outstanding
An Activist's Calling
lisa Simmons, 29, has worked in
activism her entire adult life.
She sits on various boards focus
ing on queer civil rights, includ
ing the Oregon Democratic
Party’s GLBT Caucus and Brother to
Brother. Simmons recently accepted the
position of regional field manager for
Independent gubernatorial candidate Ben
Westlund and resigned from the Basic
Rights Oregon board. She was also BRO’s
Alisa Simmons is temporarily relocating to Bend to help
political action committee chairwoman.
Ben Westlund with his gubernatorial field campaign.
“It was time for a change,” said
Simmons about the move. BRO’s PAC endorsed
she gained valuable experience to propel her into
Westlund’s opponent, Democratic incumbent Ted
Westlund’s campaign. “I’m still learning, but 1
Kulongoski, July 20.
learned how to be completely brave. 1 learned that
“Organizing came naturally to me,” said
after the loss.”
Simmons, whose first fight in the civil rights arena
Although she acknowledges that Portland’s
occurred when she supported a group of custodians queer community is divided between Westlund and
subcontracted by Southampton College in Long
Kulongoski, Simmons says her role in Central
Island, N.Y., which she attended. “We formed a
Oregon will be to siphon conservative votes from
coalition for justice, supported the custodial staff Republican opponent Ron Saxton.
and won. The custodians were rehired as employ
“The state of Oregon is not a welcoming place
ees of the college and regained their benefits.”
for black or gay people,” Simmons said. “We need
Simmons is coming off the toughest race of her
a governor to represent the progressive values of
career, as campaign manager for Multnomah
our state who can work across party lines and help
County Chair Diane Linn’s re-election. Though
bring those compromises to a bill that’s passable.”
the run was not successful, she describes the expe
Simmons says she hopes to always do campaign
rience as the best job she ever had.
work, her calling since she learned in college that
“To work for [Linn] is to always be on the side
she could actually make a living as an activist. “It’s
of right. As hard as it was, it was always an inspira how I make sense of myself in the world, so I have
to do it.” ©
tion," said Simmons.
From leading Linn’s campaign, Simmons says
—Jaymee R. Cuti
A
How does it make you feel to read the word "queer"
in the pages of Just Out?
D ebbie M an
Woman with Magic
Hands
E lliott
S tillwater
Portland Gay Men's
Chorus Pitcher
“I’m proud of the
word ‘queer.’ If we
all embrace it, it just
becomes powerful.”
“It’s probably a
generational
distinction, but it’s
not a word 1 use. 1
don’t think it reflects
my lifestyle or my
sexual identity,
which I think ‘gay’
encapsulates quite
clearly.”
C hris B eam
Manager
M ary F errigno
Photographer
“1 think it’s
degrading. There are
words that can be
used besides ‘queer,’
preferably ‘gay’ or
‘lesbian.’ ‘Queer’
encompasses too
much.”
“I think it’s good
because it’s
reclaiming the word,
putting a positive
spin on it.”
OUT and Proud Since 1970!
In Other Words
Mercy Corps
Our House
National Gay
& Lesbian Taskforce
Portland Lesbian
Choir
Habitat for
Humanity
BRO
LCP
ACLU
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