Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2003)
22 • may 16.2003 news employ similar gay-haiting tactics by issuing press releases that linked House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California to eight vul nerable Democratic incumbents. In its attack on U .S. Rep. Dennis Moore o f Kansas, the committee states that Pelosi supports “needle exchange programs, gay m arriage...and Den nis Mcxire.” The release then goes on to ask, “Whose values docs Dennis Moore represent, San Francisco’s or Kansas’ ?” According to The Washington Blade, R N C Chairman Marc Racicot recently met with the Human Rights Campaign and pledged to mem bers that he “would not tolerate ‘gay-haiting’ ads in Republican election campaigns under his control.” He already has broken his promise by utilizing attacks specifically designed to moti vate the anti-gay core of the Republican Party, according to Noble. 602 SE 38 th Ave. Portland, O R 9 7214 503 . 231.39 22 W ed - Sat P R U L M ITCHELL it's ME! breast forms, bras & more trans friendly susan johnson owner/fitter 2041 ne burnside, gresham 501/491-5110 ~ www.shopitsme.com M ic h a e l P a d u a n o As a native Seattle resident, 1 have a full understanding of your Sunshine needs. Allow me the opportunity to reveal the beauty, warmth and value of Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley. View my listings at www.michaelpaduano.com. Email mpaduano@winderemere.com 850 N Palm Canyon Drive 4S Palm Springs ^ CA 92262 760/831-3761 :Jn * or 877/718-5600 , ext 113 Wixlnrnicn: ( oMt-hclh \alle% drive with Pride Visit us online at: www. reyreece. com or schedule your appointment 503256-3700 REY REECE DEALERSHIPS ISUZU-VOLKSWAGEN-USED 122nd & East Burnside www.reyreece.com CALIFORNIA he Assembly Appropriations Committee heard testimony April 30 on a key domes tic partner bill that would significantly expand the rights, responsibilities and obligations of reg istered domestic partners in the state. Brad Sears presented preliminary results of a study by the UCLA-based Williams Project on the fiscal impact of the hill. It showed an esti mated savings to the state of $2.5 million to $155.4 million a year. Gist-saving elements include a predicted reduction in the number of individuals eligible for means-tested govern ment benefits, mutual responsibility for debts by domestic partners and an estimated increase in income tax revenues. “This independent study is consistent with what we have witnessed in Vennont: Discrimina tion is more expensive than equality,” said Geof frey Kors, California Alliance for Pride and Equality executive director. “Ginsidering Cali fornia’s current fiscal situation, every member of the legislature should he jumping on hoard as a co-author of this hill as soon as possible.” Supervisors has had an openly gay member since 1977, when Harvey Milk won election to it, the city never has had a gay mayor, despite several close efforts: In 1995 former Clinton administra tion official Roberta Achtenberg tried for the city’s top job, and in 1999 Ammiano made his first bid, losing to Willie Brown in a runoff. Milk, who was assassinated 25 years ago, is regarded as one of the most significant figures in the move ment to encourage gay men and lesbians to par ticipate in politics and government. * M 8 * ichael Savage, whose television show pre miered on M SN B C in March accompa nied by controversy and protest, sensationalized and grossly misrepresented queer issues on bis May 3 episode, according to the Gay and Les bian Alliance Against Defamation. During the program he stated: “Here’s what worries me: If a fellow goes in for a job that requires certain skills, and he happens to be dressed as a woman, and he says to the person, ‘I want this job and I’m a transsexual.’ And then VIRGINIA the employer says, ‘Can you do this job?’ And he aul Smedberg succeeded May 6 in a field of says: ‘That’s irrelevant. What’s relevant is my 1 3 candidates vying for six at-large seats on sexuality. I’m going to sue you.’ ” the Alexandria City The only guest was Giuncil. Peter Sprigg of the His win makes him Family Research the city’s first openly Giuncil, whose com gay officeholder and mentary merely com the second in Virginia. plemented Savage’s point of view and cre It also brings to 246 the number of gay, lesbian ated a completely unbalanced discussion, i and hi elective office- j holders in the nation. G L A A D said. The -3» show marked the first “Move over Jerry he Gay &. Lesbian Victory Fund an Falwell and Pat Robert time he discussed gay, nounced April 28 its co-endorsement of son, times are changing lesbian, hi or trans Tom Ammiano and Susan Leal for mayor of the in Virginia!” said issues. city and county of San Francisco. The election Chuck Wolfe, Gay & Paul Smedberg is the first openly gay officeholder After a hiatus will he held Nov. 4. Lesbian Victory Fund in Alexandria, Va. because of war cover Leal is treasurer of San Francisco, an office executive director. age, Savage’s show she first was elected to in 1998. Ammiano is “Paul Smedberg’s victory is a tremendous step for returned several weeks ago, seemingly under the District 9 s representative on the San Francisco ward in a state with myriad anti-gay laws on the same stringent content and caller screening as Board of Supervisors, a post he first won in 1994. Ixxiks, including a sodomy law. As Paul works on before. While anti-gay sentiment from Savage This is the Victory Fund’s second co-endorse behalf of his constituents, he will help tear down or Sprigg is not a surprise, G L A A D said the dis ment in its 12-year history. barriers and stereotypes and advance equality for cussion was one-sided and blatantly incorrect in Ammiano and Leal are not the only candi all Virginians.” its analysis of California Assembly Bill 196, dates seeking to lead the nation’s 13th largest which grants employment protections to trans metropolis, but a victory for either of them NATIONAL people and sets penalties for those who deny would make San Francisco the largest U.S. city epublicans were denounced April 28 for employment based solely on the person’s gender with a gay mayor. According to the 2000 census, demonizing Democratic presidential candi identity. San Francisco is home to 776,733 people. Prov dates who hold pro-equality positions on issues According to the California Fair Employment idence, R.I., with 173,618 residents, reigns as such as same-sex civil unions and hate crime & Housing Act, which the legislation would the most populous city in the United States protections. Despite a recent promise not to use amend, employees or tenants who allege gender with a gay mayor, David Cicilline. such tactics, the Republican National Gimmit- discrimination would have to meet the same high “Leal and Ammiano are outstanding public tce has chosen to initiate the 2004 campaign standard for allegations of bias based on race, reli servants with considerable experience and pre season with anti-gay attacks. gion, sex and other categories. Sprigg, a longtime vious citywide victories to their credit,” said “Just as Republicans defended [Pennsylvania anti-gay activist, in fact corrected Savage by Chuck Wolfe, Victory Fund executive director. U.S. Sen. Rick] Santorum’s sick comments by informing him of the bill’s allowance for employ “With the two of them running, we face an labeling him as ‘inclusive,’ they continue to babble ers to set acceptable dress code standards for trans abundance of riches in this race. It’s a testament out of both sides of their mouth,” said Dave Noble, employees. to the progress that San Franciscans have made National Stonewall Democrats executive director. In addition, the program repeatedly con toward inclusion and equal treatment of all “The GOP is further alienating the majority of tained footage of drag queens at Pride celebra those who call the city home.” fair-minded Americans by attacking gay families." tions that served only to sensationalize the issue. Wolfe also noted that Ammiano and Leal are During the past few months, the R N C Web On the April 30 episode of M SN B C ’s Hardball running strong campaigns: “Both candidates can site has posted “opposition research” papers on 1 with Chris Matthews, similar footage was shown show a path to victory. To date, Leal’s strength has Democratic presidential candidates. The publi during a debate between Sprigg and Mark Leno, been her fund raising, and Ammiano’s strength cations highlight positions held by Democrats the California state assemblyman who intro has been his name I.D. and organization. Both are that contradict those held by the RN C and duced A B 196. After the segment aired, shining examples of the roles that gay and lesbian specifically lash out at Democrats for supporting G L A A D spoke with producers to register its Americans play in their communities.” gay rights. concerns and was assured that the images were San Francisco’s 2003 mayoral race is histori inappropriate and would not be used in other Additionally, the N ational Republican cally significant as well. While the Board of Congressional G im m ittee last month chose to prime-time shows. T i T R
