OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
4
nw news (in brief)
Marriage Equality Legislation
Introduced in Washington
State House and Senate
Valentine’s Day proved to be a fitting back-
drop for the introduction of State Bill 5793 to
Washington state’s legislature, as Democratic
Senator Ed Murray (43rd District) introduced a
new marriage equality bill in the Senate. Demo
cratic State Representative Jim Moeller (49th
District) introduced a companion bill on Tues
day, February 15. As of press time, 15 senators
had backed the measure in the Senate, while 43
representatives had sponsored the House
version.
Both Moeller and Murray—who make up
one-third of openly gay members of the state
legislature—expressed their confidence in the
bill being passed, stemming from the progress
made in Washington over the past decade to
ward gay equality.
“We’ve made tremendous progress since
1998,” Murray said in a statement. “Gay and
lesbian families in Washington now enjoy the
same state spousal rights that their married
straight friends enjoy—except for the name
‘marriage.’ The recognition that their loving,
lifelong commitment is no different from the
loving, lifelong commitment of straight couples
is the final step to achieving full equality. I be
lieve the legislature and the public are both ready
to take that final step.”
Ty Stober, vice chair of Equal Rights Washing
ton, said, cautiously, that because members of the
FEBRUARY 18. 20)1
JLJK
Pride NW Expands 2011
Festival Offerings
LGBTQcaucus are now in significant leadership
roles in the legislature, “we think they’re in a posi
tion to potentially move [SB 5793] forward.”
The legislation protects religious freedom and
the rights of clergy and religious institutions to
determine for whom to perform marriage cere
monies and which marriages to recognize for
their religious purposes. The option for a couple
to seek a domestic partnership is maintained.
W hether the legislation will be signed into
law should it reach the desk of Governor Chris
Gregoire remains unclear; she has stated her
support of civil unions that grant the same rights
as a marriage, but believes that “marriage” is
church domain.
“It has not gotten that far where it had to be
an open discussion,” explained Stober. “There’s
definitely a question for us about 2012 and the
next governor’s race. That’s really when this will
become a key issue. If we can’t move forward on
marriage equality by 2012, that 2012 governor’s
race is going to become very important for us."
J u st O
ut
willfollow this story as it develops.
—Ryan J. Prado
tire week of events across [the] city that engages
a variety of cultural institutions” to celebrate
Summer may still feel far away, but Pride LGBTQculture, Santillo said.
Northwest is already busy planning a Portland
While many of these collaborations are still
Pride celebration that is bigger and better than in the works, Santillo confirmed that Pride NW
ever, inspired by the theme for Pride 2011: will co-sponsor Triangle Productions’queer mu
“Make It Happen.”
sical Zanna Don't.
“As part of our continuing goal of expanding
In other Pride NW news, the board has ap
the meaning and value of Pride, we’re adding proved a budget to provide financial and other
some additional features this year,” said Mark support to community projects that uphold the
Santillo, secretary and outreach
Pride NW aims of arts, voice,
“W h a t w e ’re trying to visibility, empowerment and
coordinator for Pride NW.
This year, Pride-sponsored do is exp an d Pride ...
celebration. Santillo said a list
events will span the entire week
of this year’s recipients would
to
an
entire
w
e
e
k
of
preceding the waterfront festi
be announced soon.
val, which will kick off Friday e v e n ts .”
Although the board lost
night with a dance party. The
two members since last year—
— MARK SANTILLO, PRIDE NW
party will take place early in
Vice President Hank Ren-
the evening so as not to conflict with the plethora frow and Entertainment Coordinator Ejiria
of late-night events and will include a roster of Walker— Santillo said the remaining members
prominent local DJs, as well as food and alcohol. are focused on organizing the upcoming festival
The community stage will be reworked to cre and will tend to board development after the
ate a pavilion with a covered stage and rows of June 17-19 events.
seating for people to enjoy acoustic music, spo
Still, Santillo said the board welcomes com
ken word and community programming. The munity members to get involved by volunteering
festival will also include a college fair featuring to help with committees or simply showing up
LGBTQTriendly colleges and universities and to share their perspectives at the monthly open
an expanded travel expo with more providers.
meetings, held every first Monday at Q_Center.
In addition to the weekend’s festivities, Port
land Pride will feature a week’s worth of events For more on Pride 2011: Make It Happen, visit
leading up to the festival and parade.
pridenw.org.
“W hat we’re trying to do is expand Pride
from just being Saturday and Sunday to an en
—Erin Rook
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( l ic e n s e d
w w w .b e th a lle n la w .c o m
Bt-lh Allen l aw
Beth A. Allen, founding partner: winner of the Oregon
Gay & Lesbian Law Association (0GALLA) Silver
Jubilee Award; 0GALLA Award of Merit; and the Basic
Rights Oregon Superhero Award. Selected as a 2010
Oregon Super Lawyer. Founding member of the
BR0 Legal Group; author of Same-Sex Marriage, a
Conflicts of Law Analysis for Oregon, frequent local,
state and national speaker on marriage equality.