MARTY DAVIS
northwest
Rally for Equality
Queer community sees parallels
between civil rights movements
by Jaymee R. Cuti
inmigration rights on the national agenda
made it to Portland this month with a rally
that drew hundreds to Terry Schrunk Plaza.
The rally consisted primarily of students
Ml who walked out of school or arrived with
MARTY DAVIS
Courthouse Square on March 4 and downtown
April 14-
“This has become our gay marriage issue,” said
Ramón Ramírez, president of Northwest
Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN),
their families at noon April 10. The demonstration
the state’s farmworkers union. “In order for us to
was largely organized by students with the help of defend queer rights, we have to understand the
local immigrants rights groups. Participants gath
nature of the oppression. It’s the same thing for Hundreds rallied at Terry Schrunk Plaza in support
ered at the park through word of mouth, chanting
immigrants, understanding the complexity of the
“¡Sí, se puede!,” a rally cry adopted from César
issues that we’re facing.”
David Martinez, policy and constituent rela
Chavez’s United Farm Workers union meaning,
The local protests are related to a national
tions manager for Multnomah
County
“Yes, we can!”
movement to resist House Bill 4437, dubbed the Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey, also sees
Participants were opposed by two lone protesters,
Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal
overlap in the movements.
who hung toward the back of the muddy park toting
Immigration Control Act, which would make
“There are a lot of parallels when a communi
signs that read, “No” and “Illegals Go Home.”
being in the country illegally a felony, criminalize
ty is disenfranchised, when it’s scapegoated. You
Some members of the sexual minorities
people who help illegal immigrants and build a
look at a lot of messages that are out there: un
community helped spread the word and stood with
700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The
documented workers affecting the economy,
Latino immigrants in their fight for civil rights.
bill passed in the House on Dec. 16.
resources, issues within the schools. You look at
“It was beautiful to see our young people
Sexual minority Latinos see many similarities attacks that the queer community has been facing,
engaged in realizing that they have the constitu
between the queer and immigrant rights move not just from gay marriage but from equal benefits
tional right to assemble and exercise free speech,”
ments and have been building solidarity for more
to protections within the workplace. You look at
said Melanie Davis, a Latina lesbian who recruited
than a decade.
the same rationale that these groups are attacked
the broader activist community to the rally. “It was
“In general, our communities have been
based on stereotypes, misinformation and fear,”
nice to see the parents and grandparents and great-
silenced,” said Davis, an advertising executive with
said Martinez, a gay Latino.
grandparents out for support. It was great to see the
Portland’s El Hispanic News. She equates immigra
Ruben Rivera is a Portland-based immigration
small children chanting and recognizing their
tion issues to “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies faced by
rights attorney and board member of Immigration
future and the American dream.”
the queer community. “We shouldn’t be policing
Equality, a national gay and lesbian immigrant
rights group. He explained some of the obstacles
The rally followed an immigration rights march
our own friends, families and business colleagues.”
attended by tens of thousands April 10 at the
Some activists see a need for all minority groups
faced by undocumented sexual minority Latinos.
Oregon Capitol in Salem. That demonstration was
to unite to overcome a common enemy.
“Immigration Equality is one of the many
The Rev. Steve Witte is executive director of organizations that has advocated for same-sex
supported and attended by members of Basic Rights
couples and binational couples because currently
Oregon. Similar rallies drew thousands to Pioneer
rhe Oregon Farm Worker Ministry, an education
and advocacy group. “We connect people of immigration law does not allow a same-sex partner
to be sponsored by a same-sex partner,” said Rivera,
faith with the farmworkers’ struggle for justice
who is gay and Latino. “The queer community also
and educate communities of conscience to the
faces specific obstacles with people who are HIV
fact that every day, our life is touched by a
positive coming into the U.S.”
farmworker.”
Rivera said, “The government does not recog
Witte, who is gay, spoke at the April 10 ral
nize our families for immigration purposes and does
ly and recently testified before the Senate
not recognize our relationships.”
Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., for
Ramirez has long seen the connection between
a more humane immigration bill. “It’s the same
Latino
immigrants and queers. In 2005, he was
narrow-minded people that are in power that
keep both communities down. Instead of allow honored with BRO’s Fighting Spirit Award.
“A lot of the folks you are talking about,
ing groups like the religious right to splinter us
members of the queer community, are hardworking
into different communities, I would love to see
Melanie Davis, a Latina lesbian, helped spread word
people. They have families, they pay taxes, they
more interaction in the two communities.”
about the rally to the activist community.
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of immigrant rights.
contribute to the makeup of the community," he
said. Ramirez could have just as easily been describ
ing undocumented workers.
PCUN and BRO formed a coalition through
fighting discriminatory ballot measures aimed at
their respective communities. During the
Measure 36 campaign, PCUN members canvassed
Spanish-language anti-discrimination material
throughout Oregon’s Latino neighborhoods.
“We’re looking to follow the lead of our coali
tion partners and support in any way we can by
providing resources, education and organizing
activities,” said Rebekah Kassell, a spokeswoman
for BRO.
Ramirez admits that despite coalition-building
efforts between the two minority groups, more
work needs to be done. “It’s still an emerging rela
tionship with the queer community. The Latino
community, for the most part, is homophobic, so
we have a lot of work to do in education and why
it’s important to be for the rights of all people,
including queers.”
According to Ramirez, the agenda is set from
the top, and he makes a point to speak about queer
equality at every public event he attends.
“I’m in a position to influence people, and I feel
like it’s my responsibility to show leadership in
supporting our gay, lesbian and transgender
brothers and sisters. That’s what allies are there for,
right.7” Ramirez said. “I’m going to defend queer
rights 'til the day 1 die."
The next action planned to support immigrants
is May 1, titled “Un Dia Sin Mexicanos (A Day
Without Mexicans).” Participants are encouraged to
not attend work or schcxil and to abstain from
patronizing businesses that employ Latinos but do
not pay adequately or respect fair labyr practices. ©
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