Just out., October 20, 2006, Page 9, Image 9

OCTOBER 20. 2006 JUStpUt I g
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Specialists, Womyn Networking is open to lesbian,
bisexual or transgender women and supporters who
are self-employed or own their own businesses.
“1 thought of the idea for this group about four or
five weeks ago when 1 was searching for lesbian
networking groups and coming up empty-handed,”
she said. A member of the Portland Area Business
Association’s BizBuilders group, Viola wanted to
create a queer women’s networking group that
would help other women’s businesses tn our com­
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munity grow while also growing her own business.
Renee Spears, founder of Rose City Mortgage,
is an inspiration for Viola. “She has come so far in
business, and her success is admirable. She is
constantly coming up with new, creative ways to
help people while going after her dreams."
Viola chose to hold Womyn Networking meet­
ings at Q Center to bring more attention to the
new resource. “1 believe that the Q Center is a
valuable resource to the queer community that not
enough people know about yet,” she said.
With a list of guest speakers she plans to invite
and several ideas for bringing awareness of
women's issues to the group, Viola said she has a Heather Starr heads up Central Oregon's Basic
Rights Action Team.
general structure for how the meetings will run.
“This [first] meeting will mostly be informative.
Alliance to try and unify college groups to be a
I will be asking for suggestions so that the group
stronger force.”
will ultimately be created by its members. Women
After getting students registered and interested
are such a powerful force when they are brought
in the upcoming election, Lee will provide materi­
together, and I really believe this group is going to
als on how to lobby the Legislature. “It’s a really
be amazing!”
great opportunity for BRO to get this grant to inte­
Womyn Networking meetings are free, but a $5
grate youth to be part of the organization and be a
monthly donation to Q Center is suggested.
part of the leadership,” she said. "To me, it’s a really
exciting prospect.”
New Hires Join BRO
Heather Starr is an Oregon native and an out
Jessica Lee is Basic Rights Oregon’s new queer
lesbian. She is also a Unitarian Universalist
youth organizer. Originally from Bothell, Wash.,
minister and BRO’s new Central Oregon field
she recently moved to Portland from Olympia,
organizer. Living and working in Bend, she will
focus on building community and educating and
where she lived for seven years. Before earning a
bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Evergreen
engaging people in sexual minority issues on both
State College in 2002, she organized the Women
the local and state level.
of Color Coalition.
In college, Starr volunteered with Support Our
Lee later joined Planned Parenthood of
Communities PAC in the fight against 1994’s
Measure 13. She later served as program coordina­
Western Washington, where she did community
education and clinical work. She also trained the
tor for University of Pennsylvania’s queer center.
organization’s teen council to be peer educators in
Starr then began training for the ministry.
“I’m really passionate about building communi­
public schools. “That is something 1 aim to do in
ties and connections that will make Oregon a more
this position,” she said.
As a part of a three-year grant from the Queer i welcoming place for GLBT folks, which is also one
of my focuses of my ministry," she says.
Youth Fund, Lee will help develop tomorrow’s
Starr is working to inform people in Central
leaders. “We will be providing resources for youth
Oregon about the upcoming election. She will
under 23 to become politically active and gain
then connect with BRO and other Basic Rights
leadership skills,” she said. “The first year will focus
Action Teams around the state to work on issues
on creating a statewide coalition on campuses. 1’11
based on election outcomes.
be working with Oregon Students Equal Rights
As a minister, Starr
recognizes the connec­
tion between her two
worlds. “In both cases,
it’s about creating sanc­
tuaries for people to get
to know each other bet­
ter, realize common
concerns and leam how
to best be involved in a
way that nourishes
them and makes the
world better place at
the same time.’ ’ ©
By J aymee
Basic Rights Oregon welcomes queer youth organizer Jessica Lee.
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