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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2004)
I J ! u : ì i ; ivj * i mews P rimary C olors Dennis Kudnich encourages queer voters to send the Democratic Party a clear message by Jim R ad o sta U .S. Rep. D ennis K ucinich, D -O hio, congratulates newlyweds Bonnie Tinker (left) and Sara G raham on April 17 in Portland " 'W t ain’t over ’til it’s over— and, as far as the Oregon primary election goes, that won’t happen until May 18. So, even though U.S. Sen. John Kerry J L . of M assachusetts is the presum ptive Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of O hio has refused to drop out of the race, maintaining that his grassroots can didacy gives voters a real choice at the polls. Unlike his moderate rival, Kucinich supports same-sex marriage without exception. He even attended the wedding of Love Makes a Family founder Bonnie Tinker and her partner of 26 years, Sara Graham, April 17 in Portland. T he longtime vegan sat down with Just O ut at the Daily G rind natural food store to explain why a vote for him would not be made in vain. Jim Radosta: N ow that K erry has the nom ination locked up, w hat are your goals in stay ing in the race? D ennis K ucinich: Since the nom ination’s no longer a question, now we can vote for what the party stands for. A nd so my candidacy gives people a chance to say the party ought to stand for an end to the war in Iraq; bringing our troops home; a peace plan; an end to the Patriot A ct and any assault on civil liberties; making human rights, workers rights, environm ental quality principles the bedrock of all trade agree m ents...and, finally, a national health care plan where everyone’s covered for everything. JR : A re you concerned that your candida cy could splinter votes at a time w hen some might say that unity should be our goal? DK: T he general election’s for unity. T he primary’s for debate within the party. Otherwise, why have a primary at all? ...A n d our party’s ability to win is going to depend on our ability to have this debate. For example, are we going to end up asking the people to choose between a Democratic version of the war in Iraq and a Republican version of the war? ...I t’ll make the difference between victory or defeat. I mean, if the Democrats don’t take a strong position to get out of Iraq, how are we going to win the elec tion? How? ...O u r party’s about to buy the war. W e’re about to buy a train wreck. hasn’t taken a strong enough stance on this? DK: I never put my energy into frustration, ever. I believe in creation, not frustration.... You get frustrated about something, you create a new scenario— th at’s what I say, and th at’s exactly what I’m working on doing. I mean, I’m standing alone— not just in this race hut in the Congress— in talking about a peace plan. JR : A nother major difference between you and K erry is your views on same-sex marriage. DK: The Oregon Constitution makes it very clear that people should not he discriminated against for any reason whatsoever, and sooner or later that will he upheld. But there’s a broader issue here: Why should people have to go from state to state...to find a place to enjoy a whole range of legal rights? This is a test of who we are as a coun try; it’s a test of what it means to be an American. And, frankly, I think America will meet this test...because we’ve always met the test on civil liberties questions, and I don’t think we’re going to fail now .... People are going to stand up and say there’s no reason for anyone to be discriminated against. Let people be who they are, let people love who they love, and let people celebrate their own humanity. I mean, we’ve got to get past the point of judging each other. There’s real power when we affirm each other’s humanity— real power. I talk at a lot of high schools and colleges, and...there’s a young generation that’s ready to really take America in a new direction—one that’s more tolerant and loving and peaceful and hope ful, and they need to be heard from.... They just need to know that there’s someone in the genera tion ahead of them who’s ready to take a stand, and I am. And to me it’s not even a close question. JR : W hat was it like for you to actually attend a same-sex wedding? DK: O n one hand, it was wonderful. O n the other hand, it was no big deal! It was like, “And.7” You know, it’s not, like, shocking. No, it’s two people love each other, and they want to recog nize that in front of the community and in front of their families.... It’s only a big deal because some people are starting to equate it with the decline of Western civilization. Please! j n For more information about DENNIS KUCINICH JR : H ave you been frustrated that Kerry WHETHER YOU'RE STARTING A FAMILY OR CREATING ONE AS YOU GO. visit wuAv.kucmich .us We invito your family to join ours. From now until December 31, 2004 when you buy or lease any new Volvo, we will donate $ 6 0 0 to HRC.* To learn more about th a special offer call 1-800-652-7783. It'* our way of letting you know, we care for the people you care about. ilC H TS ».»*.»**»* *M doraeon* rant be m eom pm ot by an a f ulnt HRC/Vobo coupon and I Vetri» Cw* ot Nrvfc ArnMca. U C . mt«ec»r*ooB> VOLVO for life 01003 JM FISHES VOLVO HERZOHCER VOLVO 21 st & W . Burnside, Portland 503.295.5571 www.jimfishervolvo.com 139th & Canyon Rd., Beaverton 503.644.9121 www.herrogmeier.com
