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Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Oregon House hosts live drag performance to open session in honor of Pride Month
A new session for the Oregon House of Representatives began after a performance by two Black drag queens on Wednesday. In honor of Pride Month, Democratic Rep. Travis Nelson, the first openly LGBTQ+ African American Oregon legislator, invited Isaiah Esquire and Aqua Flora to perform for the session's opening ceremony. The two drag queens lip-synched to Aretha Franklin's "A Deeper Love" and Beyoncé's "I Was Here" while wearing bright gold outfits and dancing across the room. The performance lasted nearly five minutes and ended with a standing ovation from many House members. Nelson gave remarks about the performers, who both came from Portland, shortly after they finished. "I'd like to take a moment to extend deep gratitude and recognition to the incredible drag performers who joined us this morning," Nelson said. "Aqua Flora and Isaiah Esquire joining us on the House floor today in addition to all of the LGBTQ+ folks in the building. Your presence, artistry and courage are a powerful reminder of the joy, resilience and cultural impact of drag in Oregon and beyond. Thank you for sharing your light with us this morning. It's an honor to have you here." The performance was also meant to honor a new House resolution, also pushed by Nelson, that "recognizes and honors the history of Black drag in Oregon." "That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, recognize and honor Oregon's rich history of Black drag, and we congratulate all those whose spirited contributions have made Oregon's Black drag community one of the most vibrant and vital in the nation," the resolution read. The resolution was the first piece of legislation taken up by the House that morning. It passed on a 34-9 vote. In a comment to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the Oregon House Democrats maintained that the performance was approved by all the proper offices and that the performers were there on a volunteer basis. The spokesperson added that there has been a fair split between Republican House members and Democratic House members inviting guests to perform for the opening ceremony. In a statement to Fox News Digital, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan condemned the performance as an "ostentatious display" of "social activism." "Yesterday's ill-advised performance broke our chamber protocols and standards for opening ceremonies in the Oregon House of Representatives. Turning the House Floor into a smokey bar is beneath the dignity of this body. Opening ceremonies are not the time or place for ostentatious displays of political symbols and social activism," Drazan said. Oregon's House legislature often invites performers to their opening ceremony. Nelson provided a comment to Fox News Digital defending his decision to invite the drag queens as a matter of free speech. "Opening ceremonies are a normal and active part of the Oregon State Legislature," Nelson said. "Each Legislator has the right to invite guests for opening ceremonies as long as the date is available. Inviting guests is not only an established tradition here in Oregon, but also a matter of free speech and civic participation allowing the public to be part of our chamber process." He added, "That right belongs to every member of this body, and by extension, to the guests they bring. As long as guests and members follow the guidelines from the Chief Clerk's office, their presence is not just permitted it's fully protected by both the Oregon State Constitution and the Constitution of the United States of America." Chief Clerk of the House Tim Sekarak, whose office is responsible for approving opening ceremonies, also told Fox News Digital that musical performances have been a common occurrence at opening ceremonies. "Opening ceremonies have long been a cherished tradition and are a way to celebrate the many cultures, faiths and beliefs that are represented in the legislature," Sekarak said. Sekarak also sent guidelines that added that the opening ceremony was "not meant for proselytizing or persuasion" and cannot be used "to advocate your political views or policy interests."
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon legislature passes bill to combat ‘politicized' book bans
PORTLAND, Ore. () – The Oregon legislature passed a bill on Monday in an effort to combat 'politicized' book bans across the state, the Democratic House Majority Office announced. Senate Bill 1098, the Freedom to Read bill, prevents books from being banned based on protected topics such as race, sex and religion, or bans based on the author's identity. The bill also ensures that people who are directly connected to a school – including parents, guardians and school staff – can file complaints about textbooks or library materials rather than allowing complaints from politicians, campaigns or people outside of Oregon. Under the bill, local review committees will make the final call if the material is allowed. DON'T MISS: Oregon representative counters bill against book bans by reading explicit excerpt 'This legislation is a clear statement of our values as Oregonians and a society', said Representative Travis Nelson (D-N & NE Portland), a chief sponsor of the bill. 'It embodies our commitment to creating an educational environment where every student can learn, grow, and see themselves reflected in the stories and histories that shape our world.' The bill comes as 127 books were challenged in Oregon schools and libraries in 2024, marking the highest number since the State Library started tracking challenged titles, according to the House Majority Office. 'SB 1098 creates a process to make sure such decisions are made with community input, and to protect librarians from being targeted by activist groups. Under this bill, a book challenge must come from a parent, guardian or school employee, not from an outside person or organization,' said Rep. Zach Hudson (D -East Multnomah County). Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'As an elementary teacher, I observed daily the importance of students having access to a broad range of cultures, histories, and experiences,' added, Rep. Lisa Fragala (D – Eugene). 'All students deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read at school. Book bans erase the voice and experiences of too many children, and we need learning environments that affirm students' identities, so they feel empowered to learn.' In a press release issued Monday, however, Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), a member of the House Education Committee, argued that the bill limits school districts' ability to choose age-appropriate books for school libraries. 'I voted against SB 1098 because there were no sideboards on age appropriateness. I do not support banning books. I support age appropriateness when choosing instructional materials,' Rep. Wright explained. Wright noted that Rep. Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) introduced an amendment, which would affirm a school's ability to consider age and grade-level appropriateness when reviewing books, Wright said, adding, 'The amendment supporting age appropriateness was not adopted. If it had, I could have voted in support of SB 1098.' Cars damaged near Portland school after teen suspect rammed cars outside, police say After passing the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives, the bill now heads to Governor Tina Kotek's desk. The bill comes after written testimony was submitted by State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen, noting the State Library is neutral in its support of the bill. According to Cornelisen, Oregon is seeing a 'clear pattern' in recent reports of book challenges. 'Incidents and challenged materials are disproportionately about, by, or center the stories of individuals who belong to an underrepresented protected class under ORS 659.850. In 2023-24, 87% of the items challenged told the stories of one or more underrepresented groups. Sixty-six percent of challenged materials focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ people, while 22% centered Black, Indigenous, or people of color,' Cornelisen said. 'The data shared here were gathered through reports of challenges at schools and libraries, media stories, and our staff's experience working on challenge incidents. However, we have reason to believe that incidents in Oregon are underreported. Many school and library staff are not aware of the option to report such incidents. Despite the anonymity of the reporting process, staff also may decline to report for fear of political blowback, job repercussions, or media attention on their organization,' Cornelisen continued. 'We anticipate the numbers we have shared here would be significantly higher if all intellectual freedom incidents in Oregon were reported.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon workers could soon claim strike payments under bill passed by House
Hundreds of educators, parents and students joined a rally Nov. 1. 2023 at Roosevelt High School in north Portland. A new bill would extend unemployment benefits to them during work stoppages. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon could soon become the first state in the nation to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers. House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 916 Wednesday in a 33-23 vote along party lines with one dissenting Democrat, a decision that followed an hours-long debate about the bill's impact on schools, health care, and private businesses. The bill already cleared the Senate in May in a 16-12 vote, but will need to go back to that chamber before the month's end for a re-vote to clear further amendments. The legislation would allow striking workers — including most public employees — to collect unemployment benefits after their first two weeks of striking and up until the eight week of a strike, pending the financial stability of the state's unemployment fund. Several other states, including Washington, New Jersey, and New York, extend unemployment benefits and payments to striking private sector workers, but not to public employees. If unemployment funding is available, striking workers could collect benefits for up to 26 weeks. Payments range from $196 to a maximum of $836 weekly, according to a 2024 policy from the Oregon Employment Department. After the House voted down a scaled-back proposal by Republicans Wednesday morning, lawmakers debated the extent to which Senate Bill 916 would lengthen or shorten strikes, and the potential strain it could impose on schools and private business. 'SB 916 won't encourage strikes — it will shorten them,' state Rep. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday. 'It will bring employers to the table faster, and let workers stand up without having to worry that their families will starve should they choose to exercise their right to strike. Fundamentally, this legislation is about dignity and fairness for workers.' Republicans, led by state Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, sought to derail the proposal with their own measure that also would've capped benefits to six weeks of payments after the first two weeks of a strike. 'We can have the conversation about making sure that employees are paid well and they are protected and their voices heard,' Elmer said. 'This bill isn't the way — this is too much and too far.' Prior to the vote, opposition to the measure was piling up in testimony from school board leaders and business groups concerned the bill could allow strikes to drag on and put a wrench in day-to-day operations. Leaders of teacher unions and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, a statewide coalition of unions that represents over 300,000 workers, have testified in support of the bill, as have nurses, teachers and state workers. 'Regardless of income level or industry, Oregon workers all want the same things — to work hard, support themselves, and build a better life,' the Oregon AFL-CIO said in a social media post prior to the vote. 'Senate Bill 916 is an opportunity for our state to support working class Oregonians by strengthening their right to strike through expanding unemployment benefit access.' The Oregon Employment Department told the Legislature in April that the bill wouldn't result in any changes to unemployment taxes paid by employers. The bill was amended in the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards in May to allow school districts to deduct the cost of benefits from backpay some teachers receive after a strike has ended, under union contracts. Multiple Democrats reiterated their argument following the vote that the bill would not raise costs for businesses and schools. 'I also firmly believe that this policy will help our businesses, education and healthcare communities by bringing these strikes to a close sooner and with greater certainty,' said state Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, in closing the discussion on the House floor. If the bill clears its revote in the Senate, it will head to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk for final consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon bill to fix gap in developmental disability care heads to Kotek's desk
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After passing in the Oregon House, a bill that aims to improve healthcare access for Oregonians with developmental disabilities is now headed to the governor's desk. will mandate that public bodies never deny mental health assessments or treatment to patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Raspberries arrive a few weeks early at U-Pick farm in Canby 'For too long, people with I/DD have faced gaps in care and fragmented services,' Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Inner SE Portland) said. 'This bill ensures we finally hold our system accountable for delivering the care these Oregonians deserve.' This bill would apply to the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, the Oregon Medical Board, and other health licensing agencies. It would not apply to the Oregon Youth Authority, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education. Ex-military father at large after 3 daughters found dead in central Washington say people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have long faced challenges while seeking much-needed mental health care. 'Access to mental health care is a basic human right. No one should be excluded from treatment simply because of a disability, this bill is about equity, dignity, and doing what's right,' Rep. Travis Nelson (D-N & NE Portland) said. SB 729 is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk, where it awaits her signature. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
