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