News Gov.-elect John Kitzhaber named several key staffers this afternoon, four days ahead of his Jan. 10 swearing in. Here is the release from Kitzhaber, who has been criticized by some in his own party for moving too slowly with appointments: Governor-elect Kitzhaber today announced his top aides, led by Chief of Staff, Curtis Robinhold. Mr. Robinhold is a native Oregonian with deep roots in the ...   More

News Q Center executive director Kendall Clawson was invited today to the White House to watch President Obama sign a significant new piece of hate crimes legislation into law. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act takes its name from Shepard —a college student in Wyoming who was killed for being gay; and Byrd, an African-American man who was chained and dragged ...   More

News Last week's forum in Portland at the Q Center on gay bashing revealed that many members of the LGBTQ community feel uncomfortable reporting bias crimes to the police. Days after the June 2 forum, the state Department of Justice is announcing the establishment of a confidential bias crime reporting system for anyone who's been targeted as a result of their race, gender, religion and sexual orienation. ...   More