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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2004)
I“ » * win ¡ íü iv i ^ i mews rogressives came together Feb. 19 for a forum organized by a group that’s hoping to show young voters that political discussions can he engaging, sassy and sexy. During the first hour of the Third Thursday forum, people of all ages straggled in and milled about, taking stock of the free refreshments, including yummy hummus, a keg of respectable ale and lots of Trader Joe’s bargain red wine. The free btxize is just one clue that this group is in touch with youth. Alter a healthy pericxl of serializing, the politi- cal discussion got under way, focusing on the theme “Getting Down and Dirty About Equal Rights in Oregon.” The panel included representa- tives from Basic Rights Oregon, Planned Parent- hixxl, the National Abortion Rights Action League and the Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs, Maria Damaris Silva of Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United spoke compellingly for the mostly Latino workers in her union. When asked who has the ear of Ore gon legislators, she quipped, “Money,” which played well to the crowd of 60 or so progressives. When the panelists were asked what their organizations’ top three priorities were for the upcoming state legislative session, BRO lobbyist Maura Rtx:he laid out the agenda for queer rights: “an omnibus nondiscrimination hill pro hibiting discrimination in housing, public accommodation and employment, including [on the basis of] gender identity; adding gender identity to the hate crimes statute; and defeating the Defense of Marriage Act." The Legislature may consider a Defense of Mar riage Act during a special session in June. Such leg islation could take the form of a regular law or an amendment to the Oregon Constitution. Lin Mahon and like-minded homophobes would of course ideally prefer a constitutional amendment, because it would protect the state-proclaimed supe- riority of heterosexual relationships from those ' O U t , 2i tricts— and to knock on doors and tell people why they should vote for progressive politicians. Smith said statistics show engaging voters in person is far more successful than phone bank Fun forum focuses on fight for fairness ing or direct mail. He added, “When you talk to voters about national candidates like the presi by M ichael B u rdick dent, most will have already formed opinions about them...but when you talk about their [state] representatives, maybe they haven’t even ^ Senate became tied, with pesky activist courts and their heard of the candidate.” With the old bus they crazy ideas about due process o Republicans still control- acquired and a force of volunteers, Bus Project and equal protection, | ling the House), one Bus volunteers believe they can make a powerful a Project volunteer explained Would-be defenders of impact without spending much money. g that right-wingers recently marriage could get a mea- The Bus Project is a relatively young organi ^ have united to exclude sure on the November bal- middle-of-the-road Repub zation, having had its first major push in the lot by gathering more than 2002 legislative session, hut Smith presented licans, to the point that 75,000 signatures for a regu- hardly any mtxlerates re convincing evidence that it made a big differ lar law— or more than ence in the races it focused on that year— and main in the Legislature. 100,000 for a constitutional had a good time doing it. He revealed that one amendment— by July 2, Conservatives have held progressive candidate won by less than 30 votes, onto their power in the either of which would be Legislature despite the pres with Bus Project volunteers having knocked on quite a feat. Alternatively, hundreds of doors in that district. ence of liberal Portland. they could persuade the Leg It was Smith who, toward the end of the And with the conservative islature to vote to refer the panel discussion, posed the most pragmatic talk radio monopoly and measure to the ballot, an act question: “What are the most important state the recent successful efforts that the governor does not by national anti-tax groups have the power to veto. legislative races facing Oregon.7” Roche replied: “In terms of the Senate, we’re to influence Oregon poli Roche continued: “The tics toward the right, pro really looking at a key race down in the [state] Senate is an evenly gressives face many obsta Ashland/Medford area...that is really impor divided partisan chamber. tant, a seat has been resigned by a longtime Sen cles. But beyond electing If it becomes more right ate Republican in a district that has a makeup leaning, it will he easier for fair-minded state senators that would imaginably lend itself to a Democrat this to he referred to the bal- Maura Roche, Basic Rights Oregon’s and representatives in local being elected to office there. In addition to that, lot.” BRO hopes the Legisla- lobbyist at the state Legislature, districts, it’s hard to see we have a race that will be hotly contested...in ture will stop any Defense of hopes to put the brakes on a what progressive Port- Gresham, in East Multnomah County, the seat Marriage A ct from ever proposed Defense of Marriage Act landers can do about these retiring state Sen. John Minnis formerly occu problems. making it to the ballot this pied, again a very evenly divided seat in terms of That’s where the Bus Project gets interesting. year or in the future. the partisan makeup of the voters.” As lobbyist for BRO, R(x:he will have her After the panel discussion, Jefferson Smith, one Smith then volunteered two state Senate work cut out for her in Salem, but Oregonians of the organization’s founders, gave a fun, low- races he’ll be watching, one in Beaverton, where everywhere who support gay rights, and progres key presentation about the Bus Project to those incumbent Democrat sive values in general, have the power to make a still assembled. Ryan Deckert is lasting difference. At least that was the not-so- Knowing that "When you talk to voters defending his seat, and some districts like subtle underlying message of the evening—and a newly redrawn dis the defining vision of the host organiza those in Portland can about national candidates trict on Oregon’s cen tion, the Oregon Bus Project. mostly he counted on like the president, most will have tral coast, a seat to he The Bus Project was founded by a few as liberal, while others vacated by conserva progressive Oregonians who were frus such as much of East already formed opinions about tive Ken Messerle. trated that the Legislature has been so ern Oregon are tradi N o doubt the bus tionally conservative, t h e m . . but when you talk conservative for so long, despite the fact the Bus Project’s plan will be on its merry that at one time the Beaver State was on is to try to pick up about their [state] representatives, the cutting edge. In the 1970s, forward- way to one of those thinking legislators passed trailhlazing some new seats for districts soon. jn maybe they haven't even heard land use laws and led the nation toward progressives, maybe For more information of the candidate" recycling by passing the first bottle hill. even tip the balance of power, by focusing about the O rego n Now the Legislature guts essential s<x:ial — Jefferson Smith Bus P r o je c t visit services such as the Oregon Health Plan on parts of the state wuw.secretplan. org. and can’t find stable funding for increas where voters might go either way. Specifically, the idea was to get a bus ingly desperate schools. Political insiders are keeping an eye on legislative In addition to the fact that there has MICHAEL B u rd ick is a recent graduate of Reed and use it to take a hunch of liberal Portlanders seats being vacated by state Sens. John Minnis (left) been a GOP majority in both chambers where their efforts could really make the differ College. He can be reached at ence for a candidate— in swing legislative dis mike@nibblicious .com. and Ken Messerle for many years (until 2002, when the P olitical P arty weddi ngs receptions events me e t i n g s specializing in event rentals tents, canopies, arches, candclahras. gazebos, dance floors, stages, chairs, tables, linens, china, glassware and flatware and more. E A S T 10101 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 503-252-3455 C E N T R A L 1211 N Loring St. Portland, OR 503-292-8875 call or visit one of our showrooms today or visit us on the web at www.portlandrentall.com ____________________ p l a n today
