ocloòflf ta. 2002
The
most
scathing accusa
tion was that
Smith co-spon
sored an Oregon
Christian Coali
tion
activist
training in July
2001 in Portland.
BRO provided
Just Out with
docum en tation
listing his name
right alongside
the leaders of the
state’s anti-gay
movement: the
Oregon Citizens
State Sen. Avel Gordly is one of several Democrats who have endorsed Smith
Alliance,
the
T he N egatives
Constitution Party, Concerned Women for
America and Mahon attorney Frank Patrick.
lthough Smith, a Mormon from eastern
“We feel used. Will Gordon Smith he there
Oregon, has expressed his support on
when we need him? Only if it’s convenient and
some queer issues, he still does not believe in full
it it fits his image du jour," Thorpe said. “Pro-gay
equality for the sexual minorities community.
Oregonians aren’t stupid. We know when we’re
He supports the extension of certain benefits to
being played for fools.”
same-sex couples— inheritance, hospital visita
Thorpe rattled off a handful of other dis
tion and wrongful death claims— that automat appointing actions taken by Smith:
ically are granted to married straight people.
• He refused to speak out against the O C A ’s
“To me, that’s about freedom of association,
anti-gay Student Protection Act in 2000 and its
freedom of contract,” he said. “1 have tried to be
watered-down sequel this year, which failed to
very honest with the gay community— the one
qualify for the fall ballot.
area where I’m not there is on gay marriage.”
• He voted for the Helms Amendment,
When asked whether the governments unequal
which forces public schools to let the Boy
treatment of queers could he a factor that leads peo Scouts of America use their facilities despite its
ple to commit hate crimes, Smith responded: “1 anti-gay policies.
wish we could legislate benevolent hearts, hut you
• He supported the appointment of U.S.
can’t. In the end, 1 think we can set a good exam Attorney General John Ashcroft, who some say
ple in our law that we should he tolerant.”
lied during his confirmation hearing about his
During a rally held Oct. 3 in response to the
opposition to Hormel’s nomination.
Judy Shepard ad, Basic Rights Oregon executive
The day of the rally, H RC defended its
director Roey Thorpe outlined a series of flaws in endorsement of Smith, explaining its criteria
Smith’s record. Her organization, which normally
favor “incumbency, and when a senator supports
does not take sides in federal races, has endorsed
our issues, we will support him or her.” It also
Bradbury.
released a short statement from Judy Shepard.
“ 1 have leant
my support to Sen.
Smith because he
has stood by me in
my efforts to pass
meaningful hate
crimes legislation
that includes ad
dressing violence
against gay and les
bian citizens,” she
said. “Sen. Smith is
more than entitled
to highlight his
efforts to pass this
legislation in his
re-election effort.”
Even Bradbury
admitted the Judy Former Gov. Barbara Roberts, a onetime H R C board member, leads a
Shepard spot is “a “ 100 Women for Bradbury” rally Sept. 19 in downtown Portland
good
ad.”
He
spoke with queer community leaders, activists
licans believe that that’s all the G L B T com
and journalists during an Oct. 1 conference
munity deserves. A nd Democrats believe that
call arranged by the N ational Stonewall
all o f you deserve a whole lot more,” Bradbury
Democrats.
said. “We view discrimination based on sexual
“Let’s give some credit where credit’s due,
orientation as equal to discrimination based on
and that is that Gordon Smith is the only
any other factor.”
Republican who spoke out on...M atthew
The gloves really came off Oct. 16, when
Shepard,” Bradbury said. “But that’s really
Bradbury slammed his opponent for comparing
about as far as the credit should go. T hat’s homosexuality to adultery. Smith made the
what he has focused on, and the reality is there
comment to the Statesman Journal editorial
are a whole lot of other issues that are impor board in response to a question about the Local
tant to the G L B T community which he is a
Law Enforcement Act.
disaster on!”
“The next time that issue comes to the
Bradbury explained why this race is so cru floor, I’m going to have a veto-proof majority,”
cial to the future of U.S. politics. He said that
he said. “If Christ can save a woman’s life
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.,
caught in the act of adultery— without endors
considers Oregon to be the state that could
ing her lifestyle, but saving her life— why can’t
decide who controls the chamber.
we do that.7”
“Gordon Smith would like you to believe
Bradbury demanded an explanation. “Smith’s
that he’s a friend to the gay and lesbian com quote...undermines his claim that he supports
munity because he supports the Employment
the gay and lesbian community,” he said.
Nondiscrimination A ct and because he sup
Bean spoke to the senator Oct. 17 and found
ports hate crimes legislation— and that’s great.
out the quote was taken out of context: “He told
The only problem with that is that the Repub me that it was in response to a reporter’s ques
tion, ‘How would you
respond to the reli
gious right, who are so
upset about your gay
rights ad and your gay
rights record?’ As
opposed to never talk
ing to the Christian
Coalition, they are
exactly who he should
be speaking to to
change hearts and
minds. It’s my feeling
he was trying to relate
to them in biblical
terms that they could
understand." ’ j n
Dozens demonstrate Oct. 3 outside Smith’s Portland office in response to the Judy Shepard ad; center, Angela Harris expresses her outrage
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