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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
JSSJ2. AUGUST 7 2009 W W W JUSTO UT.CO M NORTHW EST NEWS Hendrix < Taking Names. McGuire Opt »?®1 Storting Conversations, and Changing Minds ,vs/ned and o , . thousands t hour service . on-site lab * - Street 925 SW Taylor ph 503 228 2154 Centrally located tn downtown Ask Patty & d T scount The fight for marriage equality in Oregon kicks off have knocked on 4,400 doors in and around Portland, with aims to knock on a total o f 15,600 by summer’s end. The canvassers aren’t out to convince. They simply hope to provoke a dialog. “It’s important to know how large our base B y AMANDA WALDROUPE o f support is, and where it is,” Lindsay says. To anyone listening in the Bus Project’s Thomas Wheatley, B R O ’s organizing di office on Sunday, August 2, a PolitiCorps rector, says the campaign is focusing on the Fellow says, “We need to get the cars out “moveable middle”— young-to-middle-aged right now.” people, mainly in suburbs, politically identi W ith clipboards packed full o f cut turf fying as Democrats and Independents. “We want to start talking to people on and lit in hand, Gwende Silver, Mariana Lindsay, Adam Greenberg and Kylie C an the fence,” Silver says. non— all in their 20s— head down the Tazo The first door Silver knocks on Sweet Cinnamon Spice-scented staircase answered by a man who quickly tells her o f the Bus Project’s office. In an air-con he supports gay marriage. He also signs a ditioned Volvo, they discuss the merits o f pledge Silver carries. Silver is met by sup Google Maps versus MapQuest, trying to porters and pledge signers at the second and figure out whether they are canvassing for third doors she approaches. marriage equality in Hillsboro or Hillsdale. “Usually, it’s not home, not home, not home,” Silver says, surprised. “You know for sure we’re going to H ills boro,” Lindsay says, simultaneously steering Specializing in natural fiber and earth-friendly designer men’s underwear. ’ * GO GREEN And when no one is home, she leaves an informational flyer produced by B R O , at and looking at a Google Map printout. Get brands like: Baskit, C-IN2, Cocksox, DT, Elite, Gia, Gigo, JM, Go Softwear, UHwlifa((w itdiauw ? Joe Synder, N2N, Otter, Rufskin, WildmanT, Danial Webster, + more. Get Briefed! , _ „ „ 7 1 1 ’ * Grown »n Bend, Oregon STAY GREEN For all of your Party and Business transportation needs. Winery and Portland Tours Available Reservations or on-call Toll Free 1.877.853.3577 Taxi 503.234.1414 Shuttle 503.252.4422 Online Reservations: www.greentrans.com ___ Special Group/Corporate Rates BO is “I’m not familiar with the area, I ’m sorry,” one point carefully navigating around a wild turkey beginning to puff out its feathers. Silver admits. “How do you pronounce that?” Lindsay “W e’re not trying to sell anything,” Silver asks, looking at the directions. “O -les-son? says for the umpteenth time, speaking to a O -less-en? W hy not just ole’?!” middle-aged woman. “W e’re just out talking G etting on the right road— toward H ill to people about an issue that’s been in the sdale— and to where they will canvass that news a lot lately, asking if you think com afternoon, the car is parked and the four mitted gay and lesbian couples should have split up to their respective turfs. the right to marry.” The woman tells Silver that she is in favor Silver and her fellow Bus Project Politi Corps Fellows’ efforts mark the beginning o f domestic partnerships, but not marriage. o f Basic Rights Oregon’s Marriage Matters campaign. Launched on July 14, it is the first “W hy is that?” Silver asks. “Is it just be cause o f the word?” stage in B R O ’s efforts to overturn, through a “Yeah, I guess,” the woman replies. ballot campaign, Measure 36, the law passed Silver explains that domestic partners in 2004 by 57 percent o f Oregonians defin have difficulty visiting their partners in the ing marriage as between one man and one hospital and doing other things wedded woman. couples do, simply because they cannot de Describing the canvassing as educational scribe themselves as “married.” outreach, volunteers from the Bus Project “Is there something we can change about lliil H f c r a single source ■ • digital excellence • delivery included solutions printing tel 5 0 3 . 2 8 1 . 8 6 6 6 B ria n Ramsay> w w w . i m p r e s s »-usa.com P r i n c ip a l B r o k e r R e a lty T r u s t G ro u p , In c C o n d o s , L o fts , T o w n h o m e s, C o m m e r c ia l & F o r e c lo s u r e s P e a rl D istrict, D ow n tow n , S ou th W a te rfro n t 5 0 3 .4 1 6 .3 3 8 0 R e a lE s ta te in th e P e a r l.c o m R ea lty T ru st group
