THE YEAR IN politics OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE A proposal by Mayor Sam Adams was unanimously approved in June, when the City Council passed a trans-inclusive health care bill for City of Portland employees. Seattle followed suit in October, joining Portland, Multnomah County and the City of San Francisco as the only four municipalities in the country to offer the plan. The theme of transition for Portland poli­ tics received a somewhat surprising develop­ ment in late July when Adams announced that he would not be running for reelection in 2012. After months of speculation, Adams at­ tributed the decision to a variety of reasons. “It really boiled down to the work com­ pleted, the reforms underway, the state of the city and then what would be the require­ ments of a successful campaign,” he told Just Out in August. Following the announcement, Portlands mayoral campaign began to intensify in the fall, with three main candidates emerging in New Seasons president Eileen Brady, State Representative Jefferson Smith and former City Commissioner Charlie Hales. Portland Police Chief Mike Reese was rumored to have been exploring a mayoral run, but announced in mid-November he would be retaining his position with the police bureau. On the national level, few moments shone as brightly as the official implementation of DECEMBER 9. 2011 1 19 fig tencies in our humankind.” “The more we stand there and don’t stand down, that’s the important part about what we’re doing,” she told Just Out in September. “We’ve been [in the military] all along. Now we can just be real. It’s a win-win for everyone.” Victories for gay marriage in New York state, as well as approval for civil unions in the state of Hawaii, also highlighted the progress of equality in the United States. The media attention alone given to the hard- fought victory in New York sparked renewed hope for the rest of the country to follow in those footsteps. Gay marriage is, without a doubt, the most highly debated political maelstrom facing LGBTQ_advocates in the country. And with the Obama administra­ tion and the Department of Justice announc­ the repeal of the military’s ban on gays and ing they would no longer defend the De­ The repeal of Don't ask, don't tell" sent a wave of emotion and celebration lesbians serving openly. After receiving the fense of Marriage Act in the courts earlier throughout the community. go-ahead in late 2010, the law known as this year, activists remain hopeful that sig­ "Don’t ask, don’t tell" was finally repealed nificant advances can be made on the federal after 17 years and tens of thousands of mili­ ter in American history. Local activists like level sometime in the next decade. tary discharges as a result of the policy. Dr. Mary-Ann Humphrey-Keever—co­ Despite Senate Democrats’ best efforts so Repeal created ripples of reaction from founder of VfHR and author of the influen­ far—an early November bill to repeal across the country, and here in the Portland tial tome My Country, My Right to Serve, DOMA will almost certainly fail in the Re- metro area, organizations like Veterans for which documented interviews with gay and publican-controlled Congress—the state- Human Rights marked the occasion with lesbian soldiers discharged under DADT— by-state fight will likely be the focus heading regional celebrations, as well as ample reflec­ explained that this crucial step forward into a new year. tion on the demise of a discriminatory chap- amounted to “chipping away at the inconsis­ Until then... JM IT y\ ► * iviomui onooivnivt; • “I’m really happy with the response that my ad has | generated. Just Out has really helped get my name out there.” for dogs and cats — Don Valerio, MD A fully equipped •* 10 1 ( mobile pet spa offering convenient, professional grooming services at your doorstep Serving the greater Portland Vane ouver area c . k o o m ix y ; s e r v ic e s www.ottosmobilegrooming.com 140 NE Broadway . 5 0 3 . 2 5 7 . 0 4 8 8 . www.m obilewestpdx.com Find your audience. Advertise in Just Out. 503 236-1252 advertising@justout.com X C<{// Mobile West takes 7 H ,n w n tJ% . Av f /u r r Cv///yW//