DECEMBER 16. 2005
jUStjOUt 23
Vigils and protests were for naught as House Speaker Karen Minnis prevented civil rights
legislation from being considered in the Oregon House.
Central Oregonians took the impressive step of celebrating Pride publicly in June.
A Year in Civil Rights
Queers get the short end of the stick
by Jaymee R. Cuti
Statewide Pride
Debuts and struggles .
by Sarah Dougher
ivil rights for sexual minorities suffered a
of their humanity,” said a passionate state Sen. Ben
stream of defeats in 2005, beginning with
Westlund of Tlimalo, Republican co-sponsor of the
the nullification of 3,000 same-sex mar­
legislation.
riages in Multnomah County.
The bill met defeat in the form of House Speaker
One month after the celebration of first
hroughout the state, queer Oregonians and their allies celebrated Pride in the months of June and July.
anniversaries,
Oregon’s
highest
court
slapped
Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, when she refused to
bring it to a vote in her chamber.
This year, positive developments in community building came from neighbors to the east in Bend,
Multnomah County queers back down to second-class
More bad news came in November when the
when close to 100 Central Oregonians celebrated Gay Pride Month at Bend’s first-ever public Pride
citizens with the announcement that marriages between
Marion County Circuit Court decided to uphold
event June 19- Representatives from the Human Dignity Coalition and Basic Rights Oregon were on
same-sex couples were not legally recognized.
Measure 36, the ban on same-sex marriage, citing
T
hand distributing materials while friends and families from the community enjoyed a potluck, games,
Portland Mayor Tom Potter, whose daughter
music and even a traditional float down the Deschutes River. The event was covered by local media, including
Katie’s marriage to her same-sex partner was nullified,
the local television station, where it made the top story during the 6 o’clock news.
Queer activism in Bend is alive and well; check up on the Web sites www.glbtbend.com and www.humandig-
nitycoalition.org for more information.
Another newcomer to the state’s Pride celebrations was the first-ever North Portland Pride BBQ and Festival,
held June 12. About 50 people from throughout Portland came to University Park United Methodist Church, the
primary sponsor for the event, to kick off Pride Week with food, music and good company. Vendors included
North Portland resources, neighbors, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and housing developers.
The next weekend, the sun shone on queer revelers and allies at Portland Pride 05. Despite changes and
forces of resistance, approximately 50,000 people from Portland and far beyond wound their way from the
parade to the festival to the Pride Warehouse Party and Taking Pride in Stark Street Block Party.
The crowd exploded into applause for former Mayor Vera Katz, who rode in a stylish classic car and waved
majestically to the crowd. Many other public servants and dignitaries were also in attendance.
“Most of the feedback I’ve gotten has been positive, and the volunteers had a good time,” said Tobin Britton,
former president of Pride Northwest. “I chalk that up as a success.”
Nevertheless, the board planning Pride is perennially understaffed and seeking new volunteers to help put
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issued this statement: “To deny two people the basic
Basic Rights Oregon, the organization filing the
lawsuit, vows this fight is far from over and plans to
relationship enjoys simply because of their gender is
take the case to the Oregon Court of Appeals and ulti­
a slap at the core moral values that shaped our coun­
mately the Oregon Supreme Court.
try, and a denial of our collective humanity.”
This decision came on the heels of governor-
backed legislation combining civil unions and a ban
unions and added sexual minorities to the list of
includes the coalition effort to unseat the speaker,”
groups protected by the state’s anti-bias law, was
she said. “We hope that we continue to make
introduced April 13 by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. The bill
advancements in Oregon court with our lawsuit chal­
was debated for two hours on the Senate floor July 8
lenging Measure 36. We will also soon proceed with
before 17 Democrats and two Republicans passed
additional litigation over fundamental questions of
the bill.
whether a state can deny same-sex couples the bene­
fits and protections of marriage.” ©
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“In 06, we will make strategic advancements on
defend and work to win seats in the House, which
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rights supporters a glimpse into the future.
Senate Bill 1000, which would have created civil
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next year’s event together. For more information visit www.pridenw.org.
precedent set by the Oregon Supreme Court and
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