Continues from Pg. 54
to. So, this cause really hit home because of that
huge financial issue for us back then.
AJ: What is it that people don’t understand
about basic rights?
GB: They just don’t have any sense about what
our relationship is. It’s total ignorance, but
they’re slowly coming around.
AJ: What will it take to give it (freedom to mar-
ry) the extra push?
GB: That final little couple of percentage points?
I think it’s a relentless thing; I’m not sure it’s go-
ing to be a big push. I think it’s just a percentage
point at a time. As soon as the old people die
off … even some 60 percent of Republican 18 to
49-year-olds think that gay marriage should be
legal, so the issue is just going to go away with
time.
AJ: At the Basic Rights’ Garden Parties … aren’t
you preaching within the tent?
GB: yes, for sure. But you know, we’ve held a lot
of events. Many times, people who had old fash-
ioned ideas about gay relationships come to an
event and they may not “know” us, but I’ve seen
that having the event is enough to maybe push
a few people. And all we need is a few people, to
get us over that 50 percent. g
BasicRights.org
PHOTOS
Previous Page:
The “barn cottage” garden tended by tenants, lawson
Smith and dax Schlabs.
RIGHT:
Top left: Geof’s favorite spot for a sunset glass of wine,
with vista of willamette valley. bottom left: Newest water
feature, built by lawson Smith. Top middle: Ruby’s Garden.
Resting spot for the ashes of Geof’s Great aunt Ruby.
Top Right: Chairs on Terrazo di martini Pinc (Pink martini
terrace) overlooking the banquet lawn. (Tall trees on left
are buxus ‘Graham blandy.’) bottom middle:The barn,
flanked by Itea illicifolia. This evergreen shrub commonly
called Hollyleaf Sweetspire (doesn’t that sound like a
stripper name?) with profuse blooms of honey scented
greenish white catkins. bottom Right: Geof beasley in
rare repose thinking “No tarrying...I’ve got to get to work.
maybe one more cup?”
anne Jaeger, writes The Garden Gal for Just Out.
anne was a hard news reporter and anchor at KGw
and KOIN before turning to gardening full time. af-
ter that her award-winning garden shows appeared
on both stations. you can now look for anne's gar-
den videos on the Oregonian newspaper web site:
oregonlive.com/hg , catch her on Twitter @Gar-
denGalTv, send her a suggestion via her web site:
GardenGal.Tv, or write anne@JustOut.com.
56
JustOut.com
October 2012