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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
|
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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