Openly lesbian Oregon state representative Tina Kotek, D – North Portland, has just ascended another rung on the political ladder.
After being elected as Deputy Majority Whip of the Oregon House just last month, Kotek got a big break last week when recently appointed Majority Whip Peter Buckley, D – Ashland, stepped aside from the role to [...]

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They’re rubbing elbows this weekend with the likes of legendary gay politicians Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin.
Two of Oregon’s highest ranking LGBT politicians – Oregon secretary of state-elect Kate Brown and Portland mayor-elect Sam Adams – are in Washington D.C. this weekend for high-profile speaking engagements at the 2008 International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference, an annual [...]

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Score one more for the gays!
Big ups to out lesbian State Representative Tina Kotek, D – Portland, for 1) coasting to a second State Rep term without attracting an opponent, ding!, and especially 2) scooping up a top-ranking role in the Oregon House, by being elected Deputy Majority Whip by your peeps in the party.
Kotek is [...]

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Stu Rasmussen’s been the mayor of this town before. But never before in a skirt and 2-inch heels.
In Silverton, the sleepy Salem, Oregon suburb 40 minutes outside of Portland best known for its lush Oregon Garden and quaint antique shops, the small town’s new mayor-elect is poised to get some major attention in the days and weeks ahead [...]

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Jeff Merkley was delivered to the United States Senate by 783,088 Oregon voters this week, as of the state election division office’s most recent count. That’s about 42,000 more votes than incumbent Gordon Smith’s total – so far, anyway.
In a press conference this morning at Portland State University announcing his definitive win, Merkley arrived to a cheering [...]

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No, Gordon Smith hasn’t conceded the US Senate race to Jeff Merkley just yet.

But with 80% of statewide ballots counted, Merkley holds a commanding enough lead that most major Oregon media outlets are projecting Merkley as the winner in what may go down in the books as one of the most contentious and bitterly fought US Senate races [...]

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Hey readers!
If you’re not too drunk on election results yet (impossible!!), here are some quick hits on other Oregon races worth noting…
*A number of anti-gay legislators who signed on to initiatives this year intended to repeal the Oregon Family Fairness Act and Oregon Equality Act have won re-election, including State Senator Fred Girod (R – [...]

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Uggghhh… election hangover.
But better than a real hangover, right? Well – yes and no.
Here are some snapshot updates on Portland area and Oregon statewide election results:
*There were no real surprises in the four Oregon races for the US Congress – incumbents David Wu, Earl Blumenauer and Greg Walden all sailed to easy victory, as did State Representative Kurt [...]

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November 4, 10:30 pm:
Red Cap is bumping and packed to the gills with election-happy gay dudes and ladies. It’s definitely a celebratory crowd – and hey, it’s five-for-six (a vodka bust special) night, so even better, right?
An enthusiastic young lady reveler next to me just punched a cardboard cutout of Gov. Sarah Palin (dressed in [...]

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Surely you haven’t missed – amidst the election melee – that November 2008 is Just Out’s month-long celebration of our 25th anniversary. We’re planning a pretty swell November 21st commemorative 25th anniversary issue of the paper, a big November 22nd bash at Boxxes/Red Cap, and a month’s worth of Just Out stories, history, remembrances and [...]

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