16JUStlOUt MARCH 21, 2008
FREEDOM
northwest
SBInir Your Mon III
State Sen. Gary George roils equal rights activists with shocking comments
by Stephen Marc Beaudoin
regon
state
Sen.
Gary
O
George, R-Newberg, says he
doesn’t hate gays. He just
doesn’t want to hear a word
STACEY MILLS
Real Estate Broker
Principal Properties
ammunition in a fund-raising appeal via
Northeast Portland, said she was simply “dis
e-mail.
gusted” by his remarks, adding, “It’s a very
After 12 years in the state Senate, George
has decided to retire when this legislative ses
out of their mouths.
George, along with state Rep. Kim
Thatcher, R-Keizer, is sponsoring a ballot
good thing he’s retiring from public office.”
initiative to repeal the Oregon Equality Act,
tive influence have long been part of George’s
sion ends (see sidebar). In his March 15 in
terview with the News-Register, he suggested
vitriolic reactions to the Just Out interview
which bans discrimination based on sexual
personal profile. Once described by the News-
from gay rights allies might make his repeal
orientation and gender identity statewide.
Register as a legislator “not taken seriously in
In an exclusive March 21 interview with Just
the Capitol,” his most substantive work in Sa
case stronger.
George’s co-sponsored ballot initiative,
Out that has rocked equal rights supporters
lem seems to have involved fixing potholes,
in the draft stage, goes before the public in
across the country, he implored gays to “ma-
championing gun owners’ rights, targeting
ture” while simultaneously recommending
the “political correctness” of perceived hate
they return to the closeted atmosphere of the
1950s and suggesting that the recent murders
crimes (he once proposed a bill marking Star
bucks store vandalism as a “hate crime”) and
late March. A total of 82,769 signatures
are required by July 3 to bring the issue to
voters this fall. A 2007 initiative attempt by
gay rights foe Marylin Shannon—also an ac
of queer youth Simmie Davis and Lawrence
King were provoked by gays being “oppressive
carrying the banner for the special interests
of motorcyclists (George “looks great in his
force a public vote on the Oregon Equality
toward straights.”
Chuck Wolfe, chief executive officer of
pony tail and leathers,” according to the Web
Act and Oregon Family Fairness Act failed
site EasyRider.com). Twice he was booted
to secure the 55,179 verified signatures
the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which
from chairman positions in legislative.com
required to earn a spot on the ballot.
provides financial and campaign support to
mittees.
But inflammatory pronouncements and a
reputation for being on the fringes of legisla
tive figure behind the current initiatives—to
The failure of that initiative prompted a
out political candidates, described George’s
George’s inflammatory interview with Just
federal lawsuit, Lemons vs. Bradbury, by the
statements as “shocking” and “outrageous.”
Out came at a sensitive time for sexual minori
Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund against
After the interview landed on The Associ
ties, many still reeling from the “homosexuals
the Oregon secretary of state. That lawsuit
ated Press wire, the national blogosphere ex
are a greater threat than terrorists” comment
was decided Feb. 1 in favor of the state of
ploded with rallies for George’s resignation,
racing across the Internet from Oklahoma
Oregon, allowing same-sex domestic partner
indignant rants on his perceived homophobia
state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City. She
ships to proceed in earnest starting Feb. 4-
and angry diatribes alternately describing him
has been unapologetic about her remarks.
But in yet another swing at equal rights in
as a “psycho” and “troglodyte.”
CREATE THE LIFE
YOU WANT TO LIVE
Basic Rights Oregon used his comments as
Ripped Over Gay Rights Repeal Initiative.”
Out lesbian state Rep. Tina Kotek, D-North/
The extent to which George’s interview,
Oregon, the Alliance Defense Fund has filed
Closer to home, The McMinnville News-
and the outrage it caused, will either harm
an appeal to that decision, and the case will
Register blasted him on the front page of its
him or help his cause remains to be seen. Less
March 15 edition with the headline “George
than 24 hours after the interview appeared,
be heard by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals at a date to be determined. ©
IVIy advice to the gay community
“We all know the gay person
is shut up, just don’t talk about
w
that nobody notices—I think
it. If you walk around talking
that is where we need to head....
about what you do in the
I go back to the ’50s and ’60s. We had
^^^^bedroom, you should be on
friends that were quote homosexual,
ual,
the pervert channel.”
jives. ”
—Gary George
and they kept to themselves.
—Gary George
“The 6-foot-4 senator stands tall for
his constituents.... He cares about the little
guy and how government spends his money. As the
father of five children and as a grandfather, he understands the
need to bring hope and prosperity to our state, to continue his efforts
to make Oregon a better place to live...and bring a smile to his wife’s face.”
—Gary George’s Oregon Legislature Web site
CELL 503.957.0791
By the Numbers
According to the most recent statewide count tallied by Basic Rights Oregon, as of March
18 more than 1,700 same-sex couples have registered as domestic partners.
Of those, 12 couples reside in Yamhill County, which Republican state Sen. Gary George
represents.