Executive Director's Report

It has been an interesting and exciting two months since taking the job as Executive Director of SpeakOut. I have had the pleasure of working with a great Board of Directors who are not afraid to "get their hands dirty" and really work. Hanna, our Office Manager, and Stephen, our Venues Coordinator, have been a huge help in getting me "up to speed." My thanks to all of them.

As we celebrate spring, we also celebrate new beginnings. Our partnership of friends in the LGBTQ community, the clergy and community groups are working in a new spirit of unity to achieve true equality for LGBTQ folks statewide. It really makes me smile to see such a diverse group of good people coming together to make the right thing happen.

I think that more than ever we have to make the "Walk With the Ones You Love" community walks even bigger and better than before. The Walks are great way to show our love and commitment to one another. They are also a great way to send a message that total equality is the only acceptable goal.

Legalized gay marriage is sweeping through Europe. Partners in Amsterdam and Oslo not only are celebrating their commitment to one another, they are also running their governments. Recently, Norway's Finance Minister, Per Kristian Foss, was named as Norway's Acting Prime Minister. Earlier this year Foss married his long time partner, publishing executive Jan Erik Knarbakk. Germany, Sweden and Denmark have all followed the lead of Norway and the Netherlands in legalizing same-sex marriage and awarding all corresponding rights and tax advantages.

It seems a shame that our country can maintain the most powerful military industrial complex in the world, but lacks the social maturity to honor the love of committed individuals.

This year the Portland "Walk With the Ones You Love" will be joined by noted clergy and politicians. Please call your friends and neighbors, gay and straight, and ask them to Walk on Sunday, June 9th.

--Scott Robbe
Executive Director