Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2008)
MARCH 21, 2008 jusisuLiz Georqe Speaks Excerpts from March 21 interview with Newberg senator Stephen Marc Beaudoin: Why are you sponsoring this repeal initiative? Gary George: I’ve had people approach me for special rights for homosexuals, and I don’t believe anyone should have special rights. I’ve had members of the gay community come in and ask, and I’ll say, “I’m sorry, 1 don’t give anyone special rights.” If you do feel like you’ve been discriminated against as a gay, you have hard feelings. I remember when I was heavy and wore glasses as a child and DENIM SALE I was picked on. We all know the gay person that nobody notices—I think 20%-50% OFF that is where we need to head. Everybody knows where the line is, so when I see I’m offending someone, I have to back away from that. We have to adjust our behavior so as to not be offensive. If you push anyone too hard, 7 For All Mankind • Chip & Pepper Citizens of Humanity • Joe's Jeans Rock & Republic • William Rast they will react. SMB: What sort of special rights do you feel that the Oregon Equality Act offers? GG: First off, I though^ that was a fabrication of definition, in the sense that you gave special rights, it picks out another group, a lifestyle group, and My plea to the gay community would be, hey, mature. We have brilliant, brilliant people within the gay community. says hmm, you have all these protections.... [If] that person’s gay, so what? SMB: Who are some of those brilliant gay people? GG: [Laughs] We know a bunch of them; they’re some of the brightest Forget it, ignore it, as long as he’s not making advances on you, which is and wealthiest people in the country. I go back to the ’50s and ’60s. We had against the law, he’s fine. The main thing that bothered us with the whole bill was the fact that, here we go again, adding one more class of people that friends that were quote homosexual, and they kept to themselves. need to have special rights. moment ago? GG: [Bisexual former legislator and secretary of state candidate] Kate GG: If I discriminate in favor of you, it automatically requires I discrimi nate against someone else. I was hoping with your generation, we can stop calling each other “Asian American” or “Latino American.” There’s one talk show host, and he has really severe, hard feelings against T : 5 0 3.2 5 7 . 5 7 5 6 www.shophaberdashers.com Hil i SMB: Who are some of those brilliant gay people you referenced a SMB: Can you give an example? 4937 NE Fremont St. • Portland OR 97213 Brown, when Kate was practicing that lifestyle. She’s one of the most bril liant people I know. I harken back to a conversation I had years ago with Kate Brown. She said you can do it all [gain the requisite rights for same-sex couples] with a contract, and I said OK what’s that all about. > i lfn 1 ST Improvement^ Remodeling LLC | We do all handyman services Demolition to Finish Carpentry - WE DO IT ALL - affirmative action. Because of the race that he is, I believe he’s Italian, he was discriminated against because he’s not black. I have dear, dear friends SMB: You talk about instances of “reverse discrimination” and want in the Legislature who are black, but sometimes I really get tired of hearing ing to “level the playing field.” As a legislator, how have you addressed about their color. this? FREE ESTIMATES SMB: What if an employee is fired because of his or her sexual orien GG: Maybe it is time for us to go through the law and find every point of discrimination and just eliminate it.... Do carpenters [for example] deserve a tation or gender identity? Isn’t the Oregon Equality Act in place to guard special privilege over someone else? There are a lot of things in Oregon law against such discrimination? highly discriminatory outside of the sexual question.... It gets down to this: GG: As an employer, I don’t want to hear about it. This workplace is for work purposes. My advice to the gay community is shut up, just don’t Let’s just end any kind of preferential treatment for any group. If I had my way, we would start backing out of discrimination laws. talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel. Do you believe you have a right to be homosexual? Then you believe I have the right to think it’s a bad idea. • in Florida and California? what I’m saying: I think we’re seeing a backlash; in other words, if you push WE OFFER DESIGN CONSULTATIONS h Edward Andrew • 503-515-3171 imrconst@aol.com l°n r--...... ■-------- SMB: What is your relationship with [anti-gay former state Sen.] Marylin Shannon? paign. We have common friends who said: “You know what? Something needs to be done about this, and it needs to be aired in public.” Marylin has GG: Obviously, murder is murder; there’s no excuse for that. Here’s ccb#172574 * ' GG: I’ve known Marylin for years.... She was an encourager of my cam SMB: What is your reaction to the recent murders of out gay youth If you can dream it, we can build it Licensed • Bonded • Insured handled campaigns since she’s been out of Legislature, [and] we respect her >ïS^Dog & Cat Spa WEB CAMS OPERATED BY CERTIFIED VET TECHS abilities. ALL BREED GROOMERS • DOG TRAINERS me too hard, don’t be surprised if I react. Gays will tend to react violently if people are oppressive toward them. If gays are oppressive toward straights, SMB: What do you think is the likelihood of these repeal initiatives then you’ll see a violent backlash. You’re going to have a point where these to pass? GG: We have no idea.... For the last five years there’s been a systematic groups develop and say, “I’m tired of these special privileges.” assault on the right of the people to make law. What we’ve seen the Legis SMB: Are you suggesting that gays, by virtue of being out and open, are inciting these types of violent reactions? GG: You have to recognize for every action there’s a reaction...we’re obviously not going to tolerate anyone who beats up any other person. lature doing is the idea that we’re continuing to tell people they don’t have the right to speak on initiatives. You have every right to participate in this process, and so do I. This is the right of the people to speak. The Legislature right now is heading in the direction of professional politicians. Willi Georqe Oui, Who’s In? by Stephen Marc Beaudoin Nortness has thrown his hat into the contest. as “complete horseshit.... 1 mean, good Lord.” is A self-employed litigation consultant and Boquist, meanwhile, did not respond to re imminent, but it signals yet sometime pop musician, Nortness said he would peated e-mail and telephone requests from Just a battle work to attract new industries to the poorest Out for comment on his candidacy. But ac for the seat he’s about to leave parts of the district. He would also offer some cording to the Oregon Family Council Voter’s vacant. In the Republican-held grip of District 12, thing his opponent can’t: protection of equal Guide, his record on equal rights for sexual mi rights for all of his constituents, sexual minori norities would seem to place him squarely in line with George’s stated ideology: “I don’t believe in and Benton counties, that means it’s an uphill ties included. “The repeal of the Oregon Equality Act is a fight for Democrat Kevin Nortness, a Willamina terrible idea, and I’m opposed as a citizen and Nortness, for his part, is gearing up for a real city commissioner. In a surprise 1 lth-hour filing a voter,” he said. When asked for reaction to showdown with Boquist. “1’11 give it my very best challenge to Rep. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, long George’s much-discussed Just Out interview, considered the sole candidate for the seat, Nortness characterized the senator’s comments shot and everything 1 can," he said. “Every vote that 1 get will be well-earned.’ ■® from the Oregon Senate another beginning: which includes large swaths of Yamhill, Polk r I I I I ■ * I I Any Groom (Bath or Cut) *5“ OFF Valid with coupon only Not valid with other offers. Expires 4/02/08 JO r I I I I I I I Purchase 1 week of daycare at reg. price & 2 days of equal or lesser value FREE. I get Excludes holidays. Valid with coupon only. I Not valid with other offers Expires 4/02/08 JO SPECIAL! 2 Days of Daycare FREE District 12 race heats up ary George’s end-of-term exit Boarding • Grooming • Daycare • Training Self Groom * Specialty Boutique special rights for homosexuals.” I I I I I I J I I I I I I I I I JI GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE NOW TWO GREAT LOCATIONS! 2454 E. Burnside 503-477-7890 14874 SE Webster Rd. 503-654-8743 Next io Safeway For more info, discounts & coupons go to www.DogandCatSpa.com
