(E lje J l o r t l a n h (D b s e r u e r
March 10.2004
Landmark
Marriages
continued
from Front
rate but not equal.
“When African Americans say the gay
rights issue is not acivil right issue, I know
that it is. For me, it’s fighting all the battles
and I think it’s compounded, being inter
racial and being a lesbian couple,” said
Haywood.
Multnomah County has had a domestic
partner registry since September 2000.
More than 500 couples, some same sex
and some opposite sex, have registered as
domestic partners.
According to Basic Rights Oregon, a
nonprofit agency dedicated to protecting
equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals
and the transgender community, "only
marriage provides the same full legal pro
tections to same-sex couples and their
families as are afforded to opposite-sex
couples.”
“Marriage offers more than 1,000 fed
eral and 500 state legal protections and
rights, such as hospital visitation rights,
inheritance rights and security protection
for their children," according to literature
from the organization.
“W e’ve never had a commitment cer
emony because we felt very strongly that
we wanted the legal recognition,” Bolyard
said. “I’m not going to have a ceremony
that’s just fluff. I live in the United States,
in the state o f Oregon and I think it’s a
pretty big civil right issue. We don’t have
the same equal rights as heterosexual
people and that’s not right.”
Aside from the legal benefits and civil
recognition of a real marriage, Haywood
has another reason for wanting to marry.
“I believe in marriage, and I think family
is important,” she said. "I grew up with a
background in love and marriage. My
parents have been together for 35 years
and Jamie’s parents have been together
even longer."
The couple says they absolutely plan
to raise a family and consider adopting
children someday.
Since their wedding last week, which
was performed by Rev. Glenna Shepherd,
pastor of the Metropolitan Community
Church, the Defense of Marriage Coali
tion has filed a lawsuit to stop same-sex
marriages in Multnomah County.
The conservative group says commis
sioners violated the Public Meetings Law
by not opening the issue to a public dis
cussion but their request for an emer
gency injunction to stop same-sex mar
riages was denied, Monday, As Orego
nians await a formal opinion about same-
sex marriages from Attorney General Hardy
Myers, the hundreds of same-sex couples
don’t know if their marriages will stand,
legally.
Bolyard and Haywood say they are up
for the challenge.
“People haven’t even gotten the race
issue yet, so I don’t think they’re going to
understand this totally in one day or one
year,” Haywood said. “This is going to be
an uphill battle and we would not have
gone down there (to the county building)
if we weren’t ready to face the challenges.”
Bolyard added, “I hope it stands, but if
it doesn’t, we’ll be right here, trying to do
something about it.”
PageA5
We don't have the same equal rights as heterosexual
people and that's not right.
- Jamie Bolyard, one many who got married last Wednesday
Jamie Bolyard (left) and Abby Haywood discuss their whirlwind wedding the day after receiving a marriage license from
Multnomah County.
Rights over Gay
Marriage
xi <_J Divides
continued
from Front
movement is identical to the gay civil
rights movement, but I don't think it really
blacks.”
matters,” said Boykin, president of the
The Rev. Joseph Lowry agrees that
American blacks should clearly sympa
thize with the gay community’s fight for
rights.
New York-based National Black Justice
Coalition.
“I actually think that’s a diversion. At
the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which
But Lowry, who founded the Southern
group is most oppressed or whether they
Christian Leadership Conference with
are identically oppressed. What matters is
Martin Luther King Jr., said the sheer
that no group be oppressed.”
weight o f U.S. history precludes tooclose
a comparison.
«
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, while support
ing “equal protection under the law” for
“Homosexuals as people have never
gays, called comparisons to the violent
been enslaved because of their sexual
battles of the civil rights movement “a
orientation,” he argued. “They may have
stretch.”
been scorned; they may have been dis
“Gays were never called three-fifths
criminated against. But they’ve never been
enslaved and declared less than human.”
human in the Constitution,” he said dur
! Another issue is that of choice, said
6 ’ Army Bailey, a marcher with the armed
ing a recent appearance at Harvard Law
School. “They did not require the Voting
Rights Act to have the right to vote.”
Deacons for Defense and Justice and a
A sa minister, Lowry of the SCLC said
founder of the National Civil Rights Mu
he is “in the valley o f prayer on the issue
seum in Memphis.
o f gay m arriage.” But, as a black man
“I don’t have a choice to be black and,
who was deeply involved in the struggle
therefore, had to be faced with the human
for equal rights, he is w illing to “err on
rights battle from birth,” said Bailey, a
the side o f inclusiveness, and not exclu
judge in Memphis.
sio n .”
Keith Boykin, a gay, black man, scoffs
“I’m going to follow Jesus and say,
at the notion that sexual orientation is a
‘ Whosoever will, let them come,” ’ he said.
choice. But even if it were true, he said,
“And I’m going to extend rights to all of
that's not the point.
God’schildren. And if I'm wrong. God will
“I don’t think that the black civil rights
have to judge me.”
Advertise with diversity
1 ^lartiaitb
(Observer
Call 503-288-0033
ads@portlandobserver.com
March 12 8 13 • 8pm
Tickets $20 to $40
Call 1-888-MAIN ACT or
TicketsW est at T800-992-TIXX
C h in o o k W inds C asino
s Better at the Beach! • 1 888-CHINOOK • www.chmookwindscasino.com