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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2011)
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE MARCH 18.2011 Wed a Minute Remembering seven weeks of same-sex marriage BY MARTY DAVIS here were you seven years ago, in early March 2004? I, along with many other sodden persons, spent many consecutive days hanging out at the Multnomah County Building on SE Hawthorne. Why? Because late in the evening of March 2 it was announced that, starting the next day, Multnomah County would accept, and process, applications for same-sex marriages. If you were there you remember the ripple effect o f the shock as news spread across Portland. You see, this was completely out o f the blue. No one had a clue. Well, a handful o f people knew, but the greater community was caught totally off guard. That would be the greater community right on up to the governor’s office, by the way. Word spread quickly— very quickly, given it was a time before Facebook. Before, I even think, most o f the local media had websites with blogs and daily, hourly updates. Can you imagine? People had to use phones and emails to spread the word. Funny thing, though, it worked and word spread rapidly. The story immediately became easy to fol low, what with all hell breaking loose like it did. All this is coming to mind now, not on the fifth anniversary, now quietly past, nor on the 10th, as would seem logical, but now mark ing the seventh anniversary— thanks to the First Unitarian Church o f Portland setting the celebratory stage with its Politics o f Love event. There are enough stories, memories, pain, turmoil about those seven weeks in M ult nomah County to fill several books. What was at best well-intended, at worst foolishly thought out impacted lives in a way no one W ever could have predicted. Political careers were destroyed and friendships were cast aside. The “Mean G irls” were bred, creat ing the lowest point o f what was by then a total debacle. An unknown Ted Wheeler, now Oregon state treasurer, was cast into a role that could eventually lead him to the governor’s seat, as then County Chair Diane Linn was sent into political and personal exile. Wheeler would not be where he is today if Basic Rights Oregon had not sat down for tea and talk about same-sex mar riage with the Multnomah County Board o f Commissioners. My memories start with the first night. As word spread that the county would accept marriage license applications the next day, eager couples lined up to be the first, with many staying in line overnight. My memory, now seven years older, recalls Christine Tanner and her spouse-to-be camping out to be the first in line. Tanner is known for Tanner v. Oregon Health Science University, a landmark lawsuit that won the right for O H S U same-sex couples to receive health and life insurance benefits for their partners. It seemed more than fitting that she would be among the first o f many same-sex couples to be wed in Oregon. Basic Rights Oregon selected Mary Li and Rebecca Kennedy to carry the honor as first to be married but that was a staged media opportunity— as were many o f the events surrounding this very interesting moment in Oregon history. The lines grew longer and longer and stayed wrapped around the Hawthorne building for several days. I recall it raining pretty much the whole darned time. It was cold and wet; it was festive and happy. People came by and handed out flowers, cookies, hot beverages The Ladies Professional G o lf Associa tion has its first out lesbian player. Muffin Spencer-Devlin, 42, told Sports Illustrated that she plans to marry her lover, musi- cian/composer Lynda Roth, in May. Keith Meinhold, the only person to suc cessfully challenge in court the old ban on gay men and lesbians in the military and remain on active duty, retired from the military on March 27. He ended his 16- year military career by deciding to take a package o f early retirement benefits. REFLECTION 15 Years Ago in Just Out • San Francisco’s new Main Library opened April 18 with a unique and historic archive. The library contains the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center, named for the gay philanthropist who is its biggest bene factor. The center is the first specifically devoted to documenting gay and lesbian history in a public library. The Metropolitan Human Rights Com mission approved on March 12 two resolutions expressing its opposition to a series o f proposed ballot measures that it contends would negatively impact upon the civil and human rights o f the people o f Portland and Multnomah County. Barry Burns seized the title of Mr. Portland Leather 1996 during the Contest Weekend held Feb. 23-25. Burns will represent Port land in the International Mr. leather compe tition in Chicago from May 23 to 27. With a pending court decision in Hawaii and snacks. Cars honked, people waved. One lane o f traffic in front o f the building was blocked off tor protestors. And protestors came and took their place. It was in front o f this building that I first met Nelson Jones, holding his sign o f support for people who were about to obtain a right for which he’d waited a lifetime. In another eyebrow-raising move, the Board o f Commissioners waived the stan dard three-day waiting requirement and allowed marriages to be performed immedi ately upon receiving the application. Couples were literally coming out o f the doorway and being hustled off to a corner to be married by waiting clergy. Basic Rights Oregon set up camp in the upper balcony o f the Keller Auditorium, where hundreds o f wedding ceremonies were performed. It was surreal, at best. Ceremonies were also held at H olo cene, where I encountered a lesbian couple who had flown out from a southern state to take this opportunity to be wed. They were so fearful someone at home would find out that they would not allow their picture to be taken or share their full names. They lived completely closeted lives in their home state, but they felt compelled to fly to Oregon and have this memory, this moment for them selves. Some months later they would, along with all the others, receive a refund for their license fee and a notice that their marriage was voided. I hurriedly went from location to location, taking hundreds o f pictures, all o f which I now cannot find. I know they are here some where, in a yct-unopened box from our move o f nearly fours years ago— and I will find them. Seven years ago I was still using film, so there are no digital copies o f these archives. I will find these photos— a 10th anniversary is coming up, photos will be needed. Memories are one part o f this story, questions are another. Did the Multnomah County Commissioners make the right deci sion? Would Ballot Measure 36 have been passed had this not happened? Was it the right thing to do? I don’t know, what do you think? that could pave the way for legal marriage between same-gender couples, the culture finally appears to be catching up— and, not surprisingly, many people as well as panicky lawmakers nationwide appear alarmed by the concept o f equal marriage rights for same-gender couples. iÄ ’ just out VOL. 28, NO. 8 MARCH 18. 2011 INSIDE » FEATURE 16 SPRUNG! Just Out springs about home, garden, town and more 16 GET OUT, STAY PUT Three cool vacations, all within PDX city limits 17 GREEN THUMBS, START YOUR ENGINES... Kick off the season with the Sassy Gardener 19 SPRINGING OUT OF THE CLOSET Spring cleaning with Sir Lennox 20 COLORING THE SEASON The M ARS Factor » NEWS / EVENTS 5 NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF 10 BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST Couples to celebrate same-sex marriage licenses given but taken away » COMMUNITY 14 TRANSFORMING SUPPORT Resources connect the trans and genderqueer population 15 ONE TO KNOW Power o f One Conference comes to Reed College 30 FAMILY MATTERS I To put it simply, most o f us would not want to be in Chuck Carpenter’s shoes. During the past year, the 34-year-old Republican legislator lost his job with Nike and gener ated a torrent o f bad feelings among many within the gay and lesbian community due to his public campaigning on behalf o f Gordon Smith, a failed (now resurrected) U.S. senatorial candidate who believes that it is a “special right” for people to receive legal protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Oregon’s first and only lesbian and gay softball association is starting its second season on April 21. Rose City Softball Association will pitch off as Margie Boulé, Oregonian columnist and jazz vocalist, sings the national anthem, accompanied by the Rose City Gay Freedom Band. 3 YWCA’s C am pO U T enters 35th year of LGBTQ_family camping on the coast » ARTS 6 CULTURE 21 OUT & ABOUT 25 ON STAGE 28 A BIG BANG Milagro Theatre explores hope through transformation with ROOM CRACKLEFLY 32 SISTERS, MISTERS AND TALE SPINSTERS Sister Spit launches diverse Next Generation tour | 34 JOB WELL DONE Poison Waters to absorb love and low blows in Royal Roast » COLUMNISTS 26 PETLANDIA 27 LADY ABOUT TOWN 36 ASK A GAY 37 REMEMBER TO BREATHE I » PHOTOS 42 LATINO STARS & FRIENDS OF ATHENS 43 BEEF CAKE WALK
