» august lfi.2002
16
C ommish D ish
Just Out osks City Council candidates about queer issues
Photos by Marty Davis
total of 16 candidates are vying for the Portland City Council seat vacated by Com-
/ 1
missioner Charlie Hales.
A special election will be held Sept. 17; if nobody receives more than 50 percent
of the vote, the top two will face each other in a runoff Nov. 5. Voters still have until
,A<.
J l Aug. 27 to register, and ballots will he mailed Aug. 30.
Just Out asked the candidates about their views on issues of importance to the sexual minorities
community. All hut two responded.
-THE QUESTIONS-
J
osh
A
1. What have you done to promote civil rights for the sexual minorities
community?
2. What will you do as city commissioner in the ongoing quest for equality?
3. What can the city do to help preserve the Burnside Triangle’s identity as
Portland’s gay culture district?
4 . Do you agree with the direction in which the Portland Police Bureau is
headed? Has Chief Mark Kroeker been effective in fighting anti'gay
discrimination within the ranks?
lpert
I have promoted the civil rights for the sex
ual minorities community by fighting on
the front lines. As a lobbyist for Basic Rights
Oregon in the 1999 and 2001 legislative ses
sions, 1 advocated for the basic civil rights of all
citizens. In 1999, this included a tireless fight to
defeat House Joint Resolution 29, a hill that
would have not only added a conservative defi
nition of marriage into our constitution hut
would have overturned the Tanner decision,
which gives benefits to domestic partners of
state workers. In 2001, I worked to pass a safe
schtxils hill to promote diversity in our schools
and to protect student clubs. I also worked with
city commissioners to pass a citywide tolerance
policy in Portland.
As a city commissioner, I will work to
*** make our city inclusive, providing for
points of view from all comers. The basic rights
of all citizens must never he in question, and I
will ensure that every decision that I make will
he based in fairness, equality and courtesy. Basic
rights are non-negotiahle.
While a policy adviser to Commissioner
* Charlie Hales, I worked with Jacob
Brostoff and other Burnside Triangle advocates
to declare the Triangle a gay cultural district in
the city’s West End Plan. As your commissioner,
I will work to build the Triangle into a truly
great district for all— one that celebrates diver
sity, champions equality and fosters awareness.
1 believe that Chief Kroeker has worked
* hard to understand what makes Portland
different from other cities hut that he has not
disseminated this down through the ranks of the
Portland Police Bureau. Minority oppression
still continues to he a problem that the city must
be vigilant in stopping, whether in the police
bureau or any other city bureau.
4
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503 . 780.1561
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colleen w(6>mtgad vocates.com
w w w .m tgadvocates.com
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educated and encouraged me to become more
involved.
1 believe it is most important that we bring
the G L B T community together to achieve
the goal of equality. As an openly gay city com
missioner, 1 would offer my voice to ensure all
citizens are viewed and valued equally. Involve
ment and education are essential for everyone’s
equality. We must encourage everyone to he
heard for the rights of all. One voice can make a
difference, hut a chorus of voices surely will
make all the difference.
■'! I do support the designation of the Bum-
J * side Triangle as a gay culture district. How
ever, I would call upon the G L BT community
and the city to improve the area, support exist
ing businesses and encourage new businesses to
locate in the area. Currently the area is limited
in what it offers.
1 am troubled by the current condition of
#our police bureau. T he respect once
B errong
building in a positive direction seems to he fad
ing. Chief Kroeker does not seem to inspire a
As a gay man, I try to make the effort,
♦ each day, to encourage equality for positive change for the future of the police
bureau. If we are to he searching for a new chief
everyone. W hat I have found to he of the best
of police in the near future, I would insist that
value for me is to he open and honest with
we hire within the bureau. Someone who
anyone who is curious or misinformed. My
knows the city and the people. We will never
volunteer work with the city of Portlands
find someone to please all the people, hut at
Metropolitan Human Rights Center, Cascade
least we can find someone who respects all the
A ID S Project, two local hospices and a vari
people.
ety of other events within the community has
"I'm available
when you are!"
S co tt B
ow m er
To he honest, I have never done anything
♦ to promote civil rights for the sexual
minorities community, hut at the same time, 1
have never thought about taking away any civil
rights nor would I ever permit civil rights he
taken away. My strongest conviction is for the
right of every person to live in safety, to have
freedom, to live without fear and to have equal
opportunities in all areas of life.
1 will ensure equality, safety, freedom and
♦ equal opportunity is never taken.
1 do not believe in preserving the Burnside
♦ Triangle’s identity. I think it is always a
better idea for “any” type of culture to become a
part of the community and not tend to isolate
itself. This decreases the ability for people to
stereotype. My main reason for not believing in
the preservation of the Triangle, though, is not
that it is the “gay" area but that the entire West
End needs an overhaul to become much more
inviting to a broader range of people, especially
at night. I am intimately familiar with the area,
as my church is right on the edge, and 1 also
work at the Julia West House for “Operation
Nightwatch” on Southwest 13th and Alder.
1 think the Portland Police Bureau is
♦ doing about all that can be expected with
their current demographics. I am an advocate
for a more diverse bureau in terms of age, race,
gender, education and experience. It is unfortu
nate that the bureau still has not reinstated
their new hire educational goals hack to having
a bachelor’s degree, considering the economy
and much larger ptxil of prospective candidates
applying for positions. It is also unfortunate that
the bureau is not welcoming to “second career”
individuals who can bring experience,
increased awareness and sensitivity to all
responsibilities.
I
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style
your
smile
Colleen Weed
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