iustrrrno
newsmagazine
the in publication for the out population
Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance
Now what?
Vol. 22 No. 19
FEATURE
Karen Minnis killed civil unions. Could a ballot measure campaign resuscitate them?
he 2005 Oregon state legislative session has come to a close
and was, by all accounts, very lackluster. Accomplishments
include potentially forcing myself and hordes of my fellow
allergy suffers across the river to buy Claratin and rhe naming
of a state pollen or some such thing. One positive note: The Senate
passed Senate Bill 1000. Less positive: Karen Minnis killed it in the
House. There will be no civil unions, no statewide anti-discrimination
laws, no reciprocal rights in Oregon for the foreseeable future.
What’s next? This is the question on everyone’s mind. In many con
versations the topic is now turning toward the idea of putting forth our
own ballot measure, brought before the voters to seek approval for civil
unions. But there’s much to be considered and evaluated before any
decision can be made regarding this. The process of sponsoring an ini
tiative petition, not unlike the very marriage rights that many seek, is
not to be entered into lightly.
Basic Rights Oregon will be taking the lead role in planning and set
ting strategy for the future. It has to evaluate proper timing, funding,
legal challenges, volunteer capability, community commitment and
strength of opposition along with myriad other details.
The first opportunity to place a ballot measure before voters would
be the general election in November 2006. The process for such is very
structured. First you have a sponsoring organization, individuals or com
mittee. A great deal of legal assistance is required. Every word, every
period, every dot of initiative wording is scrutinized. Everything is sub
ject to challenge. Sponsors submit their proposed ballot measure to the
secretary of state’s office, where it meets its first challenge of legality.
Assuming the state approves the ballot measure, a title is then assigned.
Next comes a period during which legal challenges to the ballot mea
sure are brought forth. Even the sponsors might challenge the title of
the measure. The entire process is fraught with legal challenges.
Once a measure is past all the challenges and gets a “g<x)d to go”
from the secretary of state’s office, the signature gathering begins. Note
that ballot measures fall into two categories, statutory and constitution
al. If a measure falls into the statutory category, 75,630 valid signatures
of registered voters have to be turned in by July 7, 2006. If a ballot mea
sure is constitutional in nature, as would be one involving civil unions,
the required number of signatures is 100,840. Keep in mind that all sig
natures are verified by the state and that in order to maintain the proper
number of valid signatures, you need to gather about 50 percent more
than the required amount. That translates to a lot of signatures.
Then there’s the question of signature gatherers. Would they he vol
unteer or paid? Paid circulators are legal in Oregon—as long as they are
T
REFLECTIONS
• Gay people will see few benefits from the tax reform mea
sures now being promoted by the Reagan administration—
unless they’re rich. High-income people will benefit most from
the Reagan plan because the top tax rate has been slashed
to 35 percent from the current 50 percent.
• Previous research in the gay/lesbian community has indi
cated a preference for retirement housing and long-term
care facilities that are homosexually oriented. To elicit more
detailed and accurate information concerning interest in
such facilities for older lesbians and gay men. a nationwide
survey is being conducted.
• The American Bar Association s House of Delegates
rejected, by nine votes, a proposal to use the resources
of the lawyers group to lobby at federal, state and local
levels for civil rights for gays and lesbians.
• Recently. Deputy Chief Tom Potter of the Portland
Police Bureau volunteered to be police liaison to the
gay community. The position was created because con
cerned individuals contacted the department after a
scheduling mistake left the Lesbian and Gay Pnde
parade without a police escort.
August 5. 2005
not paid by the number of signatures gathered. Ideally, an army of vol
unteer gatherers would rise up across the state. Are we really ready to
take our places outside Wal-Mart? At 50 signatures apiece, it would take
more than 3,000 people to gather the minimum amount needed. Do we
have a network of 3,000 committed volunteers?
Is 2006, a midterm election, the best time to be presenting Oregon
voters with a civil unions bill? For that matter, would we be proposing
civil unions, or civil unions tied in with anti-discrimination laws?
Would we use reciprocal rights wording, or would we focus only on mat
ters affecting same-sex couples? In 2006, Republicans in Oregon will be
swarming to the polls (mailboxes) to claim a seemingly within-grasp
gubernatorial victory. Would this be rhe best time to have a civil unions
bill before voters? If we wait until the 2008 presidential election, there’s
the possibility of a stronger supportive presence as liberal and moderate
voters kx)k to the opportunity to reclaim the White House from Repub
lican control. All these factors play into consideration.
Financial support from outside rhe state must be a consideration of
any decision regarding a ballot measure. In 2004, the No on 36 cam
paign was the recipient of much financial support from national sources,
as Oregon was deemed likely to claim victory in our ballot measure bat
tle. In 2006 these funds will likely not be available, as many other
states, including California, face similar battles. We’ve had our moment
in the spotlight. Without outside funding, can the progressive commu
nity in Oregon successfully mount and succeed at a ballot measure?
Would we be better served by focusing our efforts on influencing state
elections in 2006, thus creating potentially more successful opportunity
for the 2007 Legislature to succeed at what they failed in 2005?
There’s a lot to consider before we take any action. As individuals,
you have a role to play in the decision-making. Are you ready to com
mit months of your life to gathering signatures? Can you step up with
financial support? Are you ready to come out to all your neighbors and
co-workers? Are you ready to take your place in the fight for civil
rights? Have your answers ready; your chance to speak will be coming
up soon.
22 TRUE BREW
Just Out spills the hearts on Portland’s
queer-owned java joints
NEWS
8-15 NORTHWEST
SB 1000 hits the end of the line thanks to
House Speaker Karen Minnis; Cascade AIDS
Project executive director Thomas Bruner
resigns; old dykes to gather in Vancouver,
British Columbia; queer vendors find a home
at Portland Saturday Market; Sam Adams
named city arts liaison
16-19 NATIONAL
Bush names Judge John G. Roberts Jr. as
Supreme Court candidate; hoopla over
Gay.com billboard; Floridian gays’ house and
Brownsville, Texas, nightclub torched in hate
crimes; Californians regaled with another
homophobic ballot initiative; Million Man
March reprise won’t talk to gay groups
20-21 WORLD
Iran executes gay teens; anti-gays trash
Latvia’s first Pride parade
ARTS AND CULTURE
34-37 FILM
New DVDs celebrate the Divine Miss M;
Wonder Woman comes to the rescue in The
Dukes of Hazzard and Sky High
39 THEATER
Musical revue revives legendary composer
Irving Berlin
40-41 DIVERSIONS
St. Johns Window Project; Ladies on the Links
Golf Tournament; NW Professional Dance
Project; Girls on Gay; Lesbian Community
Project Softball Tournament; Darren Stein
udos to all the Just Out readers at the Oregon State Building in
Portland who rallied together when this publication was removed
from it. Your umbrage and actions were successful, and we have been
invited to return, fire hazard that we are. It was very g<xxJ to have your 42-43 CULTURE
Leather community comes together for a
help and support in fighting this battle. The manner in which you rose
weeklong festival of party, charity and play
up to express your displeasure is heartening and deeply appreciated.
Thank you. JM
COLUMNS
K
20 years ago in
just out...
Vol. 2 No. 10, August 1985
33 MS. BEHAVIOR
Life’s a beach
38 EPIQUEEREAN
Out on the street
• Cjscade AIDS Project has received $1,880 from
the Venereal Disease Action Council to begin dis
tributing condoms in Portland’s gay bars and baths
and initiate a Condom Campaign that will be ongoing
and self-sustaining. Condom use is an effective way
to help prevent the transmission of disease, including
the HTLV-III virus, the presumed cause of AIDS
• Portland’s newest women's dance band. AH'Z, will
be playing at the Primary Domain.
• Buried Personalities is an evening of one-act plays
recently presented at Echo Theater by a new women's
theater group called X/Wives. featuring Sarazan Torelle
James. Kelley Edwards. Carol Stemel, Tillay Christensen
and Kathay Duff.
• Since the onset of AIDS, our development as a commu
nity has come to a halt. Like the immune system of the
AIDS victim, our community's development backslides and
deteriorates for a while, then it reaches a plateau and stag
nates. And like AIDS researchers, little groups band
together to compete with each other for the money and the
power, playing one against the other
Just Out is published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copyright © 2005 by Just Out No part of Just Out may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher Editorial
guidelines: Letters to the editor should be limited to 500 words Announcements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc ) should be limited to 200 words; photos are welcome Deadline for
submissions to the editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date Just Out reserves the nght to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns
and length Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher Advertising policy: The display advertising deadline is the Monday 12 days before the
next publication date Classified ads must be received at the Just Out office by 5 p m on the Sunday five days before the next publication date, along with payment Classifieds may be placed via
www.justout.com. by mail or in person at our office Just Out reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. Compensation for errors in, or cancellation of. advertising will be made with credit
toward future advertising Advertising rates available upon request Distribution policy: Just Out is available free of charge Just Out is delivered only to authorized distnbutors No person may.
without prior written permission take more than one copy Any person who takes more than one copy may be held liable for theft, including but not limited to civil damages and/or cnminal prosecution
Subscriptions are $22 50 for 12 issues First Class (in an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues Contact Just Out at PO Box 14400 Portland. OR 97293 0400 503 236 1252 advert'smg 5C3 236 1253.
fax 503 236-1257; e mail justout©justout com. Visit us on the web at www.justout.com.
45 JIM'S CLOSET
Red scare
PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR
Marty Davis
NEWS EDITOR
Sarah Dougher
ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Jim Radosta
STAFF WRITER
Jaymee R. Cuti
ART DIRECTOR
Bonnie Barrett
AD PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Ramey Holsman
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Larry Lewis
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Kari Tate. Cshea Walker
CONTRIBUTORS
Yvonne P. Behrens, Stephen Blair,
Meryl Cohn, Patricia L MacAodha,
Andy Mangels. Christopher McQuam,
Gary Morris. Jenny Nguyen.
Courtney Perkins. Rebecca Ragain,
Bob Roehr, Floyd Sklaver,
Glenn Scofield Williams, Rex Wockner
DISTRIBUTION
Allison Benn, Lisa Benson. Pat Kilmer-
Cramer. Shug Mauldin, Crash Schwartz