Ok, Ron, just for you. :)

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Reprinted without permission.
From The Oregonian, Wednesday January 20, 1993.  

	Springfield anti-gay rights law challenged

By Kathleen Monje

Eugene -- The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the constitutionality
of the state's only anti-gay rights ordinance in court Tuesday.

ACLU Oregon opened the legal battle against the city of Springfield by suing
the city and its manager, Mike Kelly, in Lane County Circuit Court.  The
plaintiffs include several city residents and the Oregon Public Employees
Union.

"Our basic message is simple: This ballot measure was an attempt to take
away the rights of a minority of Springfield citizens," said Dave Fidanque,
executive director of the statewide chapter.

"The Oregon and US constitutions stand for the principle that there are
certain fundamental rights -- like freedom of speech, the right to equal
protection under the law -- that cannot be taken away by majority vote,"
Fidanque said.

Springfield voters passed Measure 20-08 last May, forbidding the city to
promote, encourage or facilitate homosexuality.

Officials of the Oregon Citizen's Alliance, which backed the Springfield
measure as well as the more extensive but unsuccessful statewide Measure 9,
would not comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

OCA officials have said in the past that they expect a court challenge of
the Springfield law to succeed.

The lawsuit claims the law will keep homosexuals from using city parks
and buildings as meeting places, that it will censor boods in the city
library and forbid city employees, panels and publications to oppose
discrimination against homosexuals.

"It has meant that I'm a second-class citizen in Springfield.  As a lesbian,
I am a second-class citizen," said plaintiff Jean Marchant, former 
chairwoman of the city's Human Rights Commission.  She left the volunteer
post for health reasons.

The other plantiffs are Sallie Meng, secretary of Family and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays Eugene-Springfield; David and Fibes Gibson, McKensie
Theatre owners and gay rights supporters; Sandy Shirley, who is Marchant's
partner; gay rights advocate Ron Spicer; and the union, which represents
about 100 city employees.

Springfield Mayor bill Morrisette greeted news of the suit with approval.
"Good," he said.  "Officially, I'm saying good because it needs to be
settled in the courts."

Morrisette, an opponent of the measure, said the issue continued to divide
the city.  Another political battle over gay rights would add fuel to the
controversy, he said.

The City Council will have to seek its attorney's advice on a response,
due in 30 days, to the lawsuit, Morrisette said.  "I would expect him
to recommend that we defend it -- that's his job," Morrisette said.  
"The council will have to decide to what extent."

Dana Weinstein of Eugene is the lead ACLU attorney for the suit.  Eugene
lawyers Scott Meisner and Martha Walters are assisting her, Fidanque said.

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-- 
Brent Capps    (B4) htw-c+(+)g+k++s-e++   | Collars and blindfolds and
bcapps@agora.rain.com (gay stuff)         | bullwhips that sting, these are
bcapps@atlastele.com (telecom stuff)      | a few of my favorite things