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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2004)
marcfi 1 9. 2004 » _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I TunTTÏÏWTTineivs D iane Linn was the picture of calm March 12. It was only one hour before Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers handed down his opinion on the legality of same- sex marriage licenses, and though Linn admit ted to being sleep deprived, she looked ready for anything. “It’s very important to define what 1 did, and what the board did, in its purest sense,” the Mult nomah County chair said, getting right down to business. Her no-nonsense style has thrown some Portlanders into a tizzy this month. Linn clearly states that her decision to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples was a procedural change— not a legislative policy change— based upon the opinion of the county’s attorney and outside counsel that to disallow marriage licenses for same-sex couples violates the Oregon Constitution. With the hacking of three of the four county commissioners, Linn ordered that the county “would no longer with hold” the licenses. Linn says the decision to change how the state marriage law would he administered is akin to decisions she makes every day, without public input. “We don’t publicly debate whether we’re going to follow the law or not.” The county has hardly sidestepped public debate on gay marriage rights, Linn says. “We just did an administrative step in the process.” She attributes the intense concern about the commissioners’ process to the Rose City’s tradi tion of public involvement. As a lifelong Port lander, she is well-versed in the city’s personali ty and mores. Before running for office, she served as director of the city of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement. Prior to that, she helmed the Oregon affiliate of the National Abortion Rights Action League from 1990 to 199.3 and was vice president of programming and public affairs for Paragon Cable T V during the 1980s. "In this community, we have a long history of lots of process, comprehensive plans and deep dives into whether we go into this direction or that direction,” she says. “ 1 honor that about this community." Linn says the decision before her March 2 was not whether to involve the public, hut whether to follow the law. “Had it been some thing I’d been morally against and the law told me I had to do it, I would still do it.” The alternative would have been to he sued by gay or lesbian couples. “I think I’ve been very honest and candid about the fact that I know we made a conscious decision nor to go the direc tion of being sued and forced,” she says, a posi tion she stands firm on in light of Myers’ opin ion that the Oregon Supreme Court would find current marriage laws unconstitutional. A Anne Seelye C ounty C hair in the H ot S eat in the eye helps keep her strong right now. She hopes to be a good role model, the way her own mother was to her. Linn believes women need strong role models and cites former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts and former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Betty Roberts as two of hers, as well as Portland Mayor Vera Katz and former Multnomah County Chair Don Clark. Diane Linn stands by her decision to uphold the Oregon Constitution Another boost for Linn is “the looks on the faces of the peep!? who are in line in front of our by Meg Daly building.” One male couple she met had been as the chief executive offi together all of their lives, as childhood friends and then as partners. “One of them is very ill cer of the board and states that “the county shall have and never thought he’d see this day,” she says. authority over matters of Linn has been in the trenches with county concern to the women’s and queer groups fighting for equal fullest extent granted or rights. She knows firsthand the frustrations allowed by the constitu about having to expend energy battling the tions and laws of the Unit religious right when that energy is needed to ed States and the state of extend rights and services. Oregon.” “We’ve been on jfie defensive,” she says. Regarding the emerging "(The opposition is] pulling us back, and we’re debate concerning state law trying to step forward. The issue of gay marriage vs. state constitution, Com is stepping forward.” missioner Lisa N aito de But she knew that in addition to celebra fended her support of issu tion, there would be an uproar. “ Before we did ing same-sex marriage li it...I was pretty conscious o f the fact that censes in bald terms: “This there would be backlash.... I knew we were is Law School 101. You jumping ahead of where a whole lot o f people’s learn in the first week of comfort level is.” class that the constitution While Linn has received many bouquets and always prevails when state thank-you notes from the sexual minorities com law is wrong.” munity, a few queer voices were quick to publicly Like Naito and fellow deride the commissioners’ process. Such com Com m issioners Serena ments only feed the opposition, she says. Cruz and Maria Rojo de “I just want people to know how painful it is Steffey, Linn is a longtime for us in the position we’re in right now with the queer rights supporter. opposition using that tactic to challenge us.... The question of same-sex I’m very happy to hear people’s opinion. But marriage licenses was not publicly, it’s not the right time.” only a matter o f county Linn notes that it’s easy to become insu authority, but also a mat lated in progressive-minded Portland and to forget that we’re part of a larger sea change in Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn (right, with Commissioner ter o f personal ethics. “[The] four o f us truly U .S . society at large. She says she never Maria Rojo de Steffey) and her colleagues “ truly believe that these believe that these unions expected to be in such a position at this point unions should be honored” should be honored.” in time. A nd while it’s a historic moment, she March 15 statement from her office stated, “The The mother of four can already see ahead to attorney general’s opinion offers no assurance teen-agers, Linn notices a when the tide has fully "Before we did it. . . I was whatsoever that Multnomah County will not be generational difference in turned. sued successfully by any same-sex couple who is the public’s comfort level “We’ll look back on pretty conscious o f the fact denied a license while it waits for the issue to get with same-sex marriage. this as a blip on the screen that there would be to the Supreme Court.” Explaining to her daughter someday,” she says. “ It’s Critics claim Linn overstepped the hounds of why anyone would dis a matter o f time until backlash. . . . I knew we were only her authority by issuing licenses in the first criminate against queers we get all the way to the place. She contends that the county charter was a challenge. Her end result where everyone jumping ahead o f where extends broad authority to the chair. “The title daughter asked: “Why will be honored in the a whole lot o f people's is not very descriptive. It’s sort of a piece of fur wouldn’t people support community.” j n niture...I’ve taken a lot of criticism for some marriage? Isn’t that a posi comfort level is." how over-reaching, when it’s my responsibility tive thing?” Features Editor M e g D a l y to [run the county].” For Linn, being able to — Diane Linn can be reached at Indeed, the county charter names the chair look her daughter proudly megdaly@justout. com. Financial Advisor Congratulations Newlyweds! 500 NE Multnomah With your new life together Waddell & Reed Portland OR 97232 503 238.6036 / 2 x comes new financial opportunities,. . Long Term (ore Insurance' Let me help you develop a Lgallf financial plan together. Mutual Funds Investing IRAs and Roth IRAs IRA Rollovers Estate Planning For investing, together with a plan, call Anne Seelye today. Investments for Retirement Income Savings Plans for College ' offered through orrangemenh with insurance tompomes JllSt OUt, 1 g Investing. 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