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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2005)
.'I.MJÜWi-Unews Muse Art+Design T he R oad M ap Making sense of BRO's next move by Jaymee R. Cuti ESSenTIRLS FOR EUERVDRV ARTISTS 4224 SE Hawthorne Blvd 503.231.8704 museartanddesign.com m-sat 10-6, sun 12-5 but I do wear one on TV. EQUIP I IÌÌF0RÌT1 I mSPIRE Ed McMahon I > i f $2,100’ . SAVE OVER ✓ Works On ffilDEX Senso Diva Premier Digital Hearing Aids *Now through 10/28/05. Rose City Hearing Aids, Inc. Profevvional Service Comfortable Bikeo 4006 SW Barbur Blvd. 5 minutes from Downtown Portland Recumbent^ a Specialty! WMKR SEE WHY!) LOCALLY OWNED 6 OPERATED Open Tuesdav-SunJax 2 30-772 5 2025 SE Hawthorne 503.226.3080 Portland Metro Real Estate 4. i Steve Bucheri Residential Broker 503.970.3801 Buchert@Hasson.com ■ Your local freob flower prof eoo tonalo. www.jacksonsflowers.com L 1424 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 503.282.0657 • 1.800.303.0657 he community recently weighted in on Basic Rights Oregon's most thorough review in the history of the organization. T BRO insiders consulted with coalition partners, political strategists, major donors, activists, legal advisers«and the broader community in September. The results fonned a road map for the agency’s next three years. “This process represents the most broad based effort we’ve ever undertaken in order to collect input and feedback about the organi zation and the priorities of our activist base,” said Rebekah Kassell, spokeswoman for BRO. “We didn’t think it was wise to proceed with any sort of plan without being reflective about where the movement was at, what were the things our base thought was most important, most motivated about and what was realistic.” More than 1,000 community members weighed in on the 10-question survey, inquir ing about the value of pursuing marriages or civil unions and enacting statewide anti Juan Martinez is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging Measure 36. discrimination law. One of the most significant results coming from the surveys and discussions is the decision of whether a state can deny same-sex couples the not to pursue a ballot measure in the 2006 benefits and protections of marriage.” midterm election. Oral arguments were heard Sept. 26 in the “In midterm elections, voter turnout is sig case of Martinez vs. Kulongoski, a legal nificantly lower for people who are best on our challenge to Measure 36 filed on behalf of BRO. issues—younger voters and Democratic voters. The case is based on three major arguments, One of the things we asked was could a cam encompassing both technical and civil rights paign like this bring those people to the polls. platforms. There was no research or past patterns to show The lawsuit argues that changes to the that,” said Kassell. Oregon Constitution resulting from Measure 36 Adding to that was the trend that “yes" cam are so sweeping, they revise, not amend, the paigns generally cost twice as much as “no” cam document. According to Mark Johnson, the paigns, so BRO and its base made interim plans. attorney arguing for BRO, this platform will “The next phase is asking what’s the plan have lasting implications. and how do we put it into action across the “We made an argument to the court that state. We want to engage more people in an in- the ballot measure created two classes of citi depth way. We want more leaders to develop. zens, changing the constitution at its core. At We want to build investment in the movement its core, Oregonians are all equal. By making and in the organization,” said Kassell. such a fundamental change, it revises the This plan includes creating a ballot measure constitution,” Johnson said. “The beauty of it for 2008 and launching a three-year public edu is, if it works, our opponents won’t easily be cation campaign about workplace and housing able to go back to the drawing board with discrimination and bias against couples and something else.” families. Secondly, BRO argues that while Mea “That will include speakers who speak to all sure 36 contains only one sentence, it creates kinds of organizations and engaging faith multiple changes that should have been communities in GLBT issues,” said Kassell. “We proposed as separate amendments. will have a concrete plan that people can really The final argument states that Measure 36 understand how to plug themselves into it.” inserts a policy statement into the constitution, Educational efforts may kx>k different from forces that policy on local and county govern community to community, according to Kassell. ments and interferes with the ability of courts to BRO plans to add field organizers in southern interpret the constitution. and central Oregon who will work to pass local Beckie Lee, co-chairwoman of the BRO ordinances unique to issues in their areas. board, summed up her interpretation of the “We believe we can make proactive lawsuit when she asked, “Isn’t this a really advancements on policy while conducting fundamental question about whether a group of public education,” Kassell said. people, even in the majority, can pass an amend The surveys showed that people recognized ment that takes away rights of the people?" the importance of electing candidates to office The case is expected to last at least two years, who will advocate for sexual minority issues, with final arguments in December. Depending another f<x:us of BRO. on the judge’s decision, BRO is prepared to take “In ’06, we will make strategic advancements the case to the Oregon Court of Appeals and on legislative seats, defend Senate seats we need ultimately the Oregon Supreme Court. to defend and work to win seats in the House, “The best-case scenario is we win based on which includes the coalition effort to unseat our primary argument that Measure 36 is a [House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-W<xxl Village]. revision, because that would end this ugly era of We hope that we continue to make advance anti-gay measures and undo this horrible ments in Oregon court, with our lawsuit amendment,” said Kassell. Fi challenging Measure 36,” Kassell said, referring to rhe constitutional amendment banning same- Staff Writer J AYMEE R. CUTI can he reached at sex marriage. “We will also soon proceed with jaymee@justout. com. additional litigation over fundamental questions