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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2007)
iustiout by Marty Davis J Basic rights NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 24 NO. 10 MARCH 16, 2007 Legislation simply brings fair, equal civil rights to all Oregonians H t was a spur-of-the moment decision that took me to Salem on March 12 for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Senate Bill 2. This hill, • And, my favorite, “Gays have higher income and better lifestyle, as indicated by rhe Home and Garden Channel.” when passed, will han discrimination based on sexual.orientation in What became clearer and clearer as the evening drew on was that there are employment, housing and public accommodations. SB 2 is one of two M pieces of legislation expected to come before lawmakers this session. This two camps in this battle: Christians and everyone else. Christians fear that first bill is not intended to provide for civil unions; that will be the task of they don’t understand is that they tear they will be treated in exactly the same House Bill 2007. SB 2 simply brings fair, equal civil rights to ail Oregonians. manner that they have always been allowed to treat gays and lesbians. They they are now the target, that “Christian-bashing” is the new hate crime. What 1 repeat this twice because, from listening to rhe opponents’ side of the fear an equal playing field. The Christians who oppose the bill oppose the testimony, you’d have thought the bill would be giving gays, lesbian and trans Christians who support the bill. The testimony was fraught with fear and mis folks the right to inherit the earth. Which, by the way, we do have. understanding. Tired old clichés were drug out. Gay men only live to be 40, The hearings were opened by state Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, at blah, blah, blah. The children of Oregon are in danger of attack from men in 5:40 p.m. My heart sunk a little when she announced that all oral testimony dresses prowling in women’s restrooms. It would seem to me that anyone with would close at 9. I had an earlier hour in mind. Because 1 hadn’t made it to a television, computer or newspaper would know that the pre-eminent danger the morning hearing, 1 came to the evening with the expectation that there'd to children comes from white heterosexual men stalking kids on Web sites. be little or no opposing testimony. 1 had visions of lines of Basic Rights How many times has Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator" set up camp Oregon volunteers—sorry, Aisling and Melissa—parading up and reading, outside a gay bar? over and over, basically the same standard script. 1 was expecting to squirm The greatest danger facing the children of Oregon is their parents’ ignorance. with boredom. As I’m starting to repeat frequently here, “1 was wrong?’ Testimony from those in support of the bill was powerful and moving. It was Those who signed up to speak were called forward in groups of three: three not merely a parade of the familiar activists and leaders, though those were opponents followed by three proponents. Very fair, very organized and very intense. present also. Two nervous lesbian moms and their daughter came from Eugene. People came with baggage. Baggage packed full of fear, prejudice and ignorance. Supporters of the bill drove in from around the state. Many had never done Because it’s so very important that you understand the need to be back in anything like this before. This was a defining moment. They gave voice to the Salem for rhe next round of hearings, here are a few gems of testimony as testimony that we all need to give. Bonnie Tinker of Loves Makes a Family presented by the “opponents.” Keep in mind, please, these folks believe what pointed out that she was a young woman when she first appeared before these they are saying. hearings in 1973. Tinker, Charlie Hinkle and a handful of others have been bat • “Basic freedoms and rights of the common man would be censored. Goodness, beauty and truth-based religions will be replaced with the subjective world of pleasing one’s genitals.” tling for Oregonians’ civil rights for 34 years. This year, let’s throw them a grand victory party. Before the party and the cake, there’s more work to be done. The hearings • “I believe that the bottom line of this legislation is to sexually indoctri will continue; as of now, the date is uncertain. BRO is closely working with nate children from the earliest age. Since the '60s, the old adage has been ‘sex Salem lawmakers and will get the dates to us as soon as they are known. Just at 8 or it’s too late.’ With this legislation, the doors would be open even wider Out, however, does not publish again until April 6, and the hearings might be for access to our innocent children.” scheduled before that time. We ask that you check our Web site and blog • “We are Christians and do not believe that Senate Bill 2 is moral or fair. daily. The minute that the hearings are announced, the info will go up. Please This Legislature is not allowing the voice of its constituents to vote. It is the plan on "attending. You are needed. Bring your stories, bring your families, bring will of the people to make the choices in social reform.” your children. This is their history. Pull them from school, if necessary; show • “It is clear these bills, as formulated, if passed, would be severely damag- • ing to religious freedom in this state.” • “Christian children are more persecuted than anybody. [Bullying! children are like chickens. They will peck away until they have killed.” • "The ‘homosexual agenda’ attacks Christians, the only people who are praying for them.” them how our political system works. This is education also. In closing, a big thanks to Ginny Burdick for the work she is doing for us. I know she had her eye—but not, I think, her heart—on the Portland City Council; regardless, Ginny, we need you now for the fine work you are doing in Salem. Maybe another time, OK? Thank you. © FEATURE 20 IS THIS THE YEAR? • Equality legislation might be headed for passage NEWS 8-15 NORTHWEST New mixed bar opens; neighborfuxxl cafe sees change; drug-resistant HIV detected in Seattle; YWCA reaches out to sexual and gender minorities; mayor weighs in on bias crime; Salem AIDS organization closes; Q Center coordinator resigns; ACLU’s chief out in front on rights; conference gives kids a place to be themselves 16-17 NATIONAL Clinton addresses HRC; ID deadline postponed; GLAAD calls for Coulter ban; Arkansas bill would bar adoption; gay senior housing opens; trans activists nominated for SF Pride distinction; city manager fights for job; marriage debate heats up in Maryland 18-19 WORLD Gays sue Moscow mayor; Italian civil union bill shelved; European rights agency launches; Malta OKs transsexual marriage; French court nixes lesbian adoption; Iraqi gay activist reports “sexual cleansing"; Nigerian assembly advances anti-gay bill; Buenos Aires supports same-sex marriage ARTS & CULTURE reflections 35 BOOKS Northwest authors address pop culture, teen angst 5 Years Ago in Just Out... volume 19 number 10, march 15, 2002 37-38 FILM • Bonnie Mabon, Oregon Citizens Alliance secretary treasurer, was hauled back into Multnomah County Court for a judgment debtor examination March 5 in photojournalist Catherine Stauffer's ongoing effort to collect more than $40,000 owed to her for a 1991 assault. • The Portland Gay Men's Chorus proudly presents Vintage Voices, a multimedia show honoring the lives of gay and lesbian senior citizens, through March 24 at Reed College's Kaul Auditorium. The program includes choral, instrumental, dance and video programs. • Kip Beardsley, who was in charge of gay health promotion for the Southwest Washington Health District, is now Arizona's AIDS director. • Lesbian sing. That was the sign, posted at the women's gathering in 1986, that announced the birth of the Portland Lesbian Choir. The group will celebrate 15 years of out-and-proud crooning with its spring concert, A Musical Scrapbook, April 7. • Basic Rights Oregon recently added two staff members: field director Jessica DuBois and program coordinator Melissa Shepherd. Both are new to Portland, although each visited the area before settling here. • The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing Feb. 27 on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act featuring supportive testimony by executives representing some of the country's most prestigious corporations. If passed, the bill would ensure gay, lesbian and bi U.S. citizens have equal rights in the job market and workplace. • When Portlander Julie Bulrice began playing racquetball 15 years ago, she had no idea she would end up the 2001-national women’s doubles champion or a national mixed doubles champ. Early erotic masterpiece finally sees the light on DVD; woman falls for brother’s girlfriend in screwball comedy Gray Matters 40 NIGHTLIFE Not your ordinary drag • COLUMNS 14 GET DIRTY WITH DAN The Pampered Gardener 33 MS. BEHAVIOR Tattle Tale 34 OUT GOING Cheek to Cheek • Something new is going on 'round Portland. Here's the idea: Every Saturday and Sunday evening, lesbians will descend on a bar and coffee shop, respectively, creating Dyke Night Portland. You don't need an invitation, just an e-mail listserv telling you the locations of the upcoming takeovers. 36 EPIQUEEREAN The Denver Scramble 42 JIM'S CLOSET Not Narrow
