This coming Sunday marks the first anniversary of the murder of Dan Callaway, a beloved member of Portland’s queer community and the longtime partner of Jonny Shultz. Shultz sent out this email today:
One thing you can do in Dan’s memory this weekend is joining me at Saturday’s protest of measure 8’s passing 10:30 at psu park blocks. Dan and I never had the chance to be married, to have our day celebrating the love we had for each other. Although we had 8 wonderful years together, it tears me apart thinking that we didn’t have a day of celebration with our friends and family… __I am sickened that this measure passed, and I am pissed! It is time to stand up for our rights; we are not second class citizens. I feel the road to equal rights for queer people is still going to be a long one, not only because of our opponents, but because of our complacency. Too many of us are just fine with what we have, and it’s b.s. Marriage may not be for you, but don’t play a part in denying your queer family the basic rights of a tax paying citizen. It is time to stand up and make our voices heard. We pay the same taxes, we love the same. We deserve the same rights! Be loud, be proud!!
Dan Callaway
I’ll be there.
I will too.