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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2007)
FEBRUARY 2, 2007 jUStlOUt 9 northwest BRO Seeks Leadership Seven months have passed since the state’s most powerful gay rights organization, Basic Rights Oregon, lost its executive director, Roey Thorpe. Since the dynamic leader resigned June 30 to become the program director for the national non profit organization Freedom to Many, BRO has had two interim executive directors and sustained another resignation to its core staff. BRO took on Aisling Coghlan, former cam- paign manager for No on 36, and board member Frank Dixon as interim co-executive directors in July. Dixon has since returned to rhe hoard, and Coghlan will continue to lead the organization until February, when she plans to temporarily return to her native Ireland. The BRO search for a new director was almost complete in August, when a national search narrowed the field down to three candidates, but ultimately insiders say none fit the part just right. Meanwhile, communications director Rebekah Orr announced her resignation Dec. 28 and has accepted the same role for the Oregon House Democrats. Orr’s replacement is also temporary. Melissa Chemaik took on Orr’s tasks Jan. 22, but only in an interim capacity. Chemaik, who identifies as bisexual, has worked on campaigns for the past 11 years, most recently against the controversial parental notifica tion Measure 43. She was also a direct mail consult ant and volunteer for the legislative campaigns of lesbian state Rep. Tina Kotek, D-Portland. Chemaik got her start in political work through the nonprofit sector at the National Abortion Rights Action League in 1996. “1 started immediately to give Bryan [Boyd, BRO’s com munications coordinator) the support he needs to keep the trains running on time,” said Chemaik during her third day on rhe job. “It’s a huge year.” Coghlan, 35, moved to Oregon in 1992 and has man aged numerous statewide cam paigns for bond and sch<x>l funding measures. She is still tender over losing the No on 36 campaign, which limits mar riage in the state to one man and one woman. “I felt a great sense of respon Aisling Coghlan (left) and Melissa Chemaik are interim Basic Rights sibility to people that were will ing to open their lives to bigotry, but as a campaign, the GLBT rights movement on the national level, we knew we had worked the hardest we could and did can’t say yet what my new position is because everything we could do,” said Coghlan. She said details are still being worked out,” Thorpe said via more time would have made a difference in rhe out e-mail. come of Measure 36. A search firm continues to hunt for a perma Coghlan, who is heterosexual, said she would nent BRO executive director and aims to have one like to see the organization led by a member of the in place this month. sexual minorities community. Thorpe has also confirmed an intention to Celebrate for Justice change jobs. She resigned from Freedom to Marry The McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, and plans to leave at the end of February. She has a community-supported organization that links not yet revealed her next move. donors^md grantees working for human rights, “I’m staying in Portland, continuing to work in environmental protection and economic justice, Oregon staff members has awarded more than $9 million since 1976. It’s about time to party. “This event—filled with political art and music and great food—is a celebration of our accomplishments and a time for us to envision our future while we continue to work to create a bet ter world,” said Amy Smith, Justice Within Reach committee chairwoman and foundation board member. Entertainment includes Atlas DJs Anjali, The Incredible Kid and E3. 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