The battle over same-sex marriages for humans is still far from unresolved–but already the religious right is gearing up to defend the sanctity of marriage against same-sex animals. “The animal ethics movement has progressed over the past decade,” explained Angel Murray, executive director for the DC-based Human Rights for Animals (HRA). “It used to be […]
Phil Busse
Posted inMovies & TV
Water Wars
Thirst Gushes With Warnings About Multinationals
Thirst dir. Snitow and Kaufman Opens Fri June 18 Clinton Street Theater Think water rates in Portland are obscene? Over the past decade, our city’s water and sewage rates have doubled–but our mini-drama is a molehill compared to the three stories documented in Thirst, a surprisingly captivating film about the privatization of water suppliers. The […]
Posted inNews
Dog Goneit!
Is the City Kowtowing to the Crybabies?
Jessie has taken her dog to Laurelhurst Park for years–but not anymore. Two weeks ago, she was walking her dog near the park’s bathroom when, she claims, four women jumped out of the bushes. The women were park rangers and county animal control officers. Jessie had her dog off-leash and was immediately ticketed. “It used […]
Posted inNews
What If God Were Gay?
God and the IRS Know If You Cheat!
The organization In Defense of Marriage hopes enough Oregon residents have similar beliefs: that marriage should be reserved only for hetero couples. To make this viewpoint heard, the organization has spent the past few weeks in a desperate effort to gather enough signatures to qualify a voter initiative for November’s ballot. But, in its signature-gathering […]
Posted inNews
Anti-Gays Screw Up Again
Christian Coalition Complains That Life Isn’t Fair
The effort to recall four county commissioners ended Monday evening with the chief petitioner bellyaching that the system isn’t fair. Ever since Multnomah County announced its policy change allowing same-sex marriages, John Belgarde has been trying to recall four out of the five elected commissioners. To recall commissioner Diane Linn, 36,786 signatures were due Monday […]
Posted inNews
10 Stupid Things…
The Oregonian Said Last Week compiled
Against Same-Sex Marriage: “Furthermore the evidence shows that a mother and a father each bring their own unique qualities to parenting. For example, according to the FBI, a missing father is a more reliable predictor of criminal activity than race, environment or poverty. Lesbian households permanently deny a child a father.” Anne Paulk, In My […]
Posted inNews
Anatomy of an Editorial
How The Oregonian is (Mis)leading Political Discussion
Two months ago, standing on stage at the Aladdin Theater, Nick Fish went about dismantling his opponent’s endorsement received from The Oregonian. A candidate for city council, Fish was attending the Oregon Bus Project’s “Candidates Gone Wild” forum. When asked about the newspaper’s endorsement of Sam Adams, Fish explained that only nine percent of voters […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Belgarde’s Butt?
And, Do Hypocrisy and Bigotry Go Hand in Hand?
One of the first arguments that same-sex marriage opponents put forward was that Multnomah County officials violated the rules of fair play. When county commissioners announced in March they would begin handing out marriage licenses to same-sex couples, opponents jumped on the idea that the commissioners had violated the democratic process. They claimed the commissioners […]
Posted inNews
Grasping at Straws
Is the OLCC Trying to Justify Their Existence?
The ad for the popular local club was fairly subdued. Across the bottom, it read: “great specials.” But those seemingly tame words were enough to rankle the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), the agency charged with policing booze and bars in the state. Even though the ad was referring to nightly food specials, an OLCC […]
Posted inNews
Watching Paint Dry
Short-Timer Katz Stalls on Sign Code
A year ago, Jason Brown turned the outside wall of his store, New American Casuals (NAC), into a canvas for aerosol artists. It became a kaleidoscope of colors; balloon lettering seemed to leap off the wall. But within a few days, Brown was contacted by the city for violating the city’s moratorium on new murals. […]
Posted inNews
Choose Your Battles
Lars Larson Picks on Gay Teens’ and Loses!
Spring fever has hit a few Cleveland High students. And to celebrate, roughly a dozen members of the Sexual Minorities and Allies at Cleveland group (SMAC) decided to screen Hedwig and the Angry Inch outside in one of the school’s fields. It seemed like harmless springtime fun. But before they could carry out the idea, […]
Posted inNews
Look Out Terrorists!
Assistant Terrorism Director’s Bad Temper
Who needs terrorists when we have city employees like this? Somewhat ironically, Elise Marshall is the assistant director for the city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM)–the group in charge of responding to a terrorism attack. One would hope that such a position would call for a cool head and a steady hand. But apparently Marshall’s […]