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  After Washington state passed a bill through the Senate last week we knew that the road to gay marriage in our neighbor to the north was only a matter of time. Today we are one step closer, that is, pretty much there, with the House passing the HB 2516 by 55-43. All that’s left now is for Gov. Gregoire to sign, seal and deliver it, which she is expected to do.
However, because there is no emergency clause on the bill, the law wouldn’t take effect for 90 days giving opponents time to get a referendum on the ballot. This would effectively stall gay marriages until after the November election meaning none of those troublesome “grandfathered” unions like the couples who married in California before Pop 8 was passed.
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  Following a decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that California’s Prop 8 is unconstitutional, Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini released the following statement today:
“Today’s ruling is a victory for all loving and committed same-sex couples in California and across the nation,” “We applaud the 9th Circuit for standing on the right side of history. Today’s ruling, if upheld will restore the freedom to marry in California and add our nation’s largest state as another engine of progress for the country.”
“Here in Oregon this issue will be decided not in a courtroom by judges, but in the court of public opinion by the voters of our great state. The Court’s decision adds momentum to our effort to win the freedom to marry at the ballot box in Oregon.”
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  Sgt. Lynn Benton Police officer Lynn Benton has some soap-worthy headlines attached to his name. The FTM Gladstone sergeant has been implicated in the 2011 murder of his wife Deborah Higbee-Benton, but these are not the allegations for which he was recently fired.
Benton was fired last December following a memorandum (PDF) issued by Gladstone police chief Jim Pryde. This memo has just surfaced, thanks to an appeal The Oregonian filed with the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office which ordered the release despite the city of Gladstone’s decision to withhold the document.
In it Pryde recommends termination based on the following accusations:
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 Katie Carter and Amber Rowland of Feminist Agenda
This week Lyska and I talk with Amber Rowland, one half of the newly launched Feminist Agenda PDX. This podcast is only half of our fantastic (and long conversation). It’s the slightly more serious one so stay tuned for more feminist outtakes in the next few days.
For this podcast expect to learn about the FA mission, how its […]
  Yesterday’s vote in the Washington state Senate was the first big push to get the same-sex marriage ball rolling in the state. Now the Washington state House has to pass the bill, and the governor has to sign it. The bill is expected to pass as early as next week, according to the Seattle Times.
The state Senate was seen as the biggest hurdle the bill’s passage. The House apparently has more than enough votes in its favor, according to the bill’s supporters, and Gov. Chris Gregoire strongly supports it.
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  Task Force Deputy Executive Director of External Relations Russell Roybal presents Ernesto Dominguez with the Youth Leadership Award. Local youth, HIV/AIDS and immigration activist Ernesto Dominguez isn’t new to winning awards. A year and a half ago Dominguez received the HRC’s student activist award and he just recently accepted the the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leadership Award for his work with ChatPDX, a collaboration between organizations and individuals working to curb HIV and AIDS transmission among young people through peer education and outreach, HIV testing, youth services and social media, and with Advocates for Youth, which also aims to help teens make informed decisions around sex.
You can see video of Dominguez’s acceptance speech, given at the Creating Change conference in Baltimore, MD, Tuesday January 31st, put on by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In it he powerfully equates LGBT and immigration rights saying, “LGBT rights are immigrant rights, and immigrant rights are LGBT rights,” and basically gives us all hope for the future of our young people. (I can say that now that I am a solidly adult 30 year old right?)
The video, as well as a transcript of his acceptance speech, are below.
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 Big business has been getting some press for their support of Washington’s newly introduced gay marriage bills, which are now expected to pass both the Senate and the House. Last Thursday six prominent companies, including Microsoft and Nike signed a letter of support for SB 6239 and HB 2516. Today Starbucks joined the growing list of corporations in support of Washington state marriage equality saying,
Starbucks is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples…
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  Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen secures the last vote needed Earlier this month Governor of our close neighbor Christine Gregoire announced her support for marriage equality in Washington state.
The House already had enough necessary votes to pass a bill and, as of today, so does the Senate. Following a two hour legislative hearing in Olympia today Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island has said she will support the bill (6239). She is the 25th to add her support including 2 Republicans. Her decision was a difficult one, which she acknowledges in this statement released today:
“For several weeks now, I have heard from the people of my district. They’ve shared what’s in their hearts and minds.
“I have received many letters, emails, phone calls, very heartfelt, from both sides of the issue. I’ve also received a number of very negative comments from both sides.
“For some people, this is a simple issue. I envy them. It has not been simple or easy for me.
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 Oregon’s Equity Foundation awarded two individuals and three businesses with various awards on January 20, 2012.
The awards were handed out during a sold-out luncheon at Portland’s Governor Hotel. The program included remarks from Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and a rousing sing-a-long to Three Dog Night’s Joy To The World with the PHAME Academy choir. PHAME is a chorus of developmentally disabled adults that recently won funding from Equity Foundation.
Individual awards were bestowed on a couple of past Equity board members.
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 USPS March January 3, 2012
Is this Goodbye?
Congressman Issa, R-CA (one of the richest men in Congress) has proposed to end Saturday delivery of mail. As a result to Issa’s proposal, there will be jobs lost and hours cut for the postal employees. There has been public outrage from many different states. Rep. Green, D-TX announced that he found a particular pattern of targeting the low-income neighborhoods for closures.
Every single facility mentioned is located in a lower income and predominately minority neighborhood. Nearly 30% of the all the postal facilities listed for consolidation are located in five states, with Texas leading the way at 222 potential closures. Almost without exception, this pattern holds for our nation’s other great cities as well.
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