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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2002)
24 ia^20û2 The Man with Two Faces * Lon Mabon thinks he’s too pro-gay. Bill Bradbury thinks he’s too anti-gay. Will the real Gordon Smith please stand up? by Jim Radosta his year’s heated U.S. Senate race, • He defended the nomination o f James which is receiving widespread cov Hormel, who is gay, as U .S. ambassador to erage because of its potential effect Luxembourg. on the national political landscape, • He served on the host committee for the can he viewed in two ways. Republican Unity Coalition, a group formed On the one hand, queer voters could consider to make sexual orientation a “nonissue” in the themselves lucky to have two progressive candi GOP. dates clawing for their support. Gordon Smith, the “I will admit, in the Republican Party, there GOP incumbent, has taken on hate crimes legisla has been a feeling that to help with anything is tion as one of his top priorities, and Oregon Secre to accept everything. I think that's false,” Smith tary of State Bill Bradbury, his Democratic oppo told Just Out in February 2001. “I don’t believe 1 nent, is unequivocal in his support of gay rights. have to agree with everything that the gay com On the other hand, the sexual minorities com munity would like to help them with most munity could feel manipulated by a politician things. But that’s a bridge I had to cross, and I’m whose hits shown considerable progress on queer glad I did.” issues hut still has a long way to go. This appears to He attributes his change of heart to a he the road most folks are taking. moment in a motel room four years ago. Smith, Smith is positioning himself as a moderate who had returned to Oregon for a recess, was on traditionally partisan issues such as gay rights, watching a televised Matthew Shepard vigil tak abortion and the environment— mirroring the ing place at the U.S. Senate Building when he approach of longtime GO P Oregon Sens. Mark realized something was missing. Hatfield and Boh Packwixxl. The problem with “I felt ashamed that there was not a single Gordon Smith and Judy Shepard meet the press during the 2001 Oregon Hate Crim es this campaign style is it ends up pissing.off both Republican that I could identify on those steps,” Conference in Eugene sides of the aisle. he said. “And 1 determined that I wasn’t going Oregon Citizens Alliance chairman Lon From either extreme, it would seem Smith Smith also has made a number of other pro to remain silent anymore and I was going to Mahon was so rankled that he jumped ship to just can’t win— although public opinion indi gay strides: show up and try to help." the Constitution Party, which nominated him cates otherwise. A KGW-TV survey released • He is a co-sponsor of the Employment Since then, Smith has formed a close rela in the hopes of attracting Oct. 2 shows Bradbury trailing Nondiscrimination Act, which would make it tionship with Terry Bean, an H RC founder and right-wingers who have no hy 23 percent; his campaign illegal for people to be fired because of their sex longtime hoard member. “I’ve hired people who place else to turn now that quickly dismissed the pollster as ual orientation. are gay, I have relatives who are gay, I have friends Smith has “embraced the gay a Republican operative. • He co-sponsored a hill to reauthorize the who are gay, I have had reason to listen more agenda.” A 60-second ad now Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources carefully, open my heart a little more conspicu running on a Portland Christ ously and he open to new information,” he said. Emergency Act. ian radio station warns listen he o sitiv es ers, “If you vote for Gordon Smith, you’re voting to mith’s main selling point is the advance homosexuality.” leadership role he has taken in Liberals, meanwhile, are furi sponsoring the Local Law Enforce ous about Smith’s “pink ment Act, which would expand washing”—particularly his at federal jurisdiction in responding tempt to lure fence-sitters with a to violent attacks based on the vic television ad featuring Judy tim’s actual or perceived race, Shepard, whose son Matthew color, religion, national origin, sex was killed in a 1998 anti-gay ual orientation, gender or disabili- hate crime. They also resent the Bill Bradbury says the choice ty. Last year he made a special trip Washington, D.C.-hased Hu- is between him and Smith, from Washington, D.C., to Eugene man Rights Campaign’s “ a voice in the wilderness for the 2001 Oregon Hate Crimes Lon Mabon shoots a knowing glance to Lou Beres (far right), Oregon Christian Coalition endorsement of the senator. of Republican control” Conference. executive director, as he is handcuffed Feb. 20 T P S IW estoylr H ligi ITS I egon Camera C Everything Photographic We have a knowledgeable, friendly staff helping you find the right camera, binoculars, or photographic accessories. \ ‘family' owned and operated business since 1997. 562 SW Adams Avenue (541) 753-2653 Corvallis, OR 97333 www.oregoncamera.com L I N I C Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care B o a rd in g & G room in g for D o g s & C a ts S e rv in g the co m m u n ity fo r 1 7 y e an * "In d ivid u al Lore a n d A ttention ” 2330 NW Flanders Suite 207 720 S W W ake Robin Ave C o rvallis, O R 97330 (541) 757-9089 Lari y & Marlene McNeill 5 0 3 -2 2 6 -6 6 7 8 Drive with Pride Visit us online at: www. reyr eece. com or schedule your appointment 503 256-3700 REY REECE DEALERSHIPS - ISUZU-VOLKSWAGEN-USED 122nd & East Burnside www.reyreece.com
