SO MANY SHOES..
Clearing th e table
To the E ditor :
sw eets, ete.
t i n t Mi ocol ti r r s X
i i n p o t t r b ( t i n b ir s
“A v.inety <>• flavor* Innu
our Fudi/c K u ric ’ 1
old-fashioned
candy shop.
AND JUST
ONE PAIR
OF GLASSES?
Stop in for a taste of our own
handmade fudge!
NEW!!
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Victoria, B.C.
H a g le H y e O p tic a l
Sweets, Etc.
In the heart o f Multnomah Village
7828 SW Capitol Hwy
(503)293-0088
EYE EXAMS
PRESCRIPTION EYEW EA R
GLASSES & C O N T A C T S
2808 N E M L K Jr Blvd, Suite C
Portland, O R 97212
Located next to Billy R eed ’s Restaurant
5 0 3 . 3 3 5 .7 1 7 3
LO O
w w w .eagleeyeopticalshop.com
that U S . Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.,
jUSt hWN I il: I Now
has decided to run for re-election, do you feel Sam
Jewel A. Robinson
Adams, Vera Katz’s former chief of staff, should throw his hat into the mayoral
race ? Is Portland ready for an openly gay mayor ?
B’Zillion $$$ Producer
OFFICE (503) 281-4040
VOICE m a il (503) 301-4283
e - m a il
Jewel2U@teleport.com
V is it me now at:
http://www.jewelrobinson.com
wm
1730 N.E. 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97212
he last Just Out editorial was not text kind
toward the Sexual Minority Roundtable
• meetings (“Passing the Baton,” Sept. 5|.
The editor stated that she has not been to
any meetings for several months and that the
roundtable is without sound purpose or mean
ing. It was an embarrassment (or this editor and
a waste of gixxJ intentions and energy.
Several years ago a partnership agreement
was developed between the G L BT community
and the police bureau. Tins was later amended
to include the Multnomah County Sheriffs
Office. The roundtable developed bylaws for
guidance. The signatures for approval of the
partnership agreement are very impressive: the
chief of police, assistant chiefs of police, the
mayor and commissioners of the city of Port
land, the city attorney and many leaders of the
G LBT community. Brown-hag meetings were to
he held once a month in the Justice Center and,
now, in other various locations.
Several accomplishments have taken place
as results of the roundtable. I am sure the editor
receives the minutes of all the meetings and has
read, hopefully, of the many tasks that have
been accomplished.
For example, the roundtable has a seat on
the chief of police’s bimonthly forum, where
input about the G L BT community is presented.
Information presented at the C hiefs Forum is
presented to the roundtable at its next meeting.
The roundtable has addressed cruising prob
lems in the parks with the police bureau and
made many suggestions that were implemented.
A roundtable member was asked to go to a
major department store in downtown Portland
Prudential
Northwest Properties
ne of the greatest appeals to Portland is its
livability, diversity and inclusivity of all
people. Portland is beyond ready for a gay mayor!
Over time we have been fortunate to he repre
sented by fair-minded allies, and yet it’s very
exciting to know that Sam Adams is actively
seeking an opportunity to represent and serve
Portlanders as someone with a demonstrated
record and commitment to the LG BT and
HIV/AIDS communities.
Whatever the office, it’s nice to know that in
Portland, sexual orientation is a “non-issue"
(and yet an important constituency base from
which to have built relationships) when it
comes to a candidate’s history, record and elec-
tability. The true test of our livability will come
in how we engage in the election process in sup
porting the candidacy of out individuals.
While I’m afraid Portland residents need a
hit more education about their trans neighbors
and may not yet be ready at this time to elect a
trans mayor, Sam Adams has a long history as a
trans ally— working to pass nondiscrimination
laws inclusive of gender identity and expression.
Now that’s courageous leadership.
L a s e r S u r g e r y N ow A v a il a b l e !
M -FR I
SAT
8am • 6pm
8am • 5pm
W est L inn Sun 1l8m-4pm
e t
CliVliCS
'
• • •
Portland \ Salem \ Vancouver
W e s t L in n 19343 Willamette Drive
CLA CKA M A S 16317 S E 82nd Drive
T ig a r d 13500 S W Pacific Hwy
B e a v e r t o n 14292 sw Alien Blvd
8 2 n d A v E N E 3150 NE 82nd Ave
• (503)
• (503)
• (503)
• (503)
• (503)
635-3115
657 9225
670 9707
64 1 91 51
546 1044
es, Sam Adams should throw his hat into
the challengers ring, and yes, politically
progressive Portland is definitely ready for an
openly gay mayor. What better way to address
the languishing relations between the city and
the queer community? Tme, City Hall has a tra
dition of being friendly to the queer communi
Y
ty— yeah, thanks for marching in our parades.
But it’s not enough.
We need somebtxJy who is going to really stand
up for our community and not hire some gay-
hating police chief or kowtow to conservative spe
cial interests. We’re a liberal city, dang it, and I can’t
think of a better person to run our city and pro
mote progressive ideals than a gay person, and Sam
Adams has demonstrated great leadership and
appears to he well connected behind the scenes.
D ou g S andstrom
Portland
• • •
ortland is one of the most liberal conserva
tive cities I know, and I tmly believe we as a
city are ready for an openly gay mayor. Heck,
Portland loves gay people and Portland loves
Vera K ac, so doesn’t that mean Portland loves
gay people? I vote yes!
P
J immy Y ohe
Portland
next IL-WIU ^ hw
est
CM H all
Des Momes, Iowa
Companion 1 P
to discuss ways to eliminate homosexual activi
ties in the restrooms rather than have the
bureau do some kind of sting operation.
The roundtable hits been involved in diversity
training and policies during the police “In Service
Training.” Protocol was developed hy the round
table for the sheriff ’s office on the handling of
members of the transgender community when
taken to jail. Some members of the nxindtahlc
have been invited to participate in the interview
ing of potential police officers. The roundtable
participated in the upgrade of the criteria for
police recognition and awards. The roundtable
was invited to help select officers for Police Recog
nition Awards. The roundtable contributed to a
protcx:ol being developed for patrol officers when
confronting any transgender community member.
The roundtable is not fancy hut provides part
of the infrastructure with the bureau. It is impor
tant that the roundtable meets once a month
with the bureau to he able to coordinate on any
hate or discrimination crimes toward the G LBT
community. T he roundtable is a valuable group
to be partners with the bureau in community
policing. Tire more the bureau knows about the
G L BT community and the more the G LBT
community knows about the bureau, the easier
it is to resolve any issues.
The Just Out editor made the statement that
the roundtable should he dismantled without
making any suggestions for improvement.
When the editor gets the opportunity to inter
view the new chief, Derrick Foxworth, he will
expound on the value of the roundtable as a
partner in community policing.
The roundtable has been meeting at various
locations to try to encourage more of the G LBT
community to participate. Some are timid about
coming to the Justice Center, showing identifi-
needs input from the community as it
prepares for next summer's festivities.
W hat performer would you like to see
headlining Portland Pride 2004’s
entertainment lineup? Respond at
wuw.justout.com. (Don’t forget to
include your nam e, city and daytime
telephone number.)