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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2005)
8 jUSt OUI ’ may 2Û. 2005 TTTTTTlüFfSlne ws briefs Comer of Sandy Blvd. & NE 3106 NE 64th Portland, OR 97213 64th 503-280-8080 My gifts for Romance in an Elegant Setting LINNTON FEED & SEED. NOT THE MALL. We carry multi-pure water systems 10920 NW St. Helens Rd Portland, OR 97231 Phone: 503.286.1291 R ichardson S tuns C ity C lub with H omophobia A collective gasp was heard from the Port land City Club after House Speaker Pro Tem pore Dennis Richardson made a case for dis crimination against same-sex couples May 13. Richardson, a Republican from Central Point, made a “life isn’t fair” argument in response to City Club board member Tamsen Wassell’s question about discrimination she experienced. Wassell directed her question about auto insurance discrimination to Richardson, an insurance lawyer, after being quoted a higher rate because her spouse is a woman. She asked him whether this was a fair practice and, if not, u'hat recourse she should take. “I wish I were taller, I wish 1 were better looking. It’s not fair,” was Richardson’s immedi ate response. Wassell said she felt that Richardson’s answer was dismissive and that he perceived her marriage as abnormal. “Honestly, 1 knew Rep. Richardson’s posi tion on gay and lesbian rights so was not sur prised at his remarks,” she said. “1 thought he might rise above and answer from a professional point of view, but clearly he can not separate his political views from his professional ones.” the center. The event starts at 7 p.m. and includes a possible excursion to Tabu. • June 9: All Day Gay Film Festival at Meese Auditorium on the Southern Oregon Universi ty campus. The films will be split into two genres, with one afternoon and one evening showing. • June 11: A dance for everyone in the com munity, gay and straight. • June 12: Pride March. Come show your pride and meet 11:30 a.m. at Evo’s. The march will continue at 12:45 p.m. to Lithia Park, where the community will gather for the annual Picnic in the Park. There will be speakers and entertain ment. The day will end with a Native American closing ceremony. To reach the Abdill-Ellis Community Cen ter, call 541-488-6990 or look online at www.abdellis.org. A shland M arriage C eremony in the P ark Ernest Caswell, a bishop in Christ Catholic Church in Ashland, is volunteering to bless the commitments of same-sex couples during Southern Oregon Pride. Christ Catholic is a small, independent church that split from Rome in 1720. In his 32 years as bishop, Caswell has per formed many weddings and many gay union ceremonies. His offer stands to Southern Oregonians who wish to make a commitment to their loved one or publicly renew their vows. The ceremony need not be religious, but Caswell can certainly perform one with reli gious blessings, with either a Certificate of Union or of vow renewal. If you would like to have a ceremony June 12 during Pic nic in the Park, Caswell will be in attendance between 3 and House Speaker Pro Tempore Dennis Richardson did not impress 5 p.m. To have a ceremony the City Club with his platitudes on the unfairness of life. with the bishop at Pride, inter ested people must call him at David Pcx)l, editor of the online news source 541-535-8463 and discuss details by June 5. News4Neighbors, was in the audience covering the meeting. “The most disturbing part is he W itham & D ickey didn’t realize what he was saying,” he said. W ins B usiness A ward Richardson, who has a history of conserva For anyone who was at this year’s Basic tive politics in Southern Oregon, continued to Rights Oregon luncheon, you may remember say that enforcing fairness is not the govern Gov. Ted Kulongoski talking about going to ment’s job. Embers back around 1980. The man who took “The government can’t make everything him was Bill Dickey, longtime Portland gay fair,” he said. “You’re making a decision to not activist and businessman. be in a normal marriage.... It’s not about fair Dickey and Matt Witham specialize in com ness. It’s about decisions society makes and this mercial printing, direct mail and promotional one doesn’t cut in your favor and I think that’s prixlucts. After starting out with a small dupli just the way it is.” cator press in 1996, they now have seven press In the News4Neighbors report on the meet es in their 7,500-square-foot facility. Employ ing, Pool posed the natural follow-up question: ment grew by six people to 15 in 2004, with “Isn’t fairness and justice exactly the govern a 225 percent increase in gross revenue/sales. ment’s job?” Witham & Dickey’s Homestead Greeting Cards —J ay me e R. Cuti division sells hundreds of thousands of custom greeting cards created locally and sold S outhern O regon P ride nationwide. A nnounces E vent S chedule Witham & Dickey has earned one of the Sponsored by the Abdill-Ellis Community Portland Business Alliance’s Top Ten Growth Center, Southern Oregon Pride will have many Awards in the Small Business Category. With events to celebrate June 3 to 12. The following am & Dickey has been named as the region’s is a list of confirmed events; further information fastest-growing businesses in its size category. will be published in the June 3 issue of Just Out: “We created the Top Ten Growth Awards 20 • June 3: Art Walk at the center, 6 to 9 p.m. years ago as a way to spotlight companies that • June 4: Stonewall Panel at Ashland Public are making major contributions to the econom Library, 2 to 4 p.m. Also, a golf tournament will ic growth of the region,” said Sandra McDo take place at Bear Creek Golf Course. To regis nough, Portland Business Alliance president ter, leave a message at 541-734-7221. Price is and CEO. “This year’s winners demonstrate that $20, and tee time is 6 p.m. businesses of every size and in a broad range of • June 5: A Day at the Theater featuring “Ma industries are growing and prospering in Port Rainey.” Tickets are $22. Contact the center if land and the region.” you would like to attend. Winners were honored at the alliance’s • June 8: A blowout for the Women’s Night at Annual Meeting, one of the largest gatherings
