Newspaper Page Text
Oregon moves to block anti-gay ordinances
by Brad Cain
Associated Press Writer
(AP) — The Oregon Citizens Alliance was
sternly criticized by lawmakers as the Oregon
Legislature finished work on a bill to block cities
and counties from enacting anti-gay rights ordi
nances.
The bill cleared its last hurdle Wednesday,
July 29, when the Senate voted 19-11 to send the
measure to Gov. Barbara Roberts, who is expected
to sign it.
The measure, HB3500-A, is aimed at thwart
ing efforts by the OCA to promote local anti-gay
rights measures as a tuneup for the group’s new
statewide measure next year.
During Wednesday’s debate, both Republi-
• can and Democratic senators denounced the OCA
for its threats to seek the recall of House members
who voted in favor of HB3500-A.
With OCA Chairman Lon Mabon listening to
the debate from an upper gallery, veteran Sen.
! Lenn Hannon borrowed a line from Clint
Eastwood’s character in the “Dirty Harry” movies.
“If they want to file a recall, I’m more than
ready,” the Ashland Republican said. “Make my
day.”
Sen. Karsten Rasmussen, D-Eugene, called
the OCA “outside agitators” who stirred up ill will
in his hometown of Junction City by promoting an
anti-gay rights measure on that city’s June 29
ballot. The measure was narrowly approved.
“This battle was fought in this peaceful little
town at the behest of the OCA,” Rasmussen said.
Mabon said it was hypocritical for senators to
complain that the threat of a recall was a misuse of
the political process.
By voting for the measure, legislators were
denying people the right to vote and abusing their
lawmaking powers, he said.
“I think they have a lot of gall,” Mabon said.
“They’re the ones who are misusing the process.”
However, Mabon said he did not know
whether the OCA would start recall drives against
any senators, as it has against 14 House members
who favored the bill.
“We’ve never said that we were going to,” he
said.
The OCA sponsored Measure 9, the statewide
anti-gay rights initiative that was rejected by voters
last fell. The OCA is hoping to begin collecting
petition signatures soon for a new measure for the
November 1994 ballot.
Supporters say HB3500-A will end Oregon’s
divisive debate over gay rights by preventing en
forcement of anti-gay rights ordinances like those
approved by voters in four counties and two cities
last month.
The bill is a compromise that was worked out
after the Republican-controlled House refused to
pass a Senate bill to ban discrimination against
homosexuals. The bill says: “A political subdivi
sion of the state may not enact or enforce any
charter provision, ordinance, resolution or policy
granting special rights, privileges or treatment to
any citizen or group of citizens on account of sexual
orientation, or enact or enforce any charter provi
sion, ordinance, resolution or policy that singles
out citizens or groups of citizens on account of
sexual orientation. ”▼
Colorado boycott continues despite appeal
by Peggy Lowe
Associated Press Writer
(AP) — Despite an appeal that may put
Colorado’s anti-gay rights law on hold for some
time, some gay rights activists say they plan to
continue a national boycott of the state “until
Amendment 2 is off the books.”
“Colorado is still in a mess because Amend
ment 2 is still on the books. This pressure is the
only thing keeping the urgency of gay and lesbian
civil rights on the front burner,” said Terty Schleder,
spokeswoman for Boycott Colorado.
On Monday, July 19, the Colorado Supreme
Court refused to allow the voter-approved Amend-
- ment 2 to take effect, saying it may be found
unconstitutional when it goes to trial in October.
’ The high court’s action upheld a lower court
decision that put the law on hold, saying it appears
to deny homosexuals equal access to the political
process, a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The measure, passed in November of 1992,
prohibits any state or local law protecting gays,
I lesbians and bisexuals from discrimination. It was
written and promoted by a conservative Colorado
Springs group called Colorado for Family Values.
J TlK VOUIKTEER AMD NON-PROFIT VOICE OF THE Ga Y & LESBIA
Legal experts say the controversial law is all
but dead. But Gov. Roy Romer and Attorney
General Gale Norton said the state will appeal the
case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
It could take months for the U.S. Supreme
Court to decide whether to take the case — it it
does at all. The court reviews only about 100 of the
5,000-some cases appealed to it every year, Norton
said.
The effectiveness of the boycott continues to
be debated here. Boycott Colorado’s business loss
figures are more than double that calculated by
Denver officials.
And other gay activists have criticized the
boycott effort, saying it doesn’t have the full sup
port of the community.
“I think Boycott Colorado is feeling the pinch
and tiying to say they’re as strong as ever, and that’s
just not the case. They don’t have a constituency,”
said Linda Fowler, director of the Colorado Alli
ance to Restore Equality, a gay rights advocacy
group.
Meanwhile, Boycott Colorado this week an
nounced the cancellation of the American Public
Health Association’s 1999 meeting that would
Commurr
have brought up to 12,000 people to Denver.
The health group voted in April to move its
convention to Chicago, but didn’t disclose the
action until Wednesday, said association spokes
woman Rachel Dale. The Denver visitor’s bureau
said the cancellation will cost the city at least $9.3
million.
Boycott Colorado says its efforts have caused
$120 million in lost business. But Denver officials
say the boycott spurred by passage of Amendment
2 has forced the cancellation of nearly $50 million
in convention business.
Tourism officials say 1992 will be a banner
year, thanks in part to the inaugural season of the
Colorado Rockies and Pope John Paul II’s visit in
August.
• While boycott organizers say they are pleased
with the Colorado court’s decision, they say a
boycott will keep interest alive in the anti-gay rights
law and will propel their movement towards na
tional civil rights protections for homosexuals.
“There is no hidden agenda here. Gays and
lesbians are sitting ducks right now,” Schleder said.
“We’ve really only won one small battle in this holy
war the religious right has waged on us.”T
^ Page3$