LET TERS
WE NEED REAL COOLING
CENTERS
UNHOUSED TOWN HALL
WITH MAYOR VINIS
The recent spate of hot weather is more
than something to complain about. For the
very young, the very old, the medically frag-
ile, and the poor and unhoused, heat in the
90s and 100s can cause a medical emergency.
The radio stations and the local daily
have put out lists of “cooling centers,” but
as a friend points out, a serious cooling
center must stay open later than 4 or 6 pm,
the hottest part of the day. Some churches
are open to 8 pm, as are some libraries on
certain days, but these are exceptions.
We need a summer plan to keep people
cool the way the Egan Warming Centers
keep people warm in winter. Let’s encour-
age our city and county leaders to work
together and create a plan to identify build-
ings that could be open at least to 9 pm un-
til this hot spell breaks.
We could use the old Lane Community
College center, the Atrium or a large build-
ing on the Lane County Fairgrounds —
maybe the ice rink, which would be cool in
a couple of ways.
Let’s keep people alive and out of the
hospitals.
Vickie Nelson
Eugene
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 am at the
Alton Baker Park pavilions, Eugene Mayor
Lucy Vinis met with a group of unhoused
people.
A fair number of housed and unhoused
people arrived and exchanged ideas and
shared stories of their situations. Some of
the unhoused people offered ideas about
efforts they would like to see made. Sadly,
historically, all too much talk and few hon-
est efforts have been forwarded by the city
of Eugene.
Tangible solutions brought about by the
efforts of the broader community and aid-
ed by the city will be needed to address the
many issues of the unhoused people living
in this city.
City government has not made enough
effort in reaching out to the broader com-
munity with creative answers that work to-
ward developing low-cost, permanent and
effective transitional housing. Incentives
and city code changes could open wide
doors to placing Conestoga huts and tiny
houses throughout the broader community
and also aid in the development of small
converted living spaces within homes,
churches and local businesses.
VIEWPOINT
Finding and utilizing spaces, including
yards of private homes, business lots and
unused city lots, not only offers a wider
selection of potential living spaces for
the unhoused but it also works to include
many people who can work to find answers
for alleged problems associated with the
local unhoused.
Opening land space, working to devel-
op micro-housing communities like Square
One and utilizing groups like Community
Supported Shelters — combined with tax
wavers and other incentives for the broader
community — are good workable options.
The art and business community could
be brought in to aid in creating aesthetic
features, hosting fundraisers and for devel-
oping programs that help local for-profit
and nonprofit businesses.
Many creative ideas can be developed
that keep costs down and still have the ca-
pacity to grow in effective ways. Please
keep in mind that we can talk about all
the good things hammers can do, but un-
til those hammers are picked up and put
to task, they are just tools with unrealized
potential.
Hedin Manus Brugh
Unhoused in Eugene
WRONG MESSAGE
I appreciate so much about your Pets
issue. Your articles and promotions about
rescue organizations and animal issues help
create much needed awareness and hopeful-
ly can convert into some financial support
for the non-profits doing rescue, rehabilita-
tion and responsible adoption work.
I do have to speak out, however, about
the sinking feeling that came over me
when I saw your cover of a beautifully shot
portrait of a chimpanzee from Chimps Inc.
sanctuary with giant word “PETS” across
his face.
As someone who makes a living as
a photographer and videographer, I am
keenly aware of the impact of images, and
I think that juxtaposing a word with a pow-
erful image creates a powerful connection
in the brain.
And as someone who spent seven
months in Cameroon working with chim-
panzees orphaned by the illegal bushmeat
trade, I now have a heightened sensitivity
to issues surrounding great apes.
I try to use my photography and video
work to send a clear message about how
absolutely wrong it is to keep all primates
as pets, and especially highly intelligent
great apes like chimpanzees.
BY OBLIO STROYMAN
Trans* Locally and Across the U.S.
TRANS*PONDER IN TODAY’S POLITICAL CLIMATE
O
regonians are fond of saying, “If you don’t like the Oregon weather,
wait five minutes,” describing the inconsistencies of the climate in the
Pacific Northwest. This mirrors the political climate for trans/gender
diverse people in 2017.
It is hard to know whether to feel optimistic or sob, to run at the
problems head-on screaming or hide. It is certainly daunting when we look at the situ-
ation from the top down, when those who seem to hold the most power are repealing
protections and rights. It can create the feeling that we are impotent to do anything to
change it.
When we look at what is happening on the Oregon state level, and the local Lane
County level, the forecast is a bit more optimistic.
On a local level, Lane County’s Trans*Ponder has been hard at work assisting trans/
gender diverse people through changing and challenging times. Trans*Ponder offers
direct support services in accessible locations free of charge to the trans/gender diverse
community and allies; offers spaces for community to gather and support one another;
provides education to the larger community through trainings and events; and provides
advocacy in a variety of settings to help remove barriers for trans/gender diverse people
to get basic needs met.
Trans*Ponder is a labor of love born out of necessity in 2012, founded and led
by trans/gender diverse folks. When Trans*Ponder started, there were no community
support groups outside of some insulated student groups, and no trans/gender diverse
organizations taking on the education, training and advocacy elements needed to create
safer public spaces.
Lane County has shown itself to be more ignorant than hostile to trans concerns for
the most part, and since 2015 Trans*Ponder has delivered more than 50 trainings and
program evaluations to local agencies and businesses. In 2016 Trans*Ponder gained
its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to expand its services and potential reach. This could not
have come at a more timely juncture.
With federal and conservative state attacks on trans/gender diverse people, allied
states are pushing back and stepping up to create policies, bills and laws to protect the
community. In Oregon, bisexual Gov. Kate Brown signed into law HB 2673a, the first
stand-alone transgender bill in Oregon’s history. Oregon has also become the first state
to offer a third gender marker — “X” — on state-issued identification, indicating gen-
4
A ugust 10, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com
der non-specified. The Oregon state health plan continues to cover transgender-related
health needs. Our state healthcare system is definitely clunky; however, it remains in
place.
The federal government continues to remove protections put in place during the last
administration for transgender/gender diverse citizens, most notably youth, going so far
as to ban us from military service. President Donald Trump has tried to break up with
the transgender community on the military’s behalf via a series of tweets (who does
that?!). This cavalier and nonchalant approach to discrimination has given permission
to conservative states to push anti-transgender legislation through, and in this year al-
ready we have seen 16 transgender homicides in the U.S. — ALL trans women of color.
There is “No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us,” says Micah
Bazant, transgender artist and social justice activist. This message is essential, and cuts
deep across race, class, sexuality, gender identity and ability. It is the most pronounced
where these factors intersect. These are the areas where the most work needs to be done
to stop dismissing this violence, and it is up to all of us to do it.
Trans*Ponder — started as one person, then two, then four, etc. — served the lo-
cal community effectively for four years while unfunded, fueled by the hard work and
dedication of a few people who saw what needed to be done and committed to doing
it. This political climate can be daunting, and the change comes from acting locally.
Trans*Ponder finally has a physical space to centralize our work at 541 Willamette
Street, Suite 407a, and continues to fundraise as we aspire to create a gender center to
house community projects. Trans*Ponder hosts a minimum of three consistent monthly
events with many special events throughout the year. It offers name, gender and ID
change logistical/financial support and consolidates verified trans/gender diverse sup-
portive resources. It works with Basic Rights Oregon on the state level as a trans voice
in shaping legislation, and it is part of a rapid response network for at-risk youth.
The group works with the school districts, offers advocacy for individuals medically
and in the workplace, provides training to local agencies, is developing a Trans Active
Fitness Program and continues to develop a people of color advisory board to better
support trans people of color in the community.
Now that you see what needs to be done, will you help us do it?
Oblio Stroyman is the executive director of Trans*Ponder. Pronouns: they, them, theirs. You can find Trans*Ponder at
the website transponder.community.