WWW JUSTOUT COM
J * L i Q _ SEPTEMBER <1 2009
C
o m p l im e n t a r y
T eeth W
h it e n in g w ith
D
ental
E xam & C
l e a n in g
N O RTH W EST NEWS
Holding Ground.
Pushing Forward
Kate Kendcll's w eekend in Portland kicks
o ff o co lla b o ra tio n with Basic Rights O regon
C om e Experience
Dr. R aym ond’s Smile
M akeover Package,
and same-sex couples is historic and could
be a real game changer,” Kendell said, add­
ing that she has spoken multiple times with
A September 12-13 fundraiser for Basic
Olson regarding his case. -
Rights Oregon, billed as a combination lec­
ture and cocktail affair, is bringing a heavy
Kendell’s path to becoming a nationally
hitter of the national gay and lesbian rights
recognized figure in the gay rights movement
scene to Portland in the hopes o f fostering was as unlikely as Olson’s support for gay
partnership between the two organizations.
marriage.
Kate Kendell, the executive director of
Born in Portland, Kendell grew up M or­
the National Center for Lesbian Rights
mon in Utah. Becoming aware o f her sexual
orientation as a teenager, Kendell began to
(NCLR), a San Francisco-based organiza­
tion advocating for the legal and civil rights
realize the incompatibilities of that and her
o f gay people, will be speaking in Portland
religion. An attraction toward feminist ideals
on the challenges currently .confronting the
during her college years didn’t help, either.
gay community. Her Saturday afternoon talk
H er religious upbringing, she admits,
will also assess the progress
gives her a unique perspective
0
t
the movement toward mar­
on arguments opposing mar­
1
D riage equality that are rooted
riage equality and other rights
for gay people has made, both
in religion. Many o f her family
nationally and in Oregon.
members continue to be de­
“We have so many oppor­
vout in their faith, yet accept
tunities and challenges right
her and her family.
now,” Kendell told Just Out in
“I realize that I don’t want
a phone interview.
to make the same mistakes of
generalization that our oppo­
No longer on the defensive
by being entirely spurred to
nents do when they demonize
action by detractors, Kendell
gay people,” Kendell said.
thinks the campaign for gay
W hile working as the first
rights is at an interesting cross­
staff attorney for Utah’s ACLU
roads: holding ground.
chapter, Kendell was encour­
O u r c h a lle n g e rig h t
“O ur challenge right now is
aged to apply for a similar po­
n ow is to h o ld g ro u n d
a
n
d
b
e
a
t
b
a
c
k
o
u
r
to hold ground and beat back
sition at N CLR, which she got
o p p o n e n ts , th o s e w h o
our opponents, those who re­
in 1994. In 1996, she became
re a lly a re re le n tless in
ally are relentless in denying
its executive director.
d e n y in g us e ve ry sin g le
g a in said K ate K e n d e ll
us every single gain,” Kendell
The extent of the collabora­
o f th e N a tio n a l C e n te r
said.
tion between N C LR and Basic
for L e s b ia n Rights
Kendell views the current
Rights Oregon is not yet clear.
movement for gay rights as a succeeding one. For her part, Kendell was vague.
Pointing to the number o f states that have
“O ur commitment is to work with BRO
legalized same-sex marriage— Vermont, the
and take BRO’s lead and provide whatever
most recent, when it legislatively passed the
assistance BRO wants us to provide,” Kend­
measure, effective September 1— she predicts
ell explained, whether that assistance is legal,
it will not be long until marriage equality is a financial or strategic.
nationally recognized right.
Speaking about BRO’s recently launched
“As every other civil rights issue decided
Marriage Matters campaign, Kendell said
by the Supreme Court or Congress has dem­
Oregon is one state among few that could
onstrated, we are all one country,” Kendell repeal its ban on same-sex marriage. She
said. “We cannot sustain a patchwork o f pro­ believes that Measure 36’s passage in 2004
tections where, depending on an accident of doesn’t mean that Oregon is a homophhbic
geography, you’re protected.”
state, citing the fact that Oregon rejected
Kendell also puts her hopes on an un­
many anti-gay ballot initiatives in the 1990s.
likely ally: Theodore Olson. A conservative
“It means that we have not spoken to
California lawyer who argued in front of [Oregonians] in a way that moves them on
the Supreme Court in the Bush v. Gore case
marriage in the same way that they were
(2000) and defended the interrogation and
moved to reject these other anti-gay [mea­
torture policies o f the Bush administration, sures],” Kendell said. J K
Olson has filed a federal lawsuit challenging
California’s infamous Proposition 8, telling
Kendell speaks on “ The State o f Our Unions:
the New York Times that gay marriage is about LGBTLegal and Policy Briefing”3-5 p. m. Sept.
“rights and happiness and equal treatment.”
12 at Flying Cat Coffee Co., 3041 SE Division,
“I think having someone o f the stature free, no RSVP necessary. A benefit party is 3-5
and conservative credentials o f Ted Olson p.m. Sept. 13 at Nostrana Restaurant, 1401 SE
supporting marriage rights for gay people
Morrison. A S25 donation is suggested.
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