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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2004)
august 20. 2004 ' nrmwwïnews O ut N ow DAVIS etting married shouldn’t have to be a political statement. For some same-sex couples who were married in Multnomah County earlier this year, they simply wanted to walk through a door that had previously been barred to them. Now that a constitutional amendment is on the November ballot that would make their marriages obsolete—and future gay and lesbian marriages impossible—even the most apolitical same-sex couples are being called upon to help secure marriage rights for all Oregonians. It may seem like a given that married same-sex couples would be the first in line to defend their own marriages at the ballot box. However, according to Rebekah Kassell of the No on Con stitutional Amendment 36 campaign, 40 percent of the Oregon same-sex couples who were married in Multnomah County are not registered to vote. At the very least, their votes are needed to sup port what Kassell calls “a very winnable campaign.” No on 36 staffers are only now seeing the sense of urgency sink in among their supporters. Deputy campaign manager Beckie Lee suspects that some marriage equality supporters initially may have been “paralyzed by fear” when they learned that the amendment had made it on the ballot. She also notes that it takes time in the beginning of a campaign to ramp up the needed momentum. Kassell says this is no time for complacency. “Some people think Oregon is a fair state and would never do this kind of thing. It would be a shame to be this close to winning and lose because we didn’t do enough or take it seriously.” 13 No on 36 campaign organizers say every effort is key by Meg Daly Organizers say the campaign hit a turning point in recent days, with more and more vol unteers buzzing around the office and canvassers out in force. One element still needed is more participa tion from people like Kelly Burke, a lesbian mom who married her partner, Dolores Doyle, last March. The couple are front and center as “the face” of the campaign to defeat the amendment. They attend rallies and speak to the media about the importance of marriage rights for their family. Their story is the kind that will help influence undecided voters, Kassell says. Kelly Burke (left) And Dolores Doyle speak up for marriage equality during the No on 36 For Burke, telling her story goes beyond campaign kickoff rally Aug. 3 being a campaign tool. “My family’s life and well-being is on the line,” she says. “It’s scary to Kinoshita says that not everyone has to be so about the impact this amendment would have think people could be voting on my life.” public in order to help the campaign. Help is on their lives. In the five months since she and Doyle have also needed in the form of donations of even “Every day, I put on a No on 36 sticker and been married, Burke was able to get health insur small amounts of time or money. walk through this city,” Burke says, “and I’ll admit ance through Doyle’s place of employment. “If everyone gives just a little bit,” Kinoshita sometimes I’m scared. I’m concerned if this is this “Most people don’t know the benefits [that says, “it is cumulative. There will be a a good thing to be doing.. .with a small child. come with a marriage license] and they haven’t groundswell, and we will win.” “But people need to see who we are,” she thought about how those rights affect someone’s Bill Klein, No on 36 house party organizer says. “We have to find a way to be involved family,” she says. “If we don’t stand up for our own and a married gay man himself, adds that mar because we are the campaign.” jT*l lives, I’m afraid no one else will.” ried same-sex couples can help the campaign No on 36 fund-raising coordinator Brenda simply by “talking to everyone they know” To make a donation or to volunteer, contact the No on C onstitutional A mendment 36 campaign at 971'244'1399 or www.noon36.com. Tim Bias of the Rose City Softball Association, David Martinez of the LGBTQ Community Center Fund Board, Bob Mensel of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and Multnomah County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey will present the fund'raiser 3 M en & a L ady 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at Hobo’s, 120 N.W. Third Ave. Representatives from the No on Constitutional Amendment 36 campaign and Basic Rights Oregon will provide information on ways people can help defeat the anti'gay ballot measure. To RSVP e-mail aladyandthreemen@yahoo.com. Haven coffee shop owner Dale Schiff will present R ock for R ights ! 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lola’s Room, 1332 W. Bumside St. Marie Fleischmann will serve as the host of this nonsmoking, 21 -and- older benefit featuring performers Tamara J. Brown, Ashleigh Flynn, DK PDX, Sneakin’ Out, Vivian’s Keeper and Tragedy Jane. Tickets are $10 from Ticketmaster and In Other Words. For more information call 503'236'6890. 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