Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2011)
+ OREGON’S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE 4 “Not About Rights Or Responsibilities, But Recognition” letters A Longtime Volunteer and Ally Responds To T he E ditor : As [a] longtime volunteer and ally o f Basic Jeana [Frazzini]’s comments about the Rights Oregon who remembers the work, pas work [Basic Rights Oregon] is undertaking sion, and the emotional aftermath o f the “No highlights the fact that this is not about rights O n 36” campaign, I was very hopeful that or responsibilities, but recognition [Vol. 29, BRO would go back to the ballot in 2012 and No. 1, Nov. 11, Page 3, “Toward Justice”]. The pursue marriage equality. Though after reading social recognition o f marriages isn’t some o f the decision to postpone a ballot challenge thing a ballot measure is going to give us. If I find myself very much supporting the orga 51 percent of the people agreed with this nization’s courageous pragmatism as they measure, we’d still have a broad swath o f O r dedicate themselves to continuing to work on egonians who are opposed to same-sex mar voter outreach and education. Success at the riage. The work is not to win rights but to ballot and for the more general cause o f equal help people understand what love and mar ity requires education and understanding, and riage mean to us. G oing canvassing last year as a community and a broader electorate we outside of a ballot measure campaign was clearly still need time to pursue endeavors to strange for me, but having real conversations wards those ends. seemed worse than it turned out to be. As ef fective as these conversations are, they are in Sincerely, credibly rare, and nearly impossible on a bal Aaron J. Green-Mitchell lot measure campaign. W hile a ballot measure Portland may not happen next year, day by day, thanks to the great work the BRO community is do All Fired Up ing, more Oregonians are understanding why the recognition marriage provides matters. To T he E ditor : Ultimately, that is how we better our state. Greetings to all Portlanders from the Fire of the Rose! Clinton Downs We are so excited to serve as your Rose Em Portland peror and Rose Empress for the upcoming year! To T he E ditor : We are the 38th and 53rd (respectfully) elected monarchs to serve as these titles for the Impe rial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon. O ur his tory is rich with tradition and we are thrilled to be able to continue the legacy. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization that raises money for charities such as O ur House of Portland, Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund and Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund, along with numerous others. Along with our esteemed ti- deholders and members o f the Court, we will represent Portland throughout the Interna tional Court System in other courts such as Las Vegas, New York, Boston and many others. This year our focus is “Keeping it Fresh” to emphasize having fun and supporting our com munity. As part o f our reign we have elected to have an Angels table, honoring those who are no longer with us in the physical form but still stay in our hearts. We have several upcoming events through out the coming months starting with travel ing to the City That Never Sleeps to attend their coronation o f their new monarchs. The following weekend (December 10) we will say goodbye to our current Prince and Princess, Stefan H art and The Sassy Cassie Nova, at our Prince and Princess Ball, welcome our new Prince and Princess (you’ll have to join us to see who they will be!) as well as invest our new court. That begins at 5 p.m. at the Melody Ballroom, with the ball at 6 p.m.! The DECEMBER 9. 2011 5 following day Rose Emperor XXXVIII A th ens Scities has planned the traditional Em peror’s Tree Hunt, starting with an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast at The Roxy (1121 SW Stark St. in Downtown Portland), then off to the tree farm to cut your own Christmas tree, then join your friends for a cup o f hot choco late and tree decorating at the Q_ Center (4115 N. Mississippi Ave.). If you’re interested in seeing what the Im perial Sovereign Rose C ourt is all about, feel free to join us the first Monday o f every month at Darcelle XV at 7 p.m. for our board meeting, and our court meetings are the sec ond Monday o f every month at 7 p.m. at the Embers Ave., which focus on the community involvement and reaching out to new mem bers and the City o f Portland at large. Once again, we are grateful to be elected your Rose Emperor and Rose Empress and look for ward to serving the City o f Roses! Follow us on Facebook,“Keep It Fresh PDX,” to see our upcoming events! Warmest regards, The Fire o f the Rose: His Most Imperial Majesty Rose Emperor XXXVIII Athens Scities Foxx and Her Most Imperial Majesty Rose Empress LJII The Legendary Monica Boulevard ► 4 after you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease is cut in half SMOKEFREE CALL Oregon 3qon.com