just out • July 2.2004
TTTTTTTTTTlnewsbriefs
Continued from Page 7
N atural B orn P sychic
T ells
past , present , future
LOVE, MARRIAGE, BUSINESS
H elps &
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M ention
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C ome in today
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ALL MANNERS OF LIFE.
African American legal group. The
brief argues that preventing same-sex
couples from marrying is fundamen
tally wrong and violates the Wash
ington Constitution.
“Our nation has a troubled history
of imposing restrictions on the most
private and most important choice of
who one will marry,” the brief said.
“Ultimately, the judiciary has righted
such wrongs.”
V ancouver P ride
F estival T urns 10
2328 nw Westover rd • portland, or 97210
dolcesalon.citysearch.com • 503-226-7802
aturday in the Park will celebrate
its 10th anniversary from noon to
5 p.m. July 10 at Esther Short Park in
downtown Vancouver, Wash. The
2004 theme for the city’s Gay Pride
festival is “Your World Is Our World:
Freedom, Faith and Equality.”
The opening ceremonies will begin Sister Paula Nielsen single-handedly created the genre
with Mayor Royce Pollard, Clark of cable-access transsexual televangelism
County Commissioner Craig Pride-
more and openly gay state Rep. Jim Moeller,
66th birthday party for Sister Paula Nielsen,
D-Vancouver. Other scheduled speakers include
who single-handedly created the genre of cable
County Commissioner Betty Sue Morris and
access transsexual televangelism, from 6:30 to
state Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver.
8:30 p.m. July 13 at 2100 S.E. Belmont St.
The entertainment throughout the day will
The retired host of Let’s Have Church will
he provided by the Rose City Swing Band, Col celebrate her 41st year as an out trans woman
orfield, De’Zhon Fields, Amy Wells and sever
by sharing stories, reflections and one-liners,
al other performers. Vendors will also provide a
followed by a cake reception. All are invited to
variety of services and products.
the free event; donations are encouraged.
The youth group provides socializing, sup
For more information call Jon Martin at
port and empowerment for trans, genderqueer
and questioning kids. It meets from 6:30 to
360'607-2843 or visit groups.msn.com/sitp2004 ■
8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at SMYRC.
B end B ans B ias
816 NW 23rd Avenue
end has become the first Oregon jurisdic
tion east of the Cascades to pass a city
wide ordinance protecting gay, lesbian, bi and
trans people from discrimination. The unani
mous City Council vote came June 16 after
months of testimony, consideration and polit
ical wrangling.
The ordinance covers employment, places
of public accommodation as well as selling,
leasing or renting property. It was drafted and
submitted by a coalition that includes Basic
Rights Oregon; the Human Dignity Coali
tion; Parents, Families and Friends of Les
bians and Gays of Central Oregon; Support
Diversity-Bend Together; and other commu
nity, church, labor and business groups.
This ordinance, while similar to others
already in place in several Oregon cities and
counties, is the most comprehensive because it
does not include the exceptions that those laws
make. It was first proposed after an assault on a
gay man at a local nightclub.
Bend residents Bill Brackett and Dave
Eaton filed papers June 22 to begin circulating
a petition to refer the law to voters in Novem
ber, The Bend Bulletin reported. If they can
collect 3,352 valid signatures by July 16, vot
ers would have the opportunity to repeal the
ordinance.
BRO’s field director, Jessica DuBois, said
opponents had ample opportunities to air their
concerns before the law was approved. “There
was an extensive, several months-long airing of
this ordinance, and they didn’t show up.”
H appy B irthday ,
S ister P aula
he Sexual Minority Youth Resource Cen
ter’s Trans Youth Group will play’host to a
For mure information e'lnail Christa'Margaret
Nelson at transyouthgroup@smyrc.org or visit
www. smyrc. org/ transyouthgroup.
P roject L aunches
S ummer A ctivities
new bilingual program is helping queer
men younger than 26 from rural Wash
ington and Clackamas counties fight foes like
ignorance, syphilis and depression.
But instead of concentrating on dental
dams, condoms and lube, the Health Education
for Rural Outreach, Empowerment and Sup
port Project will play host to theater outings,
dances, movie nights and coffee socials. Events
will be held every Sunday beginning July 11 at
coffee shops in the tri-county area and at the
Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center,
2100 S.E. Belmont St.
HEROES was started in 2003 by the state
health department and is coordinated by
SMYRC to provide information and materials
to young men in the rural comers of the tri-
county area. The project concentrates primari
ly on this population because they have recent
ly shown a marked increase in sexually trans
mitted diseases, especially among those who
have sex with other men.
“There’s much more to the prevention [of
STDs] than telling people not to have sex or
handing them a condom. It’s amazing how
confused people can get around the subject,”
HEROES head Vicente Guzman-Orozco
said. “Many guys have never felt comfortable
showing they may not know everything
about what goes on with their btxlies. By
socializing and chatting we can share infor
mation more casually, as you would normally
with a friend in a field you want to want to
learn more about.”