just out
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by Marty Davis
J
VOL. 23 NO. 12
APRIL 21, 2006
XILIA FAYE
For Better, For Worse
NEWSMAGAZINE
e
The value of loyalty
M|| ighteenth century poet Alexander Pope, noted for his cynicism on
the value of friendship, once stated, “Histories are more full of exam-
pies of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.”
His perceptions and views ring true today in 21st century
I Multnomah County. The gay, lesbian, hi and trans voting commu
nity, however, has the opportunity to step up and show that we are a com
munity that values loyalty, commitment and friendship.
As the May primary election grows ever closer, it becomes clear that
there is a division in the community over whom to support for the position
of Multnomah County chair. Incumbent Diane Linn, noted for her long
time support of gay and lesbian rights, faces a candidate with no record
whatsoever of standing with
us—or for us. And what we
have now is an election that
has become as much about our
credibility as a community as it
is about Linn’s viability as a
candidate. There is no question
that we must avoid the dimin
ishing stigma of being labeled a
single-issue voting bloc. We are
far more than that. At the same
time we must also make choic
es that are best suited to the
overall needs of the greater
goals of equality and full civil
rights—for our community and
for all peoples.
Let’s journey back a scant
two years. With the commis
sioners’ decision to issue same-
sex marriage licenses in
Multnomah County, Portland
and Oregon were thrust into
the national spotlight. We cele-
brated these women at dinners,
heaped them with awards and honored them in parades and ceremonies. All
eyes were on us as we married, celebrated, rejoiced and stixxl together in uni
ty. Linn and her fellow commissioners were with us still as we bore the brunt
of setback with the passage of Ballot Measure 36. Through all of this we were
supported, encouraged, held up, challenged and thrust forward by the
strength and position of straight supporters and allies. Our success was due to
the efforts of our partners in business, our allies in politics, our friends in pain
and in sorrow. Now, two years later, the eyes of the nation are on us again as
we appear splintered over a decision that will speak volumes to those who
might next be asked to step up and move forward with us. National groups,
funding sources, strategists, movers and shakers are watching to see if we rise
to the occasion as we now step into the role of supporting an ally in need.
What is imperative in May is that the gay, lesbian, bi and trans voters of
Multnomah County step up and return Diane Linn to office.
To overcome recent setbacks and continue toward achieving goals, we are
in need of maintaining strong relationships with elected officials on all lev
els. City, county, state and federal. We will ask legislators to step up, make
crucial votes and take a risk. Faced with the possibility of desertion by those
whom you’ve supported, why would a politician step up, possibly risking his
or her own career, as did Linn? We have grown well into the position of
demanding support of others. Now we have the opportunity to show' that we
value loyalty and understand the need to reciprocate. It’s a two-way street.
To those Linn detractors who might be dismayed by the appearance of a
candidate in distress: Don't overreact. This is not the time to turn our backs
on incumbents when they appear on the ballot with worn and torn records.
In all attempts to affect change, there will be successes and there will be fail
ures. Any political novice can run against an incumbent and point to a
flawed record. The only way to avoid failures is to never do anything at all.
A record without failures is a record of no effort. As Alexander Pope did not
say, “You can’t wrestle with pigs without getting muddy." That doesn’t mean
the pig won.
20 NOW IS
TOM'S HOUR
A conversation
with Portland’s
most dangerous
writer
NEWS
8-15 NORTHWEST
BRO luncheon draws business crowd; Equity
funds Prides; Eugene Q Center seeks
volunteers; GLSEN keeps quiet, makes noise;
BRO welcomes new hires; Portland activist
wins HRC award; state’s first openly gay judge
retires; ROP holds annual gathering; Martinez
welcomed back to Rojo’s staff; endorsements
abound; Linn scores labor endorsements; gay
network runs Christian PSA; Trung Tu runs
for judge; queer community sees parallels with
immigrant civil rights movement
16-17 NATIONAL
Sexual minority parents attend White House
Easter egg roll; ACLU report: Gay parenting
restrictions hurt kids; Feingold takes a stand
for gay marriage; Equality Riders arrested at
BYU; Kentucky governor axes protection for
gays; expulsion jeopardizes college’s funding,
accreditation
18-19 WORLD
PM: Ireland will have civil unions; Warsaw
closes down prominent gay club; gays win
inheritance rights in South Africa; Australian
Capital Territory to enact civil union law;
domestic violence law to cover gays in
Taiwan; Colombian president favors gay
couple rights; Bahamas bans Brokeback
Mountain; Canadian Tories threaten same-sex
marriage
For us to support a candidate, he or she must have a proven record of
working with us and for us. Diane Linn has done so throughout her entire
career. Ted Wheeler, by his own admission, has not. Roey Thorpe of Basic
Rights Oregon, when asked why Wheeler did not receive a “green light”
from the organization, responds: “BRO gave Ted Wheeler a chance to earn
a green light because his campaign said that he was a champion of GLBT
civil rights. But when we interviewed him, it became clear that although
he is a native Oregonian, he has never given a moment of time or a dollar
of his substantial fortune to fight the anti-gay ballot measures- We just
couldn’t understand how he could claim to support the cause, but never
step up to do anything about it, even when our community was under
attack. We need to be able to count on elected officials to stand with us
each and every time, and there just was no evidence that Ted Wheeler had
ever done that, or would in the future.”
The passage of Ballot Measure 36 did not mark the end of our efforts. It
was a setback, not a eulogy. We start the 21st century with goals, plans and
lots of work to be done. We require supporters and allies. Diane Linn will be
there for us. Keep her in office. And should, one day, another poet muse on
loyalty and fidelity, let him say that the gay and lesbian voters of Multnomah
County knew the power of friendship. Let him say that we valued loyalty. ©
2006 Primary Election Endorsements
• Governor of Oregon: Ted Kulongoski
FEATURE
• Multnomah County Chair: Diane Linn
ARTS & CULTURE
35 TELEVISION
Reality contestant battles for some acceptance
(and $200,000)
37 DANCE
Oregon Ballet Theatre’s spring program
features famous choreography
38 THEATER
Wade McCollum sets his sights on Stephen
Sondheim’s Assassins
COLUMNS
33 MS. BEHAVIOR
Pillow Talk
• Multnomah County Commission District 2: Gary Hansen
34 OUT GOING
Seeing Red
• Representative in Congress District 3: Earl Blumenauer
• Portland City Council Seat No. 2: Erik Sten
36 EPIQUEEREAN
All Aboard the Tuna Train
• Representative in Congress District 5: Darlene Hooley
• Portland City Council Seat No. 3: Dan Saltzman
43 JIM'S CLOSET
Out of the Box
• Representative in Congress District 1: David Wu
• State Representative District 44: Tina Kotek