lune 15. 2011
Ißort lattò ©hscrucr
Page 5
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Group Emerges to Battle Anti-Gay Attacks
‘We are your
family, friends
and neighbors,’
advocates say
working on the campaign to end
health care discrimination against
transgender Oregonians for the past
two-years.
“We commend the City of Port­
land for this important step to pro­
vide medically-necessary care to
their employees,” said Frazzini at
by M indy C ooper
the event. “We all know someone
T he P ortland O bserver
who has had medically-necessary
In a state where anti-gay ballot care denied by an insurance com­
measures have periodically erupted pany. Excluding a group of people
in major political battles over the from healthcare is wrong and dis­
past 20 years, one organization has criminatory and must come to an
emerged as a tireless leader in fight­ end.”
ing discrimination.
Portland is now the third munici­
Founded in 1996, Basic Rights pality in the country to provide trans­
^ c rig > 't5Org
Oregon is the state’s chief advo­ inclusive care to their employees.
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cacy, education and political orga­
Frazzini said the LGBTQcommu-
Www.basicrights.org
nization dedicated to ending dis­ nity has seen a lot of success since
crimination based on sexual orien­ both the Oregon Equality Act and
J
tation and gender identity.
photo courtesy oe B asic R ights O regon
the Oregon Fairness Act were
Members of the local LGBTQ community and Basic Rights Oregon advocate for local and state laws
“One of interesting things for passed in 2007.
Oregon is that our state has faced
The Equality Act, which is a state­ to end discrimination in Oregon based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
more anti-gay ballot measures than wide law, banned discrimination on nity.”
in support for communities of color. ing that you don't achieve equality
any oth er s ta te ,” said Jeanna the basis of sexual orientation and
With the help of BRO, the Or­
“The LGBTQ equality movement for LGBTQ Oregonians without ra­
Frazzini, the executive director of gender identity, while the Fairness egon Safe Schools Act passed in
nationally and in Oregon has largely cial equality and economic fairness,”
Basic Rights Oregon. “But today Act, a statewide domestic partner­ 2009 to fight bullying and harass­
been a white-led movement,” she she said. “We come from every de­
we are ahead of most states in terms ship law, gave some recognition to ment in schools to ensure all kids
explained. “We recognize as an or­ mographic, and we see our unique
of protections that have been put in the rights of same sex couples.
can learn in a safe environment. ganization committed to Justice, if role in seeing how all of these issues
place.’’
By the time those two laws were “This includes the community of we don’t address the needs of the
have an impact on the community.”
The organization Basic Rights enacted, there were over a dozen color and disabled children,” she
membersofourcommunity who are
According to Frazzini, the orga­
Oregon works against anti-gay at­ cities with non-discriminatory ordi­ said. "It is really about safety for all
often the most vulnerable, we are nization has gotten quite a bit big­
tacks in all their form s-at the ballot, nances.
kids.”
not achieving our mission.”
ger in the last couple of years. “We
in local govemment,-in the legisla­
“We have seen a lot of success,”
Frazzini explained their second
BRO works to develop leader­ have shifted from one campaign at
ture, as well as works in close con­ Frazzini said. “The laws created priority supports their Racial Jus­
ship and provide resources for those a time Organization to a movement
nection and partnership with the statewide protection in recent years, tice Alliance Building Program,
within the community who face campaign organization,” she said.
national LGBT rights movement.
which has created a solid founda­ which attempts to both centralize unique challenges. The organiza­
“This reflects our maturity as an
The campaign to pass a law ban­ tion for our current priorities.”
the leadership for the LGBTQ com­ tion fights to eliminate homopho­ organization," she said. “Ultimately
ning discrimination against sexual
However, the battle fighting dis­ munity, as well as educate the pre­ bia, transphobia and racism, as well campaigns will be won and lost, but
minorities began in 1973, and similar crimination against the LGBTQcom- dominantly white community about as work on tuition equity.
we will continue working tocreate a
legislation has been introduced in munity is far from over.
racial justice and how to take action
“Our work is about understand- truly just society.”
every one of the 17 regular legisla­
“Our first priority is to build the
tive sessions w ithin the state majority support for the freedom to
throughout the past 34 years.
marry in Oregon,” she said. As a
“BRO grew out of the community major educational campaign, BRO
as a response to those ballot mea­ has been working intensely since
sures,” said Frazzini. “There was a 2009. “It is going very well,” she
need for a hub within the commu­ said. “But in order to achieve this, it
nity to organize campaigns so we requires the vote of the people.”
M ultnom ah County Health Departm ent's j
could not only defend ourselves,
In 2004, the courts refused to take
HIV C om m u n ity Test Site offers
but also advance our rights through on their challenge against Measure
co n fid e n tia l HIV testing |
pro-active efforts.”
36, the initiative that banned gay
The vision was to organize com­ marriage in the Oregon Constitu­
with or w ithout your nam e |
munity to stand up and say, ‘we are tion. It is important to note the Or­
at these locations:
your family, your friends, and your egon Fairness Act falls short of the
neighbors,’ she said.
dignity of marriage for all, Frazzini
Downtown Community Test Site
Today, BROemploys a full-time said.
Call 503.988.3775 for an appt. |
staff of 15 individuals at their two
To put an end to the shouting
offices in both Portland and Eu­ match over the issue, BRO recently
Mon I Thurs | Fri |
gene. With members throughout the began an educational campaign to
426 SW Stark St., 6th Floor, |
state, the organization has 5,000 get Oregonians talking about what
Portland, 97204
active volunteers and more than marriage means to everyone.
10,000contributors.
“It’s about love, community, tak­
Northeast Health Center
BRO’s most recent legislative ing care of each other, in good times
victory happened last week when and bad,” she said. “Our hope, with
Just walk in
Tuesdays
|
5:30-7:15
pm !
the Portland City Council unani­ no vote pending, is that we could
mously voted to end insurance ex­ create a dialogue for people to really
5329 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, 2nd Floor,
clusions against transgender city understand that excluding loving
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Public Health
employees in front of a packed same-sex couples from marriage
Portland, 97211 |
house. The organization has been hurts real people and our commu-
Se habla español: other interpreta
ntmen
BASIC FAÍRNESS
basic RIGHTS
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