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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2007)
MARCH ¿Q07 jU.St|OUt Governor’s Task Force on Equality Despite these seemingly insurmountable setbacks, counter forces were beginning to gather. Gov. Ted Kulongoski, responding to the failure of SB 1000, appointed the Task Force on Equality in February 2006 to study the issue. November’s election also signaled a change. DemiKrats retained their Senate majority but also seized the House. Kulongoski soundly beat his Republican opponent, the self-styled “family values” candidate, Ron Saxton. His re-election strengthened his position relative to his politically weaker first term, when his election came from a more narrow victory and Kulongoski faced a divided Legislature. In mid-December 2006, just a few weeks after Kulongoski’s re-election, the 11-member task force released a 28-page report with two key recommendations. After studying the issue in Oregon and the United States, including a review of legal precedents and laws in other states and localities, the task force recommended that Oregon enact anti-discrimination protections and legalize a form of civil union similar to the Vermont model that went into effect in January 2001. The task force concluded that protections taken for granted by other “suspect” classes— including racial, ethnic and religious groups with a history of persecution—should be extended to sexual minorities. According to the report, certain rights enjoyed Activist Christine Chavez told citizen lobbyists that her commitment to gay rights would continue until same-sex couples were afforded the same rights extended to her and her husband, Oscar Gonzalez. ¡Sí, Se Puede! under marriage and other related statutes in civil law by the straight majority should be extended to gay Oregonians. Citing the criti Activists rally for equality cal importance of equality to by Jaymee R. Cuti make the state competitive in the JV es, we can" was a battle cry for the world economy and to attract approximately 500 Oregonians who businesses, the authors concluded gathered March 7 at the Oregon Capitol Kulongoski said the “basic fairness package” is in that the Legislature must act to for a lobbying event and rally organized line with his “highest priority to grow the Oregon rectify the lack of equal protection by Basic Rights Oregon. economy," which, he added, leads to safer cities, better under the law, seeing it as a matter The mantra was led by Christine Chavez, grand of basic fairness. daughter of United Farm Workers of America co The Oregon Equality Act, founder César Chavez. Senate Bill 2, was introduced in and would amend Oregon’s anti in the labor and civil rights movements, educated her As chairwoman of the Ethics, Elections and Rules Committee, state Rep. Diane Rosenbaum introduced House Bill 2007. cessor, Senate Bill 1000. schools and greater opportunity for citizens. “It’s moral ly unacceptable not to.” The governor, wielding a pen poised to sign the bills Chavez, who carries out her grandfathers activism the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 2005 session, which swallowed the bills’ prede into law, bellowed: “Bring me the bills. This is the session we will make Oregon the land of opportunity for all.” Salem audience about the revolutionary’s lifetime com Others who spoke in support of the measures were mitment to equality for gays—a controversial position, state Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem; House particularly among Catholic Latino families in the Speaker Jeff Merkley, D-Portland; Rep. Tina Kotek, ty to the familiar categories of race, religion, national origin and disability. The statute would 1970s. “You can’t champion equality for your own D-Portland; Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, prohibit discrimination in the areas of housing, public accommodation, employment, educa people when you tolerate discrimination,” Chávez said. D-Portland; House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, tion and public services. The bill underwent public hearings in committee March 12 and was Oregonians posed as citizen lobbyists to discuss Senate D-Clackamas County; and Portland City Commissioner voted out of committee by a 3-1 vote. The dissenting vote was cast by state Sen. Jeff Kruse, Bill 2, the Oregon Equality Act, and House Bill 2007, the Sam Adams. State Sens. Avel Gordly, 1-Portland; Alan R-Roseburg, who claimed the bill was ptxtrly written and would violate the constitution. Oregon Family Fairness Act, with lawmakers in their Bates, D-Ashland; and Ben Westlund, D-Tumalo, and Under the current patchwork of protection provided by mostly urban counties and munic districts. SB 2 stood up to a committee hearing March Treasurer Randall Edwards took the stage in a show of ipalities, queer citizens might have no protection or full protection depending on where they 12 and passed with a 3-1 vote. Next, the bill heads to support. Darryl! Moch, executive director of Brother to live and work. Absurdly, a woman might be protected in her home ZIP code but not in her the full Senate floor for a debate and vote. HB 2007 Brother, was the rally’s master of ceremonies. employer’s ZIP code five or 10 miles away, and could theoretically be fired without recourse for will likely be debated in committee early next month. Rounding out the day of activism were education The bills were created in direct response to recom al workshops titled “Building a Trans-Inclusive discrimination statutes to add sex ual orientation and gender identi no other reason than being lesbian. Bryan Boyd, communications coordinator for Basic Rights Oregon, said his organization, mendations made by Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s Task Force Movement,” “Racial Justice," “Faith in Action” and which helped craft the bill, is pleased with the final product. “Without a doubt, we fully back on “Immigrant Rights Equals GLBT Rights...Really?" this legislation.” Boyd pointed out that the bill will protect gays only in Oregon, but by setting December. SB 2 and HB 2007 address discrimination a single, enforceable standard here, it will bring a significant improvement to the quality of life and legally recognized relationships, respectively. for sexual minority residents. Equality, which announced its findings in Supportive lawmakers who attended the rally and Chavez had this message for sexual minority Oregonians that she learned from her grandfather’s movement: “It takes time. We have setbacks, but it opening session described a climate of support for Continued on Page 22 keeps moving forward. 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