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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
HjUStpUt apr !L Discover Paradise! State-of-the-art VIDEO ARCADE 100 channels of all new releases New DVDs starting at $4.99 72-hour rentals Toys» novelties, magazines and more Paradise Video northwest Is Gay Marriage a Queer Idea? r Washington domestic partner legislation passes; marriage debate continues by Sassafras Lowrey he Washington House approved a domestic Upscale Adult Video Store partnership bill April 10 that extends basic 503.255.9414 protections to gay and lesbian couples. The bill previously passed the state Senate, and Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire has pledged to sign it when it reaches her desk. It will “provide emergency protections to LGBT couples and addresses some of the most pressing issues MORGAN FINANCIAL, INC that face couples during times of crisis in terms of automatic hospital visitation, medical decision rights M ortgage L ending & I nvestments and inheritance rights," explained Joshua Friedes, advocacy director of Equal Rights Washington. 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It is important to us that you are comfortabk with the This bill, according to Melissa Chernaik of Basic Rights Oregon, is different from proposed Oregon legislation “in that theirs is this very spe cific subset of rights, whereas ours is very inclusive in the rights and responsibilities.” She adds that financing from the minute you fill out an application to the Washington legislation “covers fewer than six the day you move into your new home'. to eight specific rights" and that the proposed Oregon legislation “provides all the rights, protec Pauline Hines Branch Manager pauline@morfi.com • 503-515-8761 Mobile Kristen Roland kroland@morfi.com • 503-679-1299 Mobile 503-542-7894 Office • 503-542-7895 Fax • 935 NW 19th • Portland, Oregon 97209 tions and responsibilities that are available through marriage.” Equal Rights Washington representatives expressed excitement about this victory for queer families and consider this domestic partner legisla tion as a stepping stone in their underlying fight to As some continue to work toward marriage equality, activist Tobi Hill-Meyer has institutional community. “The domestic partner bill provides concerns. only a fraction of the benefits and protections achieve marriage equality for the gay and lesbian When it comes to neighborhood home loans, I really know my way around the block. 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The organization relationships at the expense of others. “If you have was quick to point out that there are some key legal a relationship that conservatives don’t want you differences between the rights associated with mar to have, they are still not going to recognize riage versus those of a domestic partnership. it...[which] perpetuates the same discrimination “Marriage is not only a gateway to over 1,400 upon us that they seek to have ended upon them.” legal rights and protections. It also represents full Queer activists uncomfortable with the fight for social equality for gays and lesbians under the law. marriage discussed how their ability to participate Anything less than marriage is less than equal,” in community causes have been compromised by Friedes said. what they feel is a pressure to participate in Gay marriage is a divisive issue in the region, as demonstrated with Oregon’s Measure 36, the same- sex marriage ban passed in 2004- Countrywide* HOME LOANS Lake Oswego Office 6000 SW Meadows Road a 100 Lake Oswego. OR 97036 * Ceantrywi4e F ieaecial Corporation ia AaMrica'a »1 home loan leader* and a member of the prestigious Standard * Rear's SM sad Forties SM * Source As renked for 2006 by Inside Mortgage Finance (Jon 27, 20061, Copyright 200« ' ti? Equal Housing Lender © 2006 Countrywide Home Loans. Inc , 4500 Park Granada. Calabasas. CA 91302. Trade/servicemarks are the property of Countrywide Financial Corporation and/or its subsidiaries Some products mey not be available in Washington and Oregon For Washington and Oregon residents and properties only This is not s commitment to lend Restrictions apply All rights reserved 61036 Hill-Meyer added, “I get pulled into this false A growing number of queer activists question choice where its kind of like, that’s the work that is going on, and if 1 want to help out with queer work, be better and queerer options for protecting fami then I’ll have to be doing that." She also spoke of lies led by same-_sex couples. doing the marriage activism for her lesbian moth ers who wish to have the right to marry. resident, discussed her desire for what she called Friedes acknowledged that there is a dissent equality, and feeling at odds with many gay rights among queer activists about the energy placed on organizations. “Fighting for gay marriage, in my the issue of marriage equality and dismissed the idea opinion, is selfish because it’s not necessarily what that it’s about assimilation. the entire community is wanting,” she explained. “The idea that we are seeking marriage in order Tobi Hill-Meyer, a self-identified genderqueer to assimilate is quite a silly notion,” he said. “We trans dyke and sexual minority activist, discussed are stamped with a badge that says we may not the concerns she has about marriage as an institu marry. In America, the freedom to marry is the hall tion. “We really need to fake a look at how mark of full citizenship." marriage operates in our society...how those kinds Hill-Meyer contended, “Giving people the of structures that enforce marriage [enforce] a spe opportunity to define their own relationships and cific type of relationship as a type of moral code have those definitions recognized legally would be the ultimate protection." © [and] punish people that don’t belong to [them]." Like other queer activists who have concerns about the desire for legalizing gay marriage, Hill- — in the gay community,” explained Halford. the desire for marriage and suggest that there might Amanda Halford, a queer activist and Portland Michael Curry Loan Consultant Office (direct): (503) 624-4709 Cell: (503) 593-5777 Fax: (503) 670-0393 marriage activism. “[It] can really segregate people SASSAFRAS L owrf .Y is a Portland freelance writer.
