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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2002)
iiiXm I TmT » — — I. rTïï?TT?ïï!ïï?JTlrieti;sbriefs A ttack A d U CAP R eports R ecord T urnout ( C ascade A ID S Project’s AIDSWalk02 ^ brought in $225,000 for the leading community-based HIV organization in Ore gon and Southwest Washington— a 6 per cent increase from last year. Even more sig nificant was the jump in participants— up from 4,000 to 6,000. “This was the most successful walk we’ve ever had in the 16-year history of the event,” said Thomas Bruner, C A P executive director. “We also brought the event in under budget, which is just kind of icing on the cake.” The only downside was no-show Danny Glover, who was scheduled to serve as honorary co-chairman of the walk. The actor and activist was stuck in Canada on the set of a Showtime film with Whoopi Goldberg that was a couple of weeks behind schedule. “We were crushed,” Bruner said. “We were very disappointed.” Bruner, who was hoping to see more gay and hi men get involved in the walk, was unsure whether his call was heeded, because CA P doesn’t track the participants’ sexual orientation. “I saw people there that I had not seen before, which I wig pleased by,” he said. CA P already is looking toward 2003. Bruner said a representative will be traveling to Boston, New York, Denver, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., to study models of larger AIDS walks and learn how “to take this event to the next level.” Walkers gather Sept. 21 in Pioneer Courthouse Square; inset, Danny Glover was there in spirit if not in person G roup F ormed for HIV-P ositive Y oung G ay /B i M en R PHOTOS BY MARTY DAVIS .S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., who is running for re-election against Democratic Ore gon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, unveiled a televi sion advertisement last month featuring Judy Shepard, whose son was beaten to death four years Judy Shepard ago in Laramie, Wyo. “Matthew was viciously murdered simply be cause he was gay,” she says in the 30-second spot. “My name is Judy Shepard, and Gordon Smith stands with me in the fight against hate.” Political pundits said it is probably the first time any candidate— Democrat or Republican— has tried to woo television viewers by proclaiming support for gay equality. The Human Rights Cam paign, which has endorsed Smith, praised the ad. “The senator not only put a positive light on his candidacy, he also put a positive light on the issue— and, to my knowledge, this is the first time that has happened,” spokesman David M. Smith told the Washington Post. “I think the sen ator should be commended for it.” •> Basic Rights Oregon, which has endorsed Bradbury, disagrees. Executive director Roey Thorpe told KOIN-TV the ad is misleading. “1 think that if Matthew Shepard met G or don Smith he would indeed like him; Gordon Smith is a very likable man," she said. “But as a gay man living in Oregon, he would not have voted for Gordon Smith.” At press time Bradbury supporters were plan ning rallies Oct. 3 outside the senators Portland and Eugene offices "to demonstrate our opposi tion to Gordon Smith’s use of a huge person al tragedy...to attempt to portray himself as our champion for civil rights. He is manipu lating the truth.” ■7 esponding to numerous requests and much community input, the C ascade A ID S Project M en’s Preven tion and W ellness Program an noun ced Sept. 24 the creation of a new social discus sion group— “ .30”— designed to address the needs and focus on the interests o f younger HIV-positive gay and bi men. Young men who have sex with men, including those o f . color, rem ain am ong those at highest risk for H IV infection in Oregon and continue to be disproportionately represented with new A ID S cases. Continued on Page 8
