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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2005)
« does. Please, please, please support those opin ions w ith facts, though. To T he E ditor : First of all, No on 36 was a coalition NOT n the Feb. 18 issue of Just Out, there was an under BRO’s control. The National Gay and article by Jayinee R. Cuti titled “Theology Lesbian Task Force actually seemed to play a and Christianity.” it described the clash much larger roll in the campaign than BRO. between conservative Christians and gays Most of the campaign staff was made up of through two opposing views, one by Alisa Sim NGLTF people. The Human Rights Campaign mons, a board member for Basic Rights Oregon, also sent a contingent to help out w ith the cam and the Rev. Renee Ward, a community rela- paign. How do I know all of this, you ask? j tions spokeswoman for' Killingsworth Little I myself was a member of rhe campaign staff—a Chapel of the Chimes. Each stressed her views i full-time volunteer staff member, actually. about people being Christian and gay. And while we are on that note, as one of the In America, we have the right to freedom of more than 9,000 volunteers, no, I don’t feel like speech. However, the opinion of one person a failure. On the contrary, 1 feel like 1 helped | does not necessarily represent the philosophy , build something big, something gtxxl, a founda and views of a particular organization. Dignity tion for future campaigns to w'ork with. Memorial Funeral Homes represents eight loca Now back to your attacks on BRO. You stat tions in the Portland area. Dignity Memorial ed that you did not like the riming of BRO’s law- I does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, suit. Not many of us did, either; however, most color or sexual orientation. We provide services of us understock! the strategy that BRO was to people of all faiths. using and are willing to go along with it. You see, As an employee of Little Chapel of the BRO is actually behaving smartly. It was actual Chimes, it is an honor and privilege to serve ly trying to build a case that it could sustain in everyone, no matter where they come from. It court and that would actually have some validi is our motto to serve with pride, honor and ty and merit when its lawsuit was filed. The idea dignity. was that it wanted a case that its opposition couldn’t merely throw a few motions at and get D avid H inton dismissed. No, the idea here was that BRO Dignity Chapels wanted a lawsuit that would withstand the argu ments brought against it by the opposition. In short, BRO wanted a lawsuit put together that In defense of BRO would actually, well, win (a novel concept, To T he E ditor : I know, but a good one). his letter pertains to a letter to the editor Now Win. Stephen Humphrey states that from a former staff member of Just Out to Scott Mix ire is in support of the lawsuit, just not The Portland Mercury in the Feb. 24 edition. the I riming of the lawsuit. Strange, 1 saw' no indi just thought I would show support for the folks cation of that in his article. All I could find was at Just Out and Basic Rights Oregon. Thanks for sympathy for Tim Nashif et al. and a growing all your help and support during the past year. fear that BRO would lose and that this was all a D ear M ercury : waste of time. Interest ing comments from a sup I am writing this in response to Meg Daly’s porter of the lawsuit, don’t you think? letter to The Mercury published Feb. 24- Rather, Finally, and 1’11 say it again and again: All I I am writing in support of Meg and in response see is The Mercury's criticism of BRO. Where to Win. Stephen Humphrey. I believe that there has The Mercury staff been hiding? I never once are a few things that need to be straightened saw a member of The Mercury’s staff volunteer out. ing for No on 36. (If someone did, my apologies; * When No on 36 started, it seemed like The however, what can 1 say—I call ’em as I see ’em.) Mercury was very supportive of the campaign and, through its humorous and editorial style, N eil B arnes broadcast that support to its readers. However, Portland once rhe campaign was lost, so was The Mer cury's support. All I have been reading since the Don’t fall for the campaign is how awful Basic Rights Oregon is. You claim that everything in the campaign that homophobes’ trick went wrong is BRO’s fault. The Mercury even To the E ditor : carries this mentality forward into post-election he Feb. 18 “Page 3” editorial by Marty season events like the BRO lawsuit against Mea Davis scolded the wrong party [“The sure 36. It seems as though all you have to say is Reflex”]. Although I agree that angry e-mails are how much the staff at The Mercury thinks BRO counterpnxluctive, she should have scolded The is nothing but a pack of blithering idiots. Washington Post for printing such a homophobic That’s fine that you have opinions; everyone story. Death with Dignity I T Got financial questions? Get answers. • • • • Comprehensive Financial Planning Retirement Planning Life & Disability Insurance* Estate Tax Analysis • College Savings Plans • Mutual Funds Investing • IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollovers • Tax Advantaged Investments • Long Term Care Insurance* * Offered through arrongemenh with insurance companies .WADDELL ><SrREED Pinone tal Servîtes* Call Anne today. Investing. With a plan.® 503.238.6036 ext.119 SOO Northeast Multnomah Street • Suite 278 • Portland, OR 97232 1 503-238-7056 FAX • Toll Free 888-892-9049 • anneseelye@wradvileft.cim Specifically, why did rhe story focus on anonymous “angry e-mails” that public officials routinely ignore? Why did the story paint Bush appointees as being victims of “angry” homo sexuals? Homophobes love to dismiss their opponents as “angry." Misogynists use the same trick to dis miss women as “angry” and “hysterical.” By being graciously conciliatory, Marty Davis fell for the homophobes’ trick. She in advertently accepted responsibility for a prob lem that was created by homophobes. These apocryphal “angry e-mail” writers did not create the “misunderstanding” over the sui cide workshop title. The divisive leadership and homophobia of the Bush administration are solely responsible for this problem. The police bureau will be conducting a recruitment drive at Pride. It is actively recruit ing candidates from a wide range of groups to increase the diversity of the police department. The roundtable encourages all those who might be interested in working in the police depart ment to contact the Human Resources Depart ment of the city of Portland or drop by the infor mation bxx)th at Pride. D anny R osen Sexual Minority Roundtable How does that foot taste? To the E ditor : realize it’s next to impossible to curb some of the offhand comments made on local morn ing television programs, but that dix:sn’t mean we should just let them slide. Ken Ackerman of KATU’s AM Northwest wins a foot-in-mouth award for his smirk, “Well, on that show anyone could have worn that dress.” The show’s segment on purchasing clothes worn by celebrities was looking at a dress worn by Debra Messing of Will & Grace. If a real comedian had made the comment, it would be a “whatever.” But Ackerman’s homo phobia is clear to me after viewing this program for a few years. You can almost see his skin crawl when anything gay is mentioned. His need to be seen as a man’s man is obvi ous, probably because he has issues being on a predominately women-focused program. I’ve heard breast comments in front of a studio audi ence with children. His demeanor around attractive women is sophomoric. Single, he is. KATU management should really kxik at the idea of sensitivity training for its talent on this show. There’s a difference between being funny and trying so hard to be. 1 T homas K raemer Corvallis Life partners To THE EDITOR: n behalf of the Sexual Minority Round- table, thank you to Just Out for the cover age of the celebration of the reaffirmation of the partnership agreement with rhe Portland Police Bureau. The roundtable also thanks all those in rhe community who were able to attend the cel ebration and reaffirm their participation and support of the partnership. Those who missed the February celebration still have an opportunity to indicate their sup port of the goals set out in the partnership agree ment by adding their signature to the document at the roundtable meeting from noon to 1:30 pan. April 12 in the Chief’s Conference Room on the 1 5th floor of the Justice Center. The partnership agreement will also be avail able for review during this year’s Pride celebra tion. You can see for yourself who has commit ted to the ongoing support of the partnership. 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