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16 jUSt OUt » July 2. 004 _ unfiDiA SCOOTERS • Best selection, 5 world-class brands with over 20 models! • On-site parts and service • NOW Offering Financing! •Upto 100 MPG DERBI 1417 SE 9th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 503.872.8565 columbiascooters.com ^KAREN M. SWEIGERT, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Donor Insemination Phone 503 274-9936 1040 N.W. 22nd, Suite 330, Portland, OR 97210 Q/ùitoge eyweot $65.00 DfCflDB vintage company www.decadesvintage.com (503) 223-1177 Big City Produce 328 SW STARK 722 N Summer at Albina local folks, local produce, organics, etc (503) 460-3830 PCC Cascade { SSi C; lastro. ST"* 1-5 The Adventure Group Portland's GLBT Recreation Group Invites EVERYONE to our annual BBQ! Laurelhurst Park - Picnic Area E Saturday, July 10 from 11 am to 3 pm www.adventuregroup.org St. Stephen’s Episcopal Gay & Lesbian Couples Welcome THIS DOWNTOWN 1 PARISH^ Sunday Services • 7:45 and 10:00 am Sunday School & Childcare at 10:00 am Rev. Lawrence Falkowski, Ph D. rector 1432 SW 13th Avenue • Portland, Oregon 97201 (503) 223-6424 SHARE THE WEALTH Just Out subscriptions make great gifts for family and friends. www.justout.com or call 503-236-1252 rriTirrm news M itt and H iss Massachusetts governor backs Federal Marriage Amendment at Senate hearing by Bob Roehr he Senate Judi ciary Commit tee turned again June 22 to the subject of same- sex marriage and the amend ment to the U.S. Constitu tion that would ban it. This time it was for a meeting of the full panel, chaired by Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. “Traditional marriage is under attack,” he asserted in his opening statement. “Courts and renegade pub lic officials, not conserva tive activists, have made this a national issue. If we are to protect and strength en the institution of mar Republican Gov. Mitt Romney characterized the Massachusetts riage, there appears to be Supreme Judicial Court’s decision as “a fundamental break with no way around the consti all of our...traditions” tutional solution to this problem.” inition and then, consistent with the principles Reflecting on the issuance of marriage of federalism, leaves other policy issues regard licenses to same-sex couples in Massachusetts ing marriage to state legislatures.” since May 17, Hatch said: “The point is not Boh Barr, a conservative Republican and that civilization will come to a screeching former congressman from Georgia, was the halt but that people begin an unprecedented sole witness to speak against the amendment. and unwise slide into accepting a divorce He was disturbed by the rush to get it to a between marriage and child rearing. For this vote on the floor of the Senate. “I urge you, Mr. Chairman, to oppose efforts to circum reason, many believe same-sex marriage will likely act to undermine the health of families vent your committee on an issue of such monumental, lasting and wide-ranging over time.” Ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy of Ver importance.’’. mont lambasted the hearing and the Federal He harshly criticized the actions of San Marriage Amendment as politics pure and sim Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Massachusetts court in pushing for same-sex ple. “This debate is not about preserving the sanctity of marriage, it is about preserving a marriage. “However, some of my fellow social conservatives are today pulling a Newsom with Republican White House and Senate.” the Federal Marriage Amendment—and, even Leahy chastised the committee for finding time to hold four hearings on same-sex mar more indefensible from a conservative perspec riage instead of focusing on “the abuses at Abu tive, they are trying to use the Constitution as Ghraib, the FBI’s troubling and costly com their tool." puter problems, FBI lab problems, FBI foreign Barr then turned his attention to Romney. translation problems and the bipartisan [Secu “The governor is pleading rity and Freedom Ensured! Act.” for this Congress and the federal government to Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney devoted protect him against the most of his opening statement to a factual recitation of the course of events in that state, Massachusetts.. .Constitu tion, the Massachusetts characterizing the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision as “a fundamental Legislature, the Massachu break with all of our laws, experiences and setts Supreme Judicial traditions.” Court and, most ironically, Romney discussed how the state might spend the people of Massachu Bob Barr federal money and qualify beneficiaries for pro setts if they eventually rat grams. “For example, we have been told that we ify the proposed Massachusetts constitutional cannot use federal funds to provide meals for an amendment.” elderly same-sex spouse if the person’s eligibility Barr invoked federalism in arguing against for the services is due to their spousal status.” the amendment: “Marriage is a quintessential The Defense of Marriage Act, which pro state issue.” And he worried, “If we begin to hibits recognition of same-sex marriage for fed treat the Constitution as our personal sandbox, eral programs, can cut both ways. While spousal in which to build and destroy castles as we status does not qualify one for Medicaid, when it please, we risk diluting the grandeur of having a comes to meeting income eligibility criteria, Constitution in the first place.” only the applicant’s income, not the family or Barr acknowledged “the erosion of the spousal income, counts toward that ceiling of nuclear family.... Restoring stability to these eligibility to receive benefits. families is a tough problem and requires careful, Similarly, Romney said the federal Centers thoughtful and, yes, tough solutions. But homo for Medicare and Medicaid Services “has noti sexual couples seeking to marry did not cause fied us that federal transfer-of-asset rules regard this problem, and the Federal Marriage Amend ing spouses will not apply, nor will spousal ment cannot be the solution." impoverishment provisions apply to same-sex Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human spouses." He called for “an amendment that Rights Campaign and a former Massachusetts restores and protects our societal definition of state senator, said: “Clearly you do not have to marriage, blocks judges from changing that def support same-sex marriage rights to be against T
