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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
8 justput APRIL 20. 2007 northwest Legislature Makes History ROSE CITY VETERINARY HOSPITAL "/ /•<>/// strudels /(• //ooiZ/ps, it’orÀ /zz^ 's <7 dream in my newly remodeled kitchen.... I needed more room to add cooking classes to my catering lm>iness Imt I dreaded the thought of refinam ing to do it. Luckily, I was referred to Christine. She came Io our house with all the paperwork, smoothed out the bumps with solutions and made the whole refinancing process genuinely friendly. Bon appétit!" -Sasha 503-481-0574 hallc@eaglehomemortgage.com Christine Hall Senior Loan Consultant President's Club tradeswomen,” said Dawn Jones, a sexual Oregon House representatives agreed with minority journeywoman carpenter and activists touting the slogan “It’s Time” when they instructor for Oregon Tradeswomen’s sev- passed two gay civil rights hills April 17. en-week preapprenticeship program. “The Senate Bill 2, a nondiscrimination act, has fair offers a great overview of the possibil passed in both chambers, with a 19-7 vote in the ities, and you get to try things out. What's Senate and a 35-25 vote in the House. Four sena cool is that it’s really fun—all these tors were absent from the April 19 Senate vote. women showing other women and girls The bill already passed March 21 in the Senate but how to do things maybe no one had returned for a concurrence vote on amendments to showed them how to do before.” a religious exemption made in a House committee. J Jones became an apprentice carpenter House Bill 2007, which would legalize domes in 1996. “Post-college, 1 found myself tic partnerships, passed in the House with a 34-26 unhappy with the jobs I had,” she said. vote. “Growing (¿p, 1 had been atinkererand The last stop for SB 2 is Gov. Ted Kulongoski, physically active, but it was never present who has indicated that his pen is ready to sign both ed to me as a viable career possibility.” bills into law. Jones said women account for 3 Should opponents gather enough signatures in percent of the trades nationally and 5 per time to put a referendum on the November 2008 cent in Oregon. “We think that number is ballot, Oregonians will be asked to confinn or over in part because of our work,” she added. turn the hili. Otherwise, SB 2 will go into effect In terms of lesbians in the trades, Jones Jan. 1,2008. said it’s about being open-minded. “It’s still Armchair strategists were thrown for a loop considered nontraditional to be a lesbian,” when domestic partnerships became a less contro she said. “Perhaps lesbians are more open- versial concept than nondiscrimination, which hit minded ah nit something they’d never think People will have a chance to show their proud pets at many snags from opponents asking for broader reli about doing as a career.” the first Portland Pride Pet Parade. gious exemptions. Some who testified against SB 2 She argued that a career in the trades at the April 9 House Ethics, Elections and Rules is appealing to anyone because it pays well and “The girl stepped in front of me and grabbed my Committee hearing expressed fear of men in becoming skilled and empowered can be satisfying neck,” said Fogal. “The guy was going to hit me dresses invading girls restrooms in public sch<x>ls. work. “I think it takes nontraditional women to over the head with a radio when the police arrived This was related to the portion of the bill that imagine running power tools and holding her own and broke it up.” makes it illegal to discriminate on grounds of with the guys.” Witnesses at nearby Jake’s Famous Crawfish gender identity in public accommodations, in addi The 15th annual Women in Trades Career Fair called the police, who, according to Fogal, ran the tion to employment, housing and public education. offers student days May 3 and 4, which require names of the suspects and discovered they had When the restrixim scare tactic was raised on online registration for attendance. Starting at 9 a.m. prior arrests. Fogal said neither Rudy Rivas, 50, nor the House floor, state Rep. Greg Macpherson, May 5, the fair is open to the public. The event will Kristin Goen, 23, had any identification and were D-Lake Oswego, pointed out rhe differences be held at NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center, most likely living on the street. between cross-dressing and being a transgender 16021 N.E. Airport Way. For more information or to “This happens all the time,” said a frustrated person who lives as the gender consistent with the volunteer, call 503-335-8200, ext. 21, or visit Fogal. “1 have friends who are older than me that restroom he or she enters. www.tradeswomen.net. won’t come downtown now because they’re afraid I SB 2’s religious exemption allows churches to to be harassed.” not hire people if their sexual orientation is in con Bias Crime Reported According to Fogal, the assailants pled not flict with church tenets, as long as employment is Outside Silverado guilty at a hearing March 19. Fogal said he is press related to the primary purpose of the church. Brian Fogal, a 39-year-old patron of Silverado, ing charges and requesting restitution for personal HB 2007 creates a separate statute of Oregon said he was attacked Feb. 22 outside the establish effects that were damaged in the assault. law, providing same-sex couples many of the same ment at 1217 S.W. Stark St. Senior Deputy District Attorney Fred Lenzser protections, rights and responsibilities as marriage. He said a man and a woman were waiting said the co-defendants are being charged with dis The difference from marriage is that domestic outside the bar after being thrown out at about orderly conduct. Goen is also being charged with partnerships are not portable outside the state’s 5 p.m. After the pair yelled loud slurs at him, he harassment and intimidation. He said that if the boundaries. said he verbally responded to be left alone and defense settles after a pretrial conference April 20, HB 2007 will now move to the Senate for attempted to walk away. rhe next trial, set for May 1, might not occur. a committee hearing and fkx>r vote. If the Senate moves quickly, HB 2007 could be up for a floor vote as early as the first week in May. Visit “Blog Out” at www.justout.com for timely updates as these bills advance through the Legislature. Women Grow in Trades In 1989, a group of tradeswomen came togeth er to network and support each other as minorities in the industry. The group evolved into Oregon Tradeswomen, a nonprofit organization with a paid staff and programming. Its largest event is the Women in Trades Career Fair, which serves 1,800 people over three days and features exhibits and workshops by construction employers, apprenticeship training centers, community colleges, trades-related employers and government agencies advocating for fair labor. “It’s a great event if you’re interested in explor ing the trades, networking and meeting other An electrician shows two participants how to wire a light at the 2006 Women in Trades Career Fair.
