rm rm m n ew sb riefs
IN THE MARKET for
a NEW or USED CAR?
S hepard H eadlines
D iversity S ummit
Stop in at Lithia Subaru
and take a test drive.
We’ll treat you like family!
atthew Shepards mother will he one of
the keynote speakers during Diversity
Summit 2004 presented hy Portland General
Electric from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 28 at the
Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin
Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Judy Shepard, whose son was the victim of
an anti-gay murder in 1998, will focus on the
prevention of hate crimes. Her speech, “H ie
Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” urges audiences to
make their schtxils and communities safer for
everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion or sex
ual orientation.
The summit, “New Frontiers in Diversity,” is
designed for people interested in learning about
fostering workplace diversity, including business
owners and managers, human resources person
nel and community leaders. The other keynote
speakers will he womens rights leader Madame
Jehan Sadat, the widow of Egyptian President
Anwar Sadat, and consultant Mark Williams,
who helps solve human interaction problems
related to cultural differences.
“Every aspect of workplace diversity, including
age, sex, culture, race, religion, disability and sexu
al orientation, are covered during this confer
ence,” said DeAngeloa Wells, PGE human
resources operations director. “Our Diversity Sum
mit offers participants a wide selection of compre
hensive presentations, forums and discussions.”
The cost is $199 a person, which includes a
continental breakfast and banquet lunch. Seat
ing is limited.
M
— Jim Andreevs
I LITHIA
SU BARU
n'kai.tyafAIM M Dhvt
1 800 311-7310
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-
1404 M ain S tre e t • O regon C ity
w w w .lithiasubaruoregoncity.com
Support groups Av Kilobit
Tor 1Vtrfnen who partner With Wofnen
The Hambleton Project and the Susan 6. Komen Foundation have collaborated
to provide these free resources to our community.
Hi
Bi-weekly support group for lesbians/bisexual women with cancer and
their partners/caregivers (ongoing)
Hi
8-week bereavement group for lesbians/bisexual women who have
lost a loved one (next session begins 3/4/04)
These groups are currently held in the Portland area, and will soon be available in
the Salem area.
•i
For specific meeting times, locations, or for more information,
call the Hambleton Project at 503.335.6591
see
4P
To register visit tvuAv.portlarulgeneral.com/
diversity summit by April 15. Partuipants requiring
accommodations related to disabilities should call
503-464-2355 or 503-464-8890 (T O D Y ) or
e-mail diversity_summit_2004@pgn.com.
Dr. Bareback.
He likes
inserting Q-tips
into penises of
men who practice
unsafe sex.
U .S. Sen. Gordon Smith has introduced a
hate crimes amendment that would expand
federal law to include sexual orientation,
gender and disability
S mith : H ate C rimes
A re A cts of T errorism
SAY NO TO BAREBACK.
I Cascade
Because its about more than HIV.
w w w .cascadeaids.org
IPDX1
U
.S. Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Ted
Kennedy, D-Mass., announced March 30
that they have introduced a hate crimes hill as
an amendment to House Resolution 4, the Tem
porary Assistance to Needy Families reautho
rization bill being debated in the U.S. Senate.
“A government’s first duty is to protect and
defend its citizens. Our laws should do that hy
reflecting our highest values," Smith said. “This
hill sends a signal that violence of any kind is
unacceptable. When someone is targeted because
of who they are, it is an attack on their entire
community, and no less an act of terrorism.”
Since 1969, federal law has permitted prose
cution of hate crimes motivated by race, reli
gion, national origin or color, if the victim was
engaging in one of six protected activities. The
Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act
would broaden federal jurisdiction to include
hate crimes that cause death or bodily injury
and add sexual orientation, gender and disabili
ty to the covered categories.
Smith first sponsored the hill with Kennedy
in 1999 and again in 2001 and 2003. It was also
introduced as an amendment to legislation in
both 1999 and 2000.
C ommunity C enter F orum
D ate C hanges
A
queer community center study forum will
he held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 19 at
the Multnomah Building, 501 S.E. Hawthorne
Blvd. The meeting previously was scheduled to
take place March 24.
The first half-hour will he devoted to social
izing, then organizers will discuss a feasibility
study and update everyone on their next steps.
The LG BTQ Community Center Fund Board is
in the process of conducting a survey of local
groups to assess potential tenants for the facility.
Organizations interested in a queer community
center should call 503-239-6820 or e-mail
jkcjl l@hotmail.com. For more information visit
UAvtv.outwithit2003 .com.
D arcelle ’ s H omecoming
ortland’s premier drag queen will return to
1 the neighborh(xxJ where she grew up to help
raise money for the Linnton Community Center.
Darcelle XV will headline a benefit extrava
ganza 7 p.m. April 25 at the historic facility,
which is located at 10614 N.W. St. Helens
Road, about one mile northwest of the St. John’s
Bridge on U.S. Highway 30. She will he joined
hy her performance troupe for a night of their
legendary “Glitz ’n’ Glamour” comedy.
Beer and wine will he served at a no-host bar,
and light snacks and a dessert bar will he avail
able. Tickets are $20 a person and are available
both at the door or in advance at Linnton Feed
and Seed, 10920 N.W. St. Helens Road.
Darcelle, aka Walter Cole, has special roots in
the neighborhixxi He was raised in Linnton and
has fond memories of the center being an essen
tial part of growing up for generations of youth.
Darcelle performed at a similar fund-raiser in
Febmary 2003, when the center was in danger of
closing for gcxxJ. The facility has served genera
tions of families with children’s activities includ
ing 4H and Girl Scout meetings, skating, vol
leyball, arts and crafts, a library, a summer camp,
a Sunday school, a teen after-school program
and a morning preschool.
For more information call 503-286-4990 or e-mail
c(rmmunitycenter@linnton. com.
R ural A ctivists
W ill S trategize
S
mall-town activists will have the opportuni
ty to connect with other people who share
their passion for justice during the Rural Organ
izing Project’s annual caucus and strategy session
May 15 in Oregon City.
The event will he a frank discussion on how
to respond to wedge issues like marriage, taxes,
civil liberties and immigrant rights. Participants
will learn specific skills for building their base,
getting their message out to voters, recruiting