Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 09:02:17 -0700
From: Eros Publishing <aubrey@wolfenet.com>
Subject: Press Release

IT'S TIME, OREGON!  PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lori Buckwalter
Director, It's Time, Oregon
(transgal@yahoo.com)

Sexual Minorities Round Table news release

Portland Police Chief, Mayor Vera Katz and Multnomah County Sheriff
Dan Noelle Pledge to Protect and Defend City's Sexual Minorities

Portland Sets the Standards for the Nation with this Unique Agreement

Portland, June 9, 1998:
Leaders of Oregon's sexual minorities met with Portland city officials
to re-sign a partnership agreement Tuesday at Portland City Hall.

The Partnership Agreement says that the Portland Police Bureau accepts
responsibility for the protection of all citizens, "especially as it
applies to the special needs of the sexual minorities community."

Portland is the first major metropolitan city to have its mayor,
council members and police chief openly recognize the special needs of
the sexual minority community. Sexual minorities are defined as
individuals who self-identify with a sexual orientation or gender
identity.

The Sexual Minorities Round Table (SMRT)

The SMRT helped conceive the historic Partnership Agreement that was
first signed October 11, 1994. The SMRT is a forum where sexual
minority leaders meet with Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County
Sheriff representatives to discuss the following:

· Crime trends and public safety concerns of the sexual minorities
communities
· Police/sexual minorities community conflicts
· Portland Police and Multnomah County procedures and policies which
impact crime or fear of crime within the Portland sexual minorities
community

Sexual Minority Leaders:

Various leaders of Oregon's sexual minorities spoke at the re-signing
of this historic agreement including:

· Jean Harris, Director of Basic Rights Oregon, an organization that
helps businesses include sexual orientation in their company's
non-discrimination policies. Basic Rights Oregon also leads the fight
against Lon Mabon and the Oregon Citizen's Alliance. The OCA is
sponsoring an anti-gay and anti-trans initiative this year.

· Lori Buckwalter, Director of It's Time, Oregon, an organization that
promotes civil rights initiatives concerning gender identity. She
serves on the Sexual Minorities Round Table, and has been recommended
by the Round Table and appointed by Chief Charles Moose as the
representative of the Portland sexual minorities communities to the
Portland Chief’s Forum.

 "We hope to reconfirm the promise and commitment we share equally,
to work together for the safety and dignity of every person in
Portland. By improving communications through honest and respectful
dialogue, we can create a city that honors everyone who calls it home,
and I believe there can be no higher purpose for us all," says
Buckwalter.

 For more information please email Lori Buckwalter:
(transgal@yahoo.com).

        - 30 -

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