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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 2, 2004)
aprii ¿ 2004 J l I S t O U t 17 !>’ I n ; » i l i v i d i m e w s the chuppah with about 65 guests,” says Shek- low. A klezmer hand played, a big luncheon was served, and friends and family whooped it up. The couple honeyrruxmed with<their respective queer cousins and their partners. “As far as we’re concerned, we are married," says Sheklow. “We have made a commitment to each other in the eyes of our religious commu nity, our families and in our own hearts.” Building an equitable future for their son Even though the economy and education sys tem aren’t looking as rosy as when Knox and War- shaw first moved here, they have fit right into their neighhorhcxxi, they’ve found jobs, they love the climate. And now they love being married. They were the second couple married in front of television cameras March 3 at the Hilton Hotel. “I thought it wouldn’t change our relation ship,” says Warshaw, a blushing spouse of five weeks. They had long ago said they’d he togeth er forever. “But it does make our relationship feel more secure.” Warshaw says he would like to see detractors of marriage equality put their energies else where. “There are so many other problems we could change to make people’s lives better.” ^ iinminniiiiim lim n ll|lllllP l|llllllq< M i T m rTiWrT ill!» ¡ »Ml TT| regon is a great place to he queer parents, according to Kelly Burke, who married Dolores Doyle on March 3. Burke, 35, is the birth mother of the Portland couple’s young son, Avery. She and Doyle, 39, were able to arrange a co-parent adoption so that Doyle has the same T he most famous married lesbians in town parenting rights as Burke. Doyle’s work— she’s an electrician at Local 48— covers insurance for hey get stopped all over town by people their child. offering congratulations. Since March 3, However, despite friendly laws and work Becky Kennedy and Mary Li have become one places, discriminatory restrictions still apply. of the most notable married couples in Portland, For instance, domestic partners are not cov queer or straight. ered under Doyle’s health insurance. But if Kennedy admits that appearing in court and Burke, a licensed massage therapist, was being on national television wasn’t exactly what Doyle’s spouse, she would he covered. she might have dreamed of for a honeymoon. This is “part of why we took part in this law But as one of the first married queer couples in Hours: suit,” Burke explains. the state, Kennedy says • Most Diverse Dealership in Hubbard! M-F 9:00-7:00pm She says they are also "1We live on your block, we pay that’s what she and Li Sat 9:00-6:00pm I W H s o n v ilte ) • Family Owned Since 1936 motivated by wanting to signed on for. Closed Sundays taxes, our children go to school make a difference for the T he two met four • One of Only 200 Female Owned years ago through a per queer community and ANAMEHCAN and play soccer and baseball with GM Auto Dealers in the Nation for their son. “W e’re sonal ad. Their first date doing it for the security your children, we work side by lasted eight hours and of his heart, his family included drinks, dinner In t e g r ity , Q u a l i t y m u i S e r v i a side with you, we are in the and his future.” and a midnight movie. W c x x ft x jr n “Our family is just armed services in Iraq, and we “From the get-go...we O n ly 30 m in Iro m P o rtla n d knew it was special," says like yours,” Burke wishes J u s t O f l l-S b e tw e e n Cantoy A W oo dburn vvvvvv.hubbrirdchevroletcom contribute immensely to our she could say to so-called Kennedy, who is 43. traditional marriage ad After two years, the communities and to the nation" couple vocates. “We have the got engaged, YOUR BENTON COUNTY & SALEM FAMI same hopes, responsibili —Dominick Vetri thinking they would LY REAL ESTATE CONNECTION ties, desires and dreams. have a commitment cer emony. But having kids took precedence because Except we don’t have the same protections.” I support GALA choruses! of Kennedy’s age. She was to he the birth mom for their daughter, Ava, who is now 9 months old. W e don’t look at ourselves as different They never expected they would be able to legally marry. The impact of doing so has been hey had friends in common. As physicians, CLARK HOUSE (5 4 1 ) 758 1 234 x 2 1 I ’ fcra fS ' larger than Kennedy anticipated. She says they they had careers in common. But they met Sales Associate e-m ail: clarkshouses@ aol.com 1575 MW 9th Street • Corvallis, OR 97330 immediately felt more united as a couple. at the neighborhtxxJ dog park, each walking his pooch. “It was love at first sight,” says Stephen The effect on Kennedy’s family has been pos Knox, 43. itive as well. Her mom, who used to think mar riage was only for a man and a woman, called If the beginning courtship for Knox and Eric recently to tell her daughter, "Since I’ve seen Warshaw, 40, sounds like something from a you and Mary and Ava together, it doesn’t seem movie, it only gets more romantic. For more that weird to me.” than 10 years they have called each other fami REAL ESTATE, LLC “Once you see our lives,” Kennedy says, “you ly. In 1999 they moved from Chicago to Port 1010 SE Water Ave / Portland, OR 97214 see that we’re just like every other family.” land together and set up house. mail P.0. Box 12582 / Portland, OR 97212 Plus they started building a family of their ph 503-233-5092 / fax 503-233-5094 W orking family seeks rights own. They are the adoptive parents of three www.reColumbus.com young kids: Adam, 5, Isaac, 3, and Tillie, 3. V Just like many new parents, the couple chose U\ / o u ’re reminded of your sexuality every I day,” says Katie Potter about being a mar their new city based on factors like cost of living ried lesbian, a mom and a cop. and quality public education, Warshaw says. She met her partner, Pam Mcxin, 13 years ago “We didn’t look at ourselves as different.” at work. The fact that Mtxtn was also a Portland police officer gave them something in common, hut what really won Potter over was Moen’s | sense of humor and wonderful personality. R n t e r t o w in a After five years together, they knew it was “the real deal,” as Potter puts it. They began R re e W e d d in g R e c e p tio n planning their family. They are now the parents of two daughters, McKenzie, 4, and Madison, 1. Though they already thought of themselves (^ ,a ll f o r [R e ta ils as married, Potter says she couldn’t stop crying 5 O * ) - ! 7) 8 - 0 + 7 6 the day she and M<x*n were legally wed. “To he valued like everyone else means that much or ^ a lm o n D e r r q m more to us because of our children.” Potter has no patience for critics who call the V !s it o u r w e b s ite F )a llro o m Multnomah G xinty commissioners arrogant for w w w .s a lm o n b e r ry c a te rin g .c o m issuing same-sex marriage licenses. “What about the arrogance of denying our right to he togeth Becky Kennedy (left) and Mary Li have a ----- mmm —... » ..» I Hi er as a family.7"' J H 9-month-old daughter, Ava O T REVOLUTION 1-888-470-2188 Congratulations Newlyweds! T - Columbus D o n 't M iss O u t !
