iustiout
guest commentary
by Jeana Frazzini
J
Season to Celebrate
I NEWSMAGAZINE
MAY 30, 2008
And keep up the good fight
appy Pride 2008! What an exciting time of year to celebrate our
But I don’t
community and catch you up on the work of Basic Rights Oregon.
look forward
As many of you know, BRO is the state’s largest organization dedi­
to having to
cated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and
file a separate
gender identity. I have worked closely with BRO for more than
return with
a decade—as a volunteer, donor and board member—and took on the role
the
federal
of executive director just five months ago. This work is meaningful to me
Internal Rev­
professionally, but also on a personal level—as it is critical to my family. My
enue . Service.
The Parman-Frazzini family celebrates their domestic
partner, KD Parman, and I live in North Portland with our two boys, Emmett
And KD still
partnership Feb. 4 surrounded by BRO staff.
and Griffin.
pays taxes on
As a mother and ah out-and-proud Oregonian, it has been my great plea­ the health benefits she shares with me—something our married friends never
sure to work with BRO to secure critical protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual
have to do.
and transgender Oregonians and our families.
These and other legal complications reflect the challenges of establishing
BRO led the charge last year to pass Oregon’s domestic partnership law,
relationship rights for same-sex couples on a state-by-state basis. While doing so
which gives same-sex couples in committed relationships many of the rights
is a critical step on the road to equality, it is not the end-all, be-all for full equality
and responsibilities available to straight couples through marriage. And we
under the law. Marriage rights, recognized by the federal government and from
passed a comprehensive law that protects all Oregonians from discrimination
one state to the next, are ultimately what must be achieved in order to provide
based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and •seamless protections and the dignity of full equality.
public accommodation. And we are working every day to ensure that these
BRO is committed to moving the marriage conversation forward in Oregon,
laws remain intact—through the courts and at the ballot, if necessary.
to educate opinion leaders and policymakers at the local, state and federal level
As a partner in a loving, committed relationship, registering for a domes­ about the shortcomings of the state-based system we function under. We will
tic partnership means peace of mind: I know that KD and I can never be pre­
work to explain why we need to see changes at the highest levels of American
vented from seeing one another in an Oregon hospital and that doctors will
government to align our laws and make sure every caring, committed same-
honor the decisions we might make
sex couple is treated fairly under the
Working
for
Change
on
Every
Level
for one another in a crisis. But I worry
law. We are committed to changing
about what could happen when we
Most people know Basic Rights Oregon for our political advocacy and
the conversation in Oregon so that
travel outside Oregon. Other states
the big ballot measure fights, but we are so much more.,BRO’s Equality
someday we can turn the clock back
are not required to honor the domes­
PAG works to elect fair-minded candidates and hold politicians account­
to a time before discrimination was
tic partnership law that protects us
able to our community. BRO also operates the Basic Rights Education
enshrined in our constitution via
here.
Fund, working to change hearts and minds. Programs include:
Measure 36, excluding same-sex
As a mother, I am thrilled to see
• The Next Generation Project is BRO’s investment in the future,
couples from the true equality af­
my name alongside KD on our sons”
working to build a sustainable, progressive youth and student movement
forded by marriage rights.
birth certificates. But I am also frus­
of LGBTQ and allied activists. We are especially committed to working
So while we get a rare moment
trated that other states may still not
on issues that affect LGBTQ youth of color, trans-identified youth and
here in Oregon to celebrate our ma­
honor those documents as proof that I
those residing in Oregon’s rural areas.
jor achievements in the passage of
am their legal parent. Most attorneys
• The 50 Voices for Equality project demonstrates the broad cross
the Oregon Equality Act and the Or­
are still recommending that lesbian
section of straight Oregonians who support equality. Our “voices” include
egon Family Fairness Act, we know
couples pursue costly second-parent
people of faith, business leaders, farmers and grandparents from all across
that our work is not done—but Or­
adoptions, and the process is even
the state.
egon is a fairer place to work and live
more complicated and expensive for
• Through our ongoing Education Series, we offer workshops such as
for LGBT people in 2008 than at any
gay dads.
“T Is Not for Tokenism: Trans-Forming Policy,” “Beyond Diversity: Dis­
time in our state’s history.
As an Oregon taxpayer, I am look­
mantling Racism in the LGBT Community,” “Are Immigrants the New
ing forward to the opportunity to file
Gay? Making the Connections between Immigrant and LGBT Rights”
J eana F razzini is executive
state taxes jointly with KD next year.
and “Know Your Basic Rights.”
director of Basic Rights Oregon.
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15 Years Ago In Just Out...volume 10 number 14, june 1,1993
• In a groundbreaking decision, the Hawaii Su­
preme Court ruled May 5 that the equal protec­
tion portion of the state's constitution requires
the state to issue marriage licenses to both
same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The ruling
means that the state must find a compelling rea­
son to treat gay and lesbian couples differently
from heterosexual couples.
• Voters in Douglas, Josephine, Klamath and
Linn counties as well as the city of Canby will
face the Oregon Citizens Alliance's latest anti-
gay initiative on a June 29 mail-in ballot. Crook
Sam Adams makes history as the first openly
gay mayor-elect of a major U.S. city
NEWS
7-19 NORTHWEST
Just Out endorsees score primary wins;
hospitals rated on queer competency;
trans leader honored; p:ear homeless
during move; new staff joins Our
House; Unity Project rehires veteran;
Catholic Conference to endorse anti­
equality initiatives; marriage ban stands;
a gay rest home grows in Gresham
20-21 NATIONAL
Group creates first guide for kids of trans
parents; Gay Straight Alliance lawsuit
reinstituted in Florida; report finds rise
in Michigan hate crimes; South Carolina
principal resigns over GSA; court rules
for dismissed gay Air Force major
22-23 WORLD
Gay man elected to Nepal parliament; Tel
Aviv to erect monument to gays persecuted
by Nazis; court says Hong Kong regulator
interfered with freedom of speech; Bounty
Killer banned from Guyana; Lesbos residents
want their name back; Moldovan Pride
parade thwarted by violent mob; lesbian
soccer player murdered in South Africa
ARTS & CULTURE
38 FILM
Sex and the City goes out with a bang;
intersex teenager becomes social outcast
in gutsy Argentinean film XXY
39 CULTURE
Lesbian musician, comedian share the stage
40 NIGHTLIFE
Peacock Productions presents All Ages Show
reflections
• Breaking with high-ranking military leaders,
retired Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., former
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said re­
cently that the U.S. military could adjust to end­
ing the ban on gays and lesbians. He said that
opponents to lifting the ban are basing their ar­
guments more on emotion than on reason.
24 THE PRIDE OF PORTLAND
County and Junction City may also decide the
issue in June 29 elections, depending on the
outcome of legal challenges to the initiatives.
• Gov. Barbara Roberts started the year by
prioritizing human rights for all Oregonians.
She proposed a bill to create an 11-member
Human Rights Commission, which would
concentrate on education and mediation.
• Just Out endorses Beverly Stein for Mult­
nomah County chairwoman.
• Members of the Lesbian and Gay Democratic
Club elected Bob Ralphs as president and Donna
Red Wing as vice president of the group. Dick
Levy won a seat as secretary, and Frank Dixon
will serve as treasurer.
• The Pacific Northwest region of the Anti­
Defamation League of B’nai B'rith held an award
dinner May 20
at the Portland
The
Hilton.
league gave its
Distinguished
Community Ser­
vice Award to
retiring Portland
Police Chief Tom
Potter. Under his
guidance, Port­
land is setting the standard nationwide for com­
munity relations and human rights within a law
enforcement organization. His strong support of
the gay and lesbian community is legendary.
• Joan Crawford is alive! Come as your favor­
ite dead celebrity to the Mr., Miss and Ms. Gay
Oregon Pageant. Winners will be selected by a
panel of judges, and a cash prize will be award­
ed for the “best reincarnation."
43 PEOPLE
Gay author shares revolutionary
solutions to globalized food system
COLUMNS
17 SASSY GARDENER
Save the Water for the Slip ‘n’ Slide
36 EPIQUEEREAN
Eating Through Heaven and Hell
37 OUT GOING
If 1 Were a Rich Man
44-45 JIM'S CLOSET
Delayed Gratification
56 MS. BEHAVIOR
Can’t Buy Me Love
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FEATURE