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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2003)
B il l s I n t r o d u c e d Mechanics that fix everything.) Including your conscience. d o u g b e eb e.co m WHAT’S YOUR HOME WORTH? d o u g b eeb e.co m HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD? d o u g b e eb e.co m WHAT HOMES ARE AVAILABLE? d o u g b e eb e.co m PDX Automotive is a certified Eco-Logical Business. & ( 5 0 3 ) 2 8 2 -3 3 1 5 wo pro-gay measures have been introduced in the Oregon Legislature. Senate Bill 786 bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodation, public assistance and education. Basic Rights Oregon says the measure has large-scale, biparti san sponsorship. Senate Bill 816 would add gender identity to the state’s bias crime laws, which currently include sexual orientation. BRO also is intro ducing this act in the House as a Judiciary Com mittee measure. The House version will have as its requesters Washington County District Attorney Robert Hermann, who was responsi ble for classifying the 2001 murder of trans woman Loni Okamru as a hate crime, as well as Detective Michael O ’Connell, who was a chief investigator on the case. “We embark upon this legislative journey knowing it’ll he an uphill battle to pass each hill,” said Roey Thorpe, BRO executive dircc- tor. “Nondiscrimination legislation has been sponsored nearly every session since the 1970s, hut this is the first year it will include gender identity as well as sexual orientation. Success this session will he measured in part by how many folks we can inform about the real lives of sexual and gender minorities.” BRO hopes 150 or more people from around the state will participate in Oregonians tor Equal- ity Lobby Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 26. Queers and allies will attend an early morning training in Salem, receive materials, visit legisla tive offices, eat lunch and report on their success during an aftemexm wrap-up session. Organizers promise to make this day accessi- hie to folks statewide, organizing carpools and renting vans if necessary. “Don’t worry if you’ve never lobbied before— we’ll help you learn everything you need to know and we will even make it fun!" field director Jessica DuBois said. citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions on the triangle’s future. More than 500 people completed questionnaires asking whether they support identifying the area as a gay, lesbian, hi and trans historical or business district as well as what physical improvements they’d like to see. The advisory group developed these recommen dations in response to an earlier survey conduct ed by the Metropolitan Human Rights Center in the summer of 2001. Among numerous findings, the preliminary results indicate strong support for publicly rec ognizing and commemorating the triangle as a historical district. This might he fulfilled through the funding and placement of markers recognizing significant sites. The public com memoration would affirm the struggle of the sexual minorities community to achieve social equality in Portland and honor the contribu- Other findings suggest strong interest in the development of a queer community center in | the area. Residents, businesses and visitors want to retain the neighhorhotxJ’s unique characteris tics and support the retention of existing and ItKally owned businesses and an awareness of the need for social service supports for homeless and low-income individuals. The survey indi cates broad support for a wide variety of streetscape improvements such as trees, furni ture and queer-identified banners. ; The final report and recommendations of the group are available at www.sruibulus.com/btag. I n v e s t ig a t io n E n d s ortland Police C h ief Mark Kroeker announced March 6 the results of a nine- i month internal inquiry into an assault on a man at a downtown nightclub by two off-duty cops. The investigation ftKused on why command staff dragged their feet in looking into the Jan. 24, 2002, incident outside Stephanos. An anonymous letter to the Independent Police To register call 503-222-615 / or e-mail jessica@hasicnghts.org. Review Division prompted the criminal inquiry, which was not made public until April 1, 2002. “ Based on the findings of the investigation, I have made the difficult decision to propose dis B u r n s id e T r ia n g l e cipline for a total of seven members of the Port F in d in g s P r e s e n t e d land Police Bureau including: one commander, he Burnside Triangle Advisory Group pre two lieutenants, three sergeants and one offi sented to the Portland City Council the cer," Knx;ker said. “The proposed discipline ranges from demotions and suspensions to let findings of a volunteer-organized survey ters of reprimand.... Contractual obligations designed to identify community priorities for prohibit me from identifying the specific officers future redevelopment of the historic neighbor- or discipline at this time.” htxxJ March 19. Commissioners unanimously approved its recommendations to help guide the The incident initially was thought to be a implementation of the West End Plan, which hate crime because a witness heard a gay-related epithet during the altercation with the hetero will have a significant impact on the area. sexual victim. Officers Grant Bailey and Craig The purpose of the survey was to give queer | I T HE3 A U T O M O T I V E BARBARA SUE SEAL PROPERTIES M«<hanks With A Consdenc* AAA «oprowd mootr ihoo Direct 503.471.3479 503.224.7325 OrMon wrtfWd DtQ w i t tacito Gerard Lillie *5934 N.E. Halsey PHOTO BY JIM _j v G et R eady fo r th e 8 I 1 : I N ♦ 9 Take care of unwanted hair, broken blood vessels & blemishes We use LYRA® the first FDA approved laser for ALL SKIN TONES! • H air Elimination • Razor Bumps • Rosacea F. D o u g l a s D a y M D , F A A F P LLO Y D C EN TER 3rd Floor, Suite 2246 Plenty of Free Parking • MAX Accessible 503.249.SKIN (7546) w w w . L a s e rC O S M E T iC C r New pricing on all laser packages .1 t BOARD CERTIFIED PROVIDERS From left, Jacob Brostoff and Melinda Marie Jette listen to Mike Pina discuss the Burnside Triangle Advisory Group’s survey findings March 19 at Portland City Hall
