MAY I 2009
OREGON S GAY/LESBIAN/BI/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE
just out
A Show of Hands
VOL 26 NO. 13
Considering new partnerships in the woke of
recent victories
O
zation, welcomed news that the U.S. House
of Representatives passed H.R. 1913,‘Local
Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention
Act of 2009,’ by a vote of 249 to 175.”
“The bill strengthens existing federal
hate crime laws by authorizing the Depart
ment of Justice to assist local authorities in
investigating and prosecuting certain bias-
motivated crimes. The bill would also pro
vide authority for the federal government
to prosecute some violent bias-motivated
crimes directed against individuals on the
basis of their sexual orientation, gender,
gender identity, or disability.”
‘“This is exactly the legislation necessary
to help address the unacceptable violence
which threatens our communities,”’ said
John Amaya, legislative staff attorney for
MALDEF. “The bill comes at a critical junc
ture - in the midst of an anti-Latino hate
crime epidemic where hate crimes commit
ted against Latinos have risen more than 40
percent in the last few years.”
There we are. Two groups, the same con
cerns, the same fears about hate crimes. We
send and receive separate emails, from dif
ferent advocacy groups, celebrating the same
accomplishment - passage of legislation
affectiQg the lives of whom each represents.
For some, it’s a community of gays and les
bians; for others, a community of Latinos.
I find myself wondering if the success
ful vote on the Matthew Shepard Act could
have happened faster if these two organi
zations had teamed up to form a powerful
coalition of groups, seeking similar solutions
and goals. Could diverse communities, toil
ing alone, have accomplished more by join
ing together?
At the same time the House has been
working on hate crimes legislation, major
gains in the bid for marriage-equality - es
pecially in the New England states - are be
ing achieved. While progress makes its way
down the eastern coastline, those longing for
INSIDE»
the right to same-sex marriage in Oregon
are all too aware of the key obstacle to this
reality.
Marriage in our state is now constitu
tionally defined as being between one man
and one woman. It will take a Herculean
push to bring marriage equality to the Or
egon State Constitution. It will also take the
combined efforts of many coalition partners
and supporters.
In Oregon, Latinos are the fastest-grow
ing segment of the population. They’re grow
ing in number, they’re growing in number of
voters. To overturn Ballot Measure 36, we
will need their votes and their assistance.
This brings us to the issue of tit-for-tat,
so to speak. The Latino community has their
civil and human rights battles; we have ours.
Some are different; some are the same. How
much more effectual could we be if we band
ed together in support of common causes?
It has been asked, and will be again, if
the desire and the struggle to rename a street
merits consideration as a civil rights issue.
I think only the people involved have the
right to make this determination. The Latino
community is asking for recognition of their
history, their culture, their victories and their
place of equality in the greater community. Is
this really any different than what we, as the
gay, lesbian, bi and trans community, ask for?
When we appear on their doorstep, ask
ing - no doubt, demanding - their help with
marriage equality, shouldn’t we be able to
say, with Pride, “We were there for you”?
»Feature
14-17
SIGNS OF COMMUNITY
Josh Gross explores the efforts to
rename 39th Avenue in honor of
human rights activist Cesar Chavez,
and the intersection of Portland’s
Latino and gay, lesbian, bi and trans
communities
»News
5-11
NORTHWEST
• BRIEFS
Lincoln City names Couple of the
Year // Wrap-up of the 16th Annual
Oregonians Against Discrimination
Business Leaders Luncheon // Launch
of new gay, lesbian, bi and trans monthly,
id Magazine // HRC looks to the next
100 days in gay // Pride NW announces
2009 honorees // Cascade AIDS
Project s 20th Annual Art Evening 8c
Auction recap // PABA’s May luncheon
to feature Travel Portlands new gay,
lesbian, bi and trans visitors guide //
STRUT your stuff for BRO
12
LOCAL GROUPS TEAM UP
FOR GAY 6 GREY SENIOR
RESOURCE FAIR
13
HIV-POSITIVE VOLUNTEERS
PRESENT PROJECT 150:
SCREW STIGMAI
SUBMITTED
n April 28, Latino activists
met at Portland City Hall to pres
ent - again - their case for nam
ing a Portland street in honor of their hero,
Cesar Chavez. At this meeting there was no
organized showing of support or coalition
building for their effort by any local human
rights, civil rights or gay rights advocacy
organizations. Opposition to their cause,
however, was strongly represented.
One day later, on April 29, the U.S.
House of Representatives passed the Local
Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention
Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard
Act. The vote was 249-175. Now the mea
sure goes to the Senate, where passage is
considered likely.
Passage came on the heels of a White
House statement from President Obama,
urging the House of Representatives to vote
in favor of the legislation.
Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy, issued
a heartfelt response following passage: “No
one should face violence simply because of
who they are. This bill is a critical step to
erasing the hate that has devastated far too
many families.”
Passage of the Matthew Shepard Act
was immediately celebrated by gay and les
bian rights groups across the nation. Press
releases and announcements of a jubilant
nature were distributed, heralding the vote
as a move forward for gay and lesbian civil
rights. The Human Rights Campaign quick
ly issued a supportive statement, as did other
activist organizations.
The following day, yet another email of
encouragement and optimism was received.
The tone of the message was similar to
earlier releases, yet this one came not from
HRC, or any other gay rights group - but
rather as noted below.
“Today, the Mexican American Legal
Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF),
the nation’s leading legal civil rights organi
MAY I. 2009
A
couple of closing reminders: Com
plete details for the Just Out Amateur
Photo Contest can be found on pg. 6.
*Share your work, share your artistry with us.
Please note that Just Out does have college/
education scholarship funds available, with
the 2009 application deadline approaching
in June. Visit equityfoundation.org for more
information, vlft
» Arts 8 Culture
19-22
OUT 6 ABOUT
What to do, where to go, who to see.
27
BOOKS
Sarah Waters leaves the lesbian out
of her latest.
28
It’s a beautiful thing.
NIGHTLIFE
Where to be seen on the scene
30
THEATER
Vicente Guzman-Orozco stars in
I he Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa
39
i
» Columnists
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25
:
29
j
31
wwvv .SiMi’i y G rand A ntiques . com
OUT GOING
Floyd Sklaver finds the rhythm
Corner of SE (¡rand @ Main
ROSE CITY VETERINARY HOSPITAL / 809 SE POWELL / 503.232.3 105
SASSY GARDENER
LeAnn Locher gets royally floral
M Sat 116* Sun 12 5
(1 block north of 1 lawthorne Bridge}
LIVING OUT LOUD
Kathryn Martini uncovers resources
for latebians
:
503-234-0003
BACKPAGE
Softball heats up
i
37
MS. BEHAVIOR