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. There will also be a per-
Continued on Page 10
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