Quoting from an email I just received from Sen. Jeff Merkley:
“The reality is that most LGBTQ Americans experience harassment or discrimination — unfair treatment that closes doors in housing, education, work, public accommodations and more. This is happening right here in America, the same country that prides itself in giving opportunity to anyone who is willing to work hard. That’s unacceptable. Congress needs to act right now to make sure every American is free of unfair discrimination that rips away their opportunities to chase the American dream.”
Commendable legislation. But why, Sen. Merkley, did you choose to introduce it when there is no chance of passage? Were LGBTQ Americans like myself less discriminated against back in 2009 or 2010 when Democrats controlled the Presidency, the Senate and the House? Or were we just not on your political identity radar then?
There’s a pattern here. Back in June 2018 you raised a ruckus over detention of immigrant children in a Texas gulag run by a private corporation. Again, commendable.
But where you in 2014 when President Obama dramatically expanded family detention space via private corporations and — according to a 2016 New York Times editorial — “… these privately run, unlicensed lockups are no place for children. Or mothers.”
Apparently not on your radar back then, either.
Trisha Driscoll
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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