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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2003)
apriU 200 a* jMtaafcj 21 m nrrr!wr*Tinetus U N IQ U E » C ampaign R eform V IL L A G E Jay H a rte r is determined to combat H R C 's reputation as a rich w h ite boys club by Michael Barrett — ill & G race fans might recall “The best way to overcome that is to have the episode where Will asks more activity at the grassroots level,” which is Jack to join him at a Human arguably a BRO strength and an opportunity for Rights Campaign dinner, and further partnership. In fact, BRO will be involved Jack declines because he with the town hall that Harter is planning. doesn’t have “a cute little tank top and shorts" to Politically, BRO and H RC are complemen wear. Jack’s misperception is representative of tary, in that BR O ’s focus is statewide, while HRC’s stmggle with its image in the minds of the H RC concentrates on national issues. queer community across the nation. BRO is also a recipient of HRC funds. O f the Oregonians are no exception, hut Jay Harter roughly $80,000 that HRC raised in Oregon last is determined to comhat H RC ’s reputation as an year, it granted BRO $5,000 to assist its polling organization of rich, white gay men. He holds efforts agaiast the Oregon Citizeas Alliance’s one of two local seats (the second is vacant) on attempt to put yet another anti-gay initiative on the national hoard of governors. the ballot. A self-described late bloomer, the Corvallis So where did the rest of the money go? native came out of the closet in his 30s. A mar keting professional for international high-tech companies, he found a passion in gay rights through his association with HRC co-founder and Portland native Terry Bean in 1997. A onetime volunteer for former U.S. Rep. Eliza beth Furse, D-Ore., Harter sought a political outlet and found it at H RC ’s Portland dinner in 1998. Within two years, he had become chairman of the fund-raiser, and last year he filled Ron Glanville’s Jay Harter struggles with the misperception that Oregon doesn’t seat on the hoard of benefit from the money H R C raises here governors. The board consists of 110 activists nation M isperceptim #3: Oregon doesn’t benefit from wide whose task is to operate H RC’s grassroots money H RC raises here. efforts at a local level, including political action, W hen Oregon faces anti-gay ballot initia education and fund raising from nonmajor tives, H RC grants to BRO substantially donors. When Harter accepted the governorship increase. Likewise, HRC contributes campaign last year, the public’s view of H RC suffered from money to local pro-gay politicians— about misperceptions that he has vowed to change. $ 3 5 ,000 during the last election season. Nonetheless, Harter struggles to “overcome the Misperception #1: HRC is a club o f rich gay men. image that fund raising in Oregon is a black hole” for its citizens. Harter acknowledged the “perception that HRC is a rich white hoys club, and (that] per Additional money does, in fact, come hack to ception turns into reality unless you’re working Oregon indirectly through H RCs powerful lobby. against it.” He says that the dearth of female Although the organization cannot take full cred involvement is not uncommon in other parts it for the appropriations, Harter insists that it has of the country hut that Oregon fares worse made a “huge difference in increasing federal than most. HIV/AIDS funding and has been particularly Harter blames the “glaring imbalance” at effective on the Republican side of the aisle.” least partly on the fact that fund raising has been Compared to other states whose fund-raising the traditional focus of local activities. Though machines are far more successful, Harter points out that Oregon fares extremely well in terms of dollar- the annual hlack-tie dinner is still on the calen for-dollar return. And no monetary calculations dar, he has plans to encourage more female par ticipation by playing host to more “inclusive take into account the intangible henefitsof“HRC’s events that aren’t stereotypically highbrow,” educational programs, National Coming Out Day including a town hall in late spring plus lobby and important political initiatives" like hate crimes and employment nondiscrimination legislation, gay visits with political leaders. family issues and the “general advocacy for LGBT The addition of Basic Rights Oregon devel issues daily in the press and government." opment director CM Hall to the local HRC steering committee was another direct effort at Harter laments that the biggest challenge to increasing female involvement while strength addressing misperceptions about HRC is a lack ening the relationship between the two nonprof of messengers. His wish is to have a “fully func its, which is also a subject of misunderstanding. tioning steering committee” that is responsive to local issues and needs and encourages volun Misperception #2: H RC is in competition with BRO. teers to step forward. J H Hall’s crossover involvement is but one com monality between HRC and BRO. Both also have For more information about the HUMAN RIGHTS similar lists of contributors, but Harter readily C a m p a ig n contact Jay Harter at 503-245-9743 or jharter@ pobox.com . admits that HRCs “focus on higher-end donors and events that cater to them" fuels the misper M ic h a e l B a r r e t t is a Portland free-lance writer. ception that a divide exists between the groups. 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