Just out., June 06, 2003, Page 8, Image 8

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M itchell’s commentary only
helps keep people of color in
the closet and makes it more
difficult for those who are open­
ly gay, lesbian, bi or trans to
connect with their cultural
community.
Others mentioned how her
column and a subsequent opin­
ion piece from the Boy Scouts
encouraged readers’ doubt con­
cerning the United Way’s
action; how the Boy Scouts
seem to have built better bridges
to the African American com­
munity; and how some children
Mitchell says will be affected are
themselves queer.
Pruitt added, however, that
he sees the death of James, who
was black, as a separate issue and
one example of many abuses of
communities of color by police.
He called on the queer commu­
nity to demonstrate its alliance
with other minorities by making
a statement supporting the lead
taken by African American
organizations.
“This is a race issue, a
women’s issue and a community
issue,” Pruitt said, “but white
people are the ones that have to
stand up against racism.”
Bonnie Tinker, who is white,
recommended M itchell’s col­
umn be taken as a benchmark
for where the queer community
stands relative to communities
of color. That evaluation then
might serve as a catalyst for
building a deeper alliance with
other minorities through an
A protester sends a message to Portland Police Chief Mark
active response to the shmting
Kroeker and Mayor Vera Katz during a rally held May 24 in
of
James.
response to the Kendra James shooting
The primary consensus was
to
attempt
to
educate
media in an effort to whit­
D ia l o g u e A ffir m s Q u e er
tle out cultural assumptions and insensitivity
S u p p o r t of R a c ia l J u st ic e
they observed not only in The Oregonian, but
also in Just Out, where publisher Marty Davis,
total of 15 members of Portlands sexual
minorities community met May 21 to
who is white, admitted in her May 16 commen­
address issues surrounding the United Way’s
tary to reacting with more concern for the inci­
decision to stop binding the Boy Scouts in order dent than the individual.
to conform to a sexual orientation nondiscrimi­
Under facilitation of Cecil Prescod, who is
nation policy implemented hy Multnomah
black, the group agreed to create an e-mail list to
County.
monitor and discuss media issues; to continue to
Organizers at Basic Rights Oregon hoped the
write opinion stories and letters to area news­
dialogue would offer a forum for reaction to an
papers; and to explore cwperation with the Gay
April 25 column in The Oregonian by Renee
and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Mitchell, a black journalist who suggested the
Several participants also expressed interest
gay rights victory would he a loss for youth in
in addressing the shooting of James at the
communities of color. The original intent of the June 10 meeting of the Sexual Minorities
gathering was to determine what the queer com­ Roundtable. Representatives of the roundtable,
munity might do to keep economic and racial
however, told Just Out they would not be pre­
justice issues from being pitted against sexual
pared to discuss the topic before an upcoming
minority issues.
community forum organized by Mayor Vera
But in light of the May 5 shooting and killing
Katz’s office, the Portland Police Bureau and the
of Kendra James by Portland police, participants
Albina Ministerial Alliance. That gathering
also were invited to discuss ways in which the
will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. July 1 at an un­
queer community could respond in solidarity
determined location.
with efforts already under way within the
African American community to examine
H ere W e G o A g a in
police interaction with minorities.
Many participants reported sending The Ore­
ignature gathering was O K ’d last month for
gonian opinion stories and letters to the editor,
the Student Protection Act III, which could
but none were printed and no responses were
go before voters in November 2004. If it quali­
received. Several attendees suggested meetings
fies for the ballot and is approved, Oregon pub­
of sexual minorities of color with Mitchell and
lic schools would be banned from instruction
Oregonian editors, seeking both accountability
“that would express approval of, promote or
and education.
endorse the behaviors of homosexuality or
“Renee’s column spoke of the African Amer­ bisexuality."
ican community as if there are no queers of
The chief petitioners are Lon Mabon, Ore­
color," said Andre Pruitt, who is black.
gon Citizens Alliance chairman; Bob Ekstrom,
David Martinez, who is Latino, noted that
Constitution Party of Oregon chairman; and
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