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The Lofton-Croteau family has been chased
by discriminatory laws all the way to Canada.
In 1998, Florida’s law banning adoption by
gays encouraged their move to Oregon. Today,
Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau, partners of 26
years, are legally married and living in Vancouver,
British Columbia.
“The Florida law is what brought us to
Oregon,” said Lofton. “We moved to Vancouver a
year ago, where gay marriage is legal by the federal
government. We wanted full rights as citizens,
and we don’t have that in the U.S.”
The Lofton-Croteaus raised three foster
children in Florida: Frank and Tracy, now
both 21, and Bert, 17. Frank and Tracy are
HIV-positive. They also adopted Wayne and
Ernie in Oregon.
The Lofton-Croteaus were one of three fami
lies represented by the American Civil Liberties
Union that led to a landmark ruling overturning
Florida’s ban on adoption by gays. Miami Dade
Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman ruled Nov. 25 that
there was no “rational basis” to prevent the chil
dren from being adopted.. The case will go before
the Florida Supreme Court, which could overturn
the ban.
The Lofton-Croteau family inspired celebrity
Rosie O’Donnell to come out as a lesbian during
a March 14, 2002, interview with Diane Sawyer,
explaining how the law prevented her from adopt
ing a foster daughter.
Because rhe ruling was delayed for so long,
the law never affected the Lofton-Croteau fam
ily. Bert is finishing his first semester at Nova
University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tracy is work
ing in Miami, and Frank is on a Job Corps assign
ment in Florida. Wayne and Ernie, 15 and 12, live
with the Lofton-Croteaus in Canada.
Lofton accurately predicted in 2002 that rhe
lawsuit’s outcome would be “extremely positive."
At the rime, he told Just Out, “It’s long overdue.”
Although it has no bearing on his fam
ily, Lofton said he is “very happy with Judge
Lederman’s decision.”
Steve Lofton (left) and Roger Croteau (with,
clockwise from top, Frank, Ernie, Tracy,
Wayne and Bert) kept their family together by
transplanting to Oregon from Florida in 1998.
ment and a directive set for us that we did not have
before,” she said. “It clearly defines a better picture
of our culture and who we want to represent us as
members of our community and our organization.”
Martinez started a conversation with Clamo
in the fall, asking that the board include sexual
orientation in its nondiscrimination policy.
The policy was meant to coincide with cur
riculum for Beaverton Leadership, a nine-day pro
gram in March where those accepted get a “back
of the houSt” tour of participating businesses. The
emphasis of one of those days is diversity.
Through her conversation with Martinez, who is
a graduate of Beaverton Leadership, Clamo was able
to broach the topic with rhe 23-member chamber
board. It approved the policy unanimously and has yet
to encounter any backlash from its decision to include
sexual orientation into its nondiscrimination policy.
According to Clamo, queer inclusion is in
line with the chamber’s mission—to embrace
everyone within the business community and
strengthen the local economy.
For more information visit www.beaverron.
org/chamher.
Portland's Feminist Bookstore
on the Brink of Closure
A sour economy and slow sales have put
Beaverton Chamber Adopts
Portland’s legendary In Other Words bixikstore
Nondiscrimination Policy
on the brink of closing its doors for good.
Tlie Beaverton Chamber of
“We kx)ked at our
Commerce adopted its first non
financial situation and
discrimination policy Nov. 19.
realized it was much
Thanks to the prodding of
more dire than it has
volunteer Dinnie Martinez, the
ever been in the past,”
policy protects against discrimi
said Katie Carter, In
nation with member and part
Other Words’ program
nering businesses on rhe basis
director. Bixik sales,
of sex, ethnicity, religion and
she says, are “down sig
sexual orientation.
nificantly from previ
“We’ve had a real forth
ous years, and it kxtks
right effort to promote diver-*
like it’s going to con
sity awareness to make sure
tinue that way. We are
our organization reflects our
in a crisis situation.”
community,” said chamber
Carter and the
president Lorraine Clamo.
store’s board of di
Although anti-gay discrim
rectors say they1 must
raise $ 11,000 by year’s
ination has been illegal since
Senate Bill 2 went into effect
end, or the store will
Volunteer Ali Stabenow (top) and
in January, Clamo believed
close shortly after
manager Rebecca Luxenberg hope that
there was value in the cham
Jan. 1,2009.
holiday shoppers bring their lists to In
ber’s adoption of the policy. “It
Other Words to mitigate the feminist
bookstore’s financial crisis.
creates a framework, a state-
Continued on Page 10