Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2002)
October tfl. rTiTTTTTiTI news 2002 OLD W O RLD C H R IS TM A S • C H R IS T O P H E R R A D K O Nguyen wrote to his command in December that he no longer felt safe because of the “intol erant and hateful attitudes of many naval offi cers.” He reported hearing fellow service- members “saying that gays should be imprisoned, gays should be shot and gays should be tortured.” - 5 * G.L. Hoewing, chief of naval person I y resident Bush has nel, responded in I tapped Maj. Gen. writing to Nguyen Robert T. Clark, for that the statement, mer commanding which acknowledged general of Fort Camp his sexual orienta bell, Ky., for promo tion, did “not form a tion to lieutenant valid basis for separa general, the Army’s tion processing.” second-highest rank. Hoewing refused, Activists have called however, to outline on the Senate Armed any steps guarantee Services Committee ing Nguyen’s safety as to reject his nomina an openly gay serv- tion in light of the icemember. Instead, anti-gay climate that Nguyen has been festered on the base ordered to continue during his tenure. serving. In 1999, Pfc. Hill reported a Barry Winchell was similar anti-gay at killed by fellow mosphere at Camp soldiers at Fort Lejeune, N .C . In his Campbell. Targeted statement, he noted because he was President Bush wants to promote Maj. Gen. that he had over believed to he gay, he Robert T. Clark despite his widely criticized heard “bulldyke endured constant handling of a 1999 murder in Fort Campbell, Ky. jokes” toward a fel harassment in the low servicemember and virulently anti-gay months leading up to his murder. Despite threats to the safety of gay, lesbian and hi sol comments such as “cocksucker, fag and queer.” In his letter, Hill expressed concern about diers on base, an Army report found that Clark the “blind eye the leadership took” toward the failed to order training on “don’t ask, don’t tell” climate on base. Officials also have refused to or on how to address homophobia. discharge him, noting that the commander “In the wake of Winchell’s murder.. .Clark “exercised his discretion not to separate...Hill.” demonstrated the poorest leadership, issuing no “Military officials hunt down gay sailors and statements against harassment, refusing to speak ruin their .military aspirations on one hand with or meet the parents of Pfc. Winchell or to while attempting to force other openly gay per reassure base soldiers that harassment would not be sonnel to continue serving,” said Sharra E. tolerated,” C. Dixon Osbum, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director, wrote Greer of Servicemembers Legal Defense N et work. “The Navy has no legal authority to to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., Armed Services retain these servicemem Committee chairman. bers and to continue sub “Even after Winchell’s jecting them to a hostile, murder, anti-gay graf dangerous environment.” fiti, including one of a baseball hat with the CALIFORNIA words ‘fag-whacker,’ ov. Gray Davis vetoed appeared in public $ a bill Oct. 1 that areas." would have protected gay, In response to lesbian, bi and trans youth Winchell’s murder, in the state’s foster care sys the Defense Depart tem. The legislation, by ment issued a 13- Assemblywoman Judy point “Anti-Harass Chu, D-Monterey Park, ment Action Plan” would have provided a aimed at curbing number of protections to harassment in the ensure foster children are ranks. Officials never free from harassment and implemented it. discrimination based on Winchell’s mother, sexual orientation and gen Patricia Kutteles, der identity. called Clark’s nomina California Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a foster “We are extremely dis tion “disrespectful to care nondiscrimination bill introduced by appointed that the state of every parent who has Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park California has rejected a lost a child to the measure designed to protect some of its most shadows of hate. It disrespects our men and women in uniform and sends a dangerous message that anti vulnerable youth from continued discrimination and harassment,” said Geoffrey Kors, California gay harassment is condoned in our armed forces.” Alliance for Pride and Equality executive direc tor. "California must...ensure that they are placed with foster parents who are trained and avy officials refused last month to discharge prepared to meet their unique needs. LG BT fos two openly gay service members despite ter youth deserve no less. Their needs can no the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. longer be ignored, and we will continue our A t separate commands, Ensign Thang efforts until the necessary protections are enact Nguyen and Hospitalman Roy Hill recently ed into law.” made statements acknowledging their sexual orientation. In both cases, officials have refused to initiate discharge proceedings while refusing Compiled by News Editor JlM RADOSTA, who can be reached at jim@justout .com. to provide any guarantee of their safety. islation,” Stachelhcrg said. “As of yesterday, the federal government is operating without a bud get— this just seems like a tremendous waste of time that could have been better used on so many other pressing issues.” N jn SL E IG H B E L L S o f SHERWOOD 23855 SW 195th Place Sherwood Located just two miles south of Sherwood off Hwy 99W on Chapman Road «* 1 W * M te , ;ste o e t n tW e 503 ( 503 ) 625-6052 .t T G s r v '^ l\es-c0l° Open Every Day 10am to 6pm Larry Fraga Ornament Designs Are Coming in October & Sleighbells Might Be Your Only Source For Larry's Designs In The Portland Area. Pre-Select Your Christmas Tree While The Weather Is Nice & Beat The Crowds That Come Later. Department 56 - Swap & Sell Nov 1, 2, 3. Rent A Table ($ 10/Day - S25/AII 3 Days) A Sell | Any D56 Villages & Accessories Not Current In Sleighbells Stock. Split A Table W ith A Friend Or Come On Out A Shop For Older Pieces For j Your Collection. Table Deadline Is 1 Oct. 15th Department 56 - Mid Year Pieces Will Be Arriving Soon & We Are Taking Orders. Please Let Us Know If We Can Help You. Shop Now While The Selection Is Great A Crowds Small £ S A R A H ’ S ATTIC • FIGI • V A R IO U S O R E G O N AR TISTS *" 7~ 77 — T 7 ?— in—rrr RZOSHOP.COM H IM NOZO FOOTWEAR SUPPLY he Best T h i n g T p ^ rou’ll Ever Step In i w h -^ zji in J i k p =" tt =1 5 0 3 -2 3 2 -3 6 0 0 * • • • • • • • • C o llisio n R e p a ir P ro b le m s S o lv e d W h eel A lig n m e n t T ires O il C h a n g e s S e rv ic e W ork S ta te F arm S e rv ic e F irst P ro v id e r S p e c ia liz in g in F o re ig n & E u ro p e a n C a r s M in i-V an s & S p o r t U tility V eh icles 2454 E. BURNSIDE • PORTLAND, OR 97214 w w w .fergusonauto.com Family Owned & Operated Since 1952 I
