist candidate for the
state House in 2000.
This was the second victory for the party. In
2001, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge
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